Barbara Tewell is our new site director. Welcome Barbara. I took her through and showed her were different things are stored and discussed how to care for the antiques. We will begin reviewing the office files and other documents next week. Now that Covid is getting better we can start planning programs and events again.
We’ve had 7 visitors this week. Two couples from out of town and three people from Watonga. One couple from Ft. Cobb came by on Friday. She said she had been here about 10 years ago with her children and wanted her husband to see the home. The other couple was from Oklahoma City and made a day trip to come out. Both couples were really interested in Governor and Mrs. Ferguson’s history. They took lots of pictures. One lady took a picture of the Restoration Sign and is going to post it on Facebook. The Watonga couple and their daughter came for our first Ferguson Market; and stayed for a tour.
One of the vendors brought cookies and a pork and rice dish and was sold out by 11. She said she would be back when we have it on July 10th. Another vendor brought a trailer with lots of items and it was getting bare in center. I jokingly told her she needed to go get more. She will also be back in July.
I discovered this week that we have a U. S. Flag that flew over the White House in 1972. The certificate was signed by U. S. Representative John N. Happy Camp.
I’m going to give some history of the Ferguson’s because it was brought to my attention that not everyone knows how important Governor Ferguson was not only to Watonga but to the whole state. The Fergusons came from Sedan, Kansas, in October of 1892 by train to Kingfisher and from there they acquired two wagons. He drove a covered wagon with the newspaper equipment and she drove a spring wagon with their two sons and the house hold items. It was dark and it had been raining so the streets were a muddy mess, the town was lit up by the light of seven saloons when they arrived. She looked down at her sons that were asleep and said this isn’t a fit place to raise a family we are going back to Kansas. Mr. Ferguson asked her to give it a try which she did and they stayed. He came with the idea of starting the Watonga Republican and the first paper was printed October 12, 1892. The paper has only had three owners, the Fergusons, the Curtins, and the present owner Grant Wesmer. In October it will be 129 years that our weekly paper has been being published. More to follow.
Clay was out Friday working on the front porch, then he and Anthony came out Saturday and worked on the second floor balcony. We got a ladder long enough for them to reach parts they couldn’t before. We know it looks bad now but it won’t after it’s finished.
The future Ferguson Markets will be held July 10 and August 7, 8:00 to 12:00. If you would like to have a spot call the Ferguson Home at 580-623-5069 or just show up. Be sure and leave your name and phone because we don’t have caller ID. Hopefully gardeners will have garden vegetables available by then. There is a small fee for the space.
We welcome anyone interested in joining the Friends of the Ferguson Home or volunteering on any projects we have going on.