Ferguson Features

THE LADY of the house and I took a trip back through history the other day in Watonga, touring the lovely, threestory home of the next to last governor of old Oklahoma Territory, the late T.B. Ferguson.

Some say (although it may be untrue) that Ferguson may have been the person in whose image Edna Ferber created the leading character in 'Cimarron,' a novel about the opening of Oklahoma to settlement. In any event, the Ferguson home is the place the author started the novel in 1927, while visiting Elva Ferguson, widow of the territorial governor. Ferguson died in 1921.

Mrs. Ferber slept in Mrs. Ferguson's secondstory bedroom, which has been recreated much as it was during the Fergusons' lives.

The ornate, gleaming white home, surrounded by an equally white picket fence, was restored as a museum through the efforts of the Watonga Women's Club. The museum's 10th anniversary was celebrated Oct. 3.

Except for the bathroom, few of the original fixtures in the house are left, but Blaine County citizens have been generous in providing furnishings from the same era in which the Fergusons lived. The bathroom contains the original fixtures, down to the mirror on the wall and the towel bar.

Our guide, as we leisurely toured the home, was Lillian Cronkite, a knowledgeable Watonga resident who is as accommodating as anyone I have met. She greatly added to our pleasure from the tour.

The Fergusons came to Oklahoma Territory from Kansas in 1892. He soon became a leading citizen of Watonga as editor and publisher of its newspaper, The Watonga Republican, which now is published by Tim Curtin.

Ferguson was appointed territorial governor in late 1901 by President Theodore Roosevelt and held the office until 1906, longer than any other territorial governor. He was an ardent supporter of statehood for Oklahoma, a fact that was accomplished soon after he left office.

Ferguson returned to Watonga after serving as territorial governor and continued publication of his newspaper until his death.

Mrs. Ferguson then took over management of the newspaper, and it was during this period that Mrs. Ferber gathered much of her material for 'Cimarron,' much of it provided by Mrs. Ferguson.

On the rear of the lots on which the home is situated, enclosed in an 8-foot stockade fence, is the first Watonga jail, built in 1893. It has been moved, almost intact, to the property as an added attraction for visitors. The jail floor and ceiling is made of 2inch by 6-inch lumber, laid on edge. The walls are made of 2-inch by 4-inch lumber laid on top of each other.

The jail originally had two small cells, although the bars now are gone.

The stockade-fence enclosure also contains a hand-hewn log cabin that has been moved to the property for historical preservation. It was part of a U.S. Cavalry Remount Station, northwest of Watonga, built to help keep peace among the northern and southern Cheyennes. The cabin was one of four built around a 'way' station which was used as a stopover for stage travelers.

Our tour of the museum capped off a weekend of fine hospitality extended to us by Watonga residents. We were guests of the Watonga Chamber of Commerce at its annual banquet Friday, staying at Roman Nose Lodge that night, following a reception in the home of Ernie Hoberecht, former war correspondent who now is a leading Watonga businessman.

We are grateful to many, many persons for making our stay so enjoyable.

Our final act? Going by the Watonga cheese factory and picking up several, two-pound bricks of cheddar, which is a favorite at our house.

It's delicious. The cheese factory is the only one in the state.