Hosting the T.B. Ferguson Home for tours is a fun activity. During the Saturdays I have hosted, a number of people have come to remember or to acquaint themselves with the museum, the home of the sixth governor of the Territory of Oklahoma and his First Lady, Elva. Most of the visitors were from out of town. Some have found the museum by the signs on the highway. Others were staying at Roman Nose State Park. Others have been in town for reunions. Others were in search of information about distant relatives. Many had memories of visiting the home, and even knew the Fergusons.
One family of six from Yukon came recently while camping at Roman Nose. The mother taught Oklahoma history to third graders. This was not the first OK history teacher; another came from Clinton/Weatherford.
Then there was the lady from New England who heard she had a relative from New England who practiced veterinary medicine in Watonga about 1900. She had a name and some information from cemetery reports, but not much more. Searching the 1930 census, we located his former home only a block from the Ferguson home on Noble Avenue.
Then there was the couple from Minnesota. He knew the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul and its famous performer, Garrison Koehler of Prairie Home Companion. He had worked for public radio on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. They discovered the Ferguson Museum by taking the byways and happened to see the sign in Watonga.
Another group was attending the biannual Watonga former students meeting. They took a break from the reunion and came for a tour of the museum. There were many who had visited the museum as third and ninth graders. And not long after, a generous check came in the mail to assist.
Everyone seems to have a story. One gentleman called and said it was his grandfather who may have fallen to his death from the second floor of the mansion while trying to close a window during a storm. Another has a flag presented by T.B. Ferguson to a relative. Another demonstrated spinning yarn.
Someone else said they had a lovely wedding in the rotunda. Others have worked on the house, lived in the house, had relatives in the 1893 jail, or appreciate the work of the cavalry during pre-Territorial Days (1880s).
If you think you might like to be a museum ambassador, even one day per week, contact Connie Burcham, President; Esther Arnold, VP; Mary Larson, Treasurer, Todd Lafferty, Member at Large, or myself. It is a valuable service and a lot of fun to tell visitors of our rich history in Watonga. If the story is worthy to win an Academy Award for best picture, it is worth telling the world.