March is Women’s History Month. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter proclaimed the week of March 8 (International Women’s Day) as Women’s History Week and in 1987, Congress designated March as Women’s History month. The Theme for 2025 is “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating and Inspiring Generations.” In line with this theme, I propose to write about the women who married the Fergusons highlighting three generations of Ferguson women. The first will be Elva Shartel Ferguson, the wife of our own Thompson Benton Ferguson, 6th Territorial Governor of Oklahoma. Then Lucia Loomis Ferguson, the wife of Walter Scott Ferguson, the son of T.B. and Elva Ferguson. Third, I plan to write about Libby Ferguson, the wife of Dr. Thomas Bruce Ferguson, a famous cardiovascular surgeon and grandson of T.B. and Elva Ferguson.
But before we celebrate Women’s History Month, we want to recognize the Noble House, the Watonga Community Theatre (WTC) and volunteers from Watonga schools and Friends of the Ferguson Home for their fund-raising efforts for the Friends of the Ferguson Home. They produced the first dinner mystery theater at the Noble House. It was the brain-child of Alvin and Anita Woodruff to have a fund raising event at the Noble House, and they contacted Amy Adams of the Watonga Community Theatre. Teresa France helped advertise the $50/plate and Alvin filled the plates with a delicious steak, chicken, potatoes, green beans and bread pudding.
Members of the WCT adapted a purchased script and included items from the Watonga Republican researched by Connie Burcham. “Shootout of Bill’s Boarding House” was conducted by 11 cast members. In addition to Amy Adams, these included Karen Gilliland, Josh Cox, Karrie Beth Little, Roy Espy, Kim and Taylor Coney, Jeremy and Corry Rogers and Doyle Phillips.
Servers included Mary Larson, Connie Burcham, Teresa Bryan, Dina Barrera and two high school volunteers, Savannah Venegas and Adriana Aguirre from Andrea Lauminick’s hospitality and tourism classes. The kitchen was staffed by Alvin Woodruff and Dorothy Jamison. Preparation of the dining room was handled by Anita Woodruff and relatives from Edmond and Ardmore. A capacity 51 tickets were sold. The proceeds, after expenses, will go toward activities of the Friends of the Ferguson Home.