Ferguson Features

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We had a busy week at the Ferguson Home this week. A lady from Iola, Kansas, her Aunt from Austin, Texas, a group from Cordell, a lady from Hydro, and others from this area, making a total of 17. The group from Cordell remarked that we really have a jewel here. The lady from Hydro said she specifically came to see the museum and wanted my phone number so she could give it to someone and they could set up a tour. I was giving the museum phone number and she asked if the number was mine, I told her, no it is to the museum. She said she wanted mine, so I gave her both. This really makes us feel good that they want others to come see the museum. The only man in the group from Cordell said he had learned several things while we were in the kitchen.

Clay was up Tuesday and Wednesday working around the museum. He raked and bagged 10 bags of leaves. There is still a lot in front that need to be bagged.

We have a beautiful decoration artifact. It has an arch on top and opens in the center front with a hook lock to keep it closed. It’s a goldish brown with gold filigree on front and the edges. It is also padded as if to protect the contents. The inside center has a lady with a long head covering and writing around her head making it look like a halo. I thought it was a halo until I cleaned it. I can’t make out all of the writing but the ending is Virgin. She is on something white that possibly is alabaster. The inside is padded too with gold filigree around the edges like on the front. Someone wrote “Augusta” on the back. That makes me wonder if it used to belong to Augusta Loosen. This is an assumption on my part.

The Orphan Train presentation at the Liberty Theater was very informative and entertaining. Their research was pretty thorough and they were talented musicians. They had written songs with words pertaining to the orphans. When she said she wanted to tell us a part of one of the chapters and spoke for a few minutes as if reading it was amazing. The life those children endured was sad. Some were orphaned and others the parents were so poor or in bad health they couldn’t provide for them. They were loaded on a train in New York City not knowing where they were going. Some families were split up. Some of these children were so responsible they had been caring for their younger siblings and then were torn apart because the new family couldn’t take in all of them. Some of the children got good parents and families but some not so good. They were closed adoptions making it difficult for the children to find their birth families. Don’t forget the Chicken

Noodle Dinner fund raiser March 18, 2022, 5:00 to 7:00 pm, at the Christian Church, 400 N. Noble. It will be carry out, delivery, or dine in. For deliver, call 590-623-5069 before 4:00 pm March 18. Be sure to leave name and call back number.

Sandra Maddux will be giving a program on card making April 2, 2022, 10:00 am at the Watonga Library. Please call the museum to register so we know how many card kits to have ready. Sandra makes beautiful paper cards and other paper items. You may have seen some of her work at the Christmas Bazar.

We have stopped taking applications and are now doing interviews for the position as Site Director.

Hours of operation are Wednesday thru Saturday 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Closed state holidays. We are always happy to open after hours for special tours. Just give us a call at 580- 623-5069 or 580-614-1018 to make arrangements.