The Friends of the Ferguson want to thank everyone for their support last week. On Thursday (Dec. 4), the Plains Collective (Cheyenne and Arapaho) provided educational programs at the Ferguson Home. The home was often used for educational purposes. James Black, a 1989 graduate of Watonga High School, demonstrated and discussed his art drawn on antique ledger paper. Cheyenne captives drew their stories on scrap ledger paper while detained at Ft. Marion, Florida. Wilber Bullcoming explained the significance of the detailed symbols in the Cheyenne-Arapaho legend. On Friday night, the Friends of the Ferguson Chapel ran a tractorpulled trailer from Centennial Park to the Ferguson Chapel and then past the Ferguson Home where they were greeted by a beautiful tree in the curved bay windows and a candy cane.
Michelle Mendenhall reports a very good response to the breakfast with Santa held at the Noble House on Saturday morning. We thank the Woodruffs for hosting and for Santa and his helpers for the unique experience. Also on Saturday, Dec. 6, the Ferguson Home Museum had a booth at the Holiday Bazaar, which is sponsored by the Home, Community, Education (HCE) clubs of Blaine County. We appreciate all who voted (with currency) for one of the seven holiday trees on display at the Ferguson Home. The rehabilitated model of the Ferguson by Teresa Bryan with its holiday lights was beautiful.
Perhaps you noticed the two DVDs on the pegboard at the Ferguson booth. These are the 1931 and 1960 editions of the movie “Cimarron” based on a book by Edna Ferber. These movies were released at this time of the year, (December 1960). Of these, Mrs. Ferguson writes in her Book “They Carried the Torch:…”it will be remembered that some years ago when a noted New York author came to Oklahoma for material for a book and moving picture, the work of the pioneer weekly paper impressed her so deeply that the entire romance was woven about one of these papers. She quoted many paragraphs from the early day files. The success of the book and picture is too well known to need any comment (Won the academy award for best picture in 1931). Within the past four years I have seen copies of the book in many foreign countries, printed in many different languages. Thus we realize that not only in our own land but in far countries are folks interested in the romance of the pioneer newspaper” ( Watonga Republican). Please remember that Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus will be at the Ferguson Home Museum the next two weekends so that families may come by and make memories and photographs with the elfin couple. Bring your camera or phone. There is no cost for this holiday visit.