A Bubble Off Plumb

Ok, listen up. Those of you who are constantly whining that there is nothing to do in Watonga are about to be proven wrong.

This Friday morning, head off to the new cop shop. It’s in the former city hall, where the council met and the city clerk’s office was. All that has been remodeled, repainted and repurposed. To debut it to the community, there will be a coffee social from 9-10 a.m. Stop over, have a cuppa joe, maybe eat a doughnut or two. Talk to the officers and the chief. It is more than a new office, it is the appropriate use of an already existing space. The move saved the city untold bucks because it did not build new and the remodel was an inexpensive one. There has been no word on whether the alleged ghosts from the old department – which was part of the even older hospital – have moved or stayed in their former location.

When the new week starts, there is the community dinner at Lucky Star Casino. That gets underway at 6 p.m. Most of you remember the old chamber banquets. This is the same type of event reimagined. Community achievements will be recognized and the town’s history will be celebrated. There will be at least one speaker of note, although the identity of said speaker is being kept under tight wraps.

This one is going to cost you $30 per ticket, but it is a nice place to eat, so you’ll get your money’s worth. And you’ll get to see all the folks you keep meaning to call and haven’t.

Right after that, it’s time for Bikes and BBQ. Maybe like me, not everyone is a bike owner, but we all love vendors and barbecue. I’ve been told there will be other food vendors as well, and this year there will be a beer tent to cool off and wash down some good ole’ red dirt ribs. The town will be packed with bikes and visitors. Who could ask for more?

Then, early in May, (which is only three weeks away) is the Ferguson Home and Museum tea party. This used to be an annual event and was perhaps the first story I covered when I came to Watonga.

Maybe a tea party doesn’t sound like that much fun, but think of it the way it would have been back in the early part of the 20th century. It was a respite from the hard work that was everyday life in 1900s Oklahoma. For a time, ladies (it was largely a lady thing) were able to share laughter and updates on their families, gossip about everyone even if they were in the room and in general let down their hair.

It is the hope of the Friends of the Ferguson that we will raise a few simoleons for the grand old lady of Weigle Avenue. There is so much to be done and it is going to be hard work and hard to raise the money to pay for it. But this is a start, and a fun way to get started.

There will be tea and cookies and finger sandwiches. There may even be door prizes and the table decorations are a gentle competition among table hostesses to see who can fancy it up the best, without being gaudy. Think Downton Abbey or the Gilded Age, Watonga style.

Tickets for that event are $10 from any hostess, or stop by the offices of the Watonga Republican for one. After all, Elva Ferguson was the editor here for more years than we care to count, so it seems appropriate that the tea tickets can be found here too.

Then we ride the time slide on down to graduation and vacation. Get out, take part and have a blast. There’s plenty to do in Watonga.