If Mrs. Elva Ferguson were alive, she might have written something like this in the society column of the Watonga Republican: This past Saturday, May 4, The Friends of the Ferguson sponsored a fund-raising tea for support of educational and cultural programs. Janine Espy and colleagues planned the event. Twelve members of the Friends sponsored tables including: Esther Arnold, Joe Bryan, Teresa Bryan, Connie Burcham, Jodene Carter, Eloise Espy, Janine Espy, Sandra Hightower, Janice Hood, Mary Larson and Sandra Maddux. In support of the tea, Linda Barrett and Todd Lafferty sold tickets for $10 each.
The mood was set by live music from Lisa Wolever. The food was extraordinary. The Petit Fors were donated by Connie Burcham and the tea and coffee master was Roy Espy. Linda Barrett and Sandra Maddux provided cookies.
The annual event was supported by Carl’s Apple Market, First Baptist Church of Watonga, Brand Logix Mobile Marketing, Divine Treasures and Petals and Pearls.
From the second floor above the meeting room, the whole affair was laid out in a lovely manner. Each table was adorned with china and sterling silver of the table sponsors’ choice. The stage was replete with fashions from pre-statehood to WWII. The coffee bar gleamed with sterling silver service. Many tables had a centerpiece of flowers in spring garb, some from Esther Arnold’s garden.
Young ladies from Watonga High School provided service. Andrea Lauminick and her Family Consumer Science Classes provided food and beverage service very elegantly included Michaela Barcinderbar, Charolette Fritz, Lola Lester and Adrielle Wills.
Following the tasty sandwiches of egg salad (made with four dozen eggs), smoked salmon pate and tziki cucumber, the blueberry scones were served with butter. To finish, Jeanne’s tea cakes, Earl Grey shortbread and assorted petit fors were accompanied with just the right blends of Earl Grey Tea or market spice with cream, sugar and honey.
The hostess, Janine Espy welcomed everyone, led a prayer of thanksgiving, and proceeded to elucidate women’s fashions from the pre-statehood to modern times by decade. With the backdrop of fashions from territorial times, a perfect tone was sounded.
That naturally led to the fashion show: Models from Mrs. Lauminick’s class included Kiah Black, Delilah Fritz, Serenity Lasiter, Ashley Rodriguez and Aamiyah Scofield who glided and pirouetted among the applauding attendees.
Dolls donated to the Friends of the Ferguson were auctioned, and some fine examples of lovely dollmaking were had by the winners.
Capping the event, President of the Friends Connie Burcham told of upcoming cultural and educational activities such as the visit to the Ferguson Home by third graders. Progress of fund raising to do maintenance and repairs for this national historic landmark owned by the city of Watonga indicates the Friends have already raised $39,000 with $7500 awaiting to be matched toward the goal of restoring this Victorian gem.
The hostesses are to be commended and thanked for a premier event.