There is a lot going on with the Friends of the Ferguson Home during the so called ‘slow season.’ Mary Larson, our treasurer, is preparing tax documents for about 100 members or donors in 2024 and these will be mailed out soon. We thank you for your generosity. And look for a calendar of events and application for 2025 membership renewals in the packet.
At 6 p.m. Tuesday, January 28 at the Watonga Public Library, Michael Mayes of the State Historical Society will give a talk on early Oklahoma calabooses (tiny jails). Watonga has a unique 1893 jail made of stacked 2x4 and 2x6 lumber. Geary has a similar but smaller version, both built by the Pettis brothers. If you didn’t read Connie Burcham’s article in the January 15 edition of the Watonga Republican, I recommend it. Michael Mayes did an outstanding job of traveling the state looking for these old structures that played an important part in establishing law and order, something Governor Ferguson promoted. Here is a link to the interactive map Map of Calabooses And only one week later, on Tuesday, Feb. 4, Dr. Roger Hardaway, professor of history at Northwestern Oklahoma State University at Alva will give a presentation in honor of Black History month. This will be again at the Watonga Library at 5:30 p.m. Ferguson was a friend and protector of African Americans who were playing an important part of developing Oklahoma Territory as buffalo soldiers, establishing all-Black towns, as cowboys and as members of Ferguson’s administration.
We very much appreciate the contribution of approximately $500 made by Watonga High School seniors in the honors English class. These funds are being used to reconstruct the fence at the Ferguson that was damaged in the June 2023 storm when the ancient tree fell. Donnie Dunn, head of the Watonga City Parks Department was able to save more than 40 pickets, and these have been refurbished for the fence. An additional 40+ pickets are being cut by neighbor LeRoy Phillips and others and constructed by Earl Carmichael. We will need some friends of Tom Sawyer to repaint the fence this spring!
The museum is open for tours from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 2 -4 p.m. on Sunday. There are so many interesting artifacts in the museum from the Ferguson era (18921946). And watch out for flying paint chips as we start preparing the outside for paint and new windows on the third floor.