Ferguson Features
Discover the latest news, historical deep dives, and stories from the museum.
1876 Centennial
First, thank you to all who attended the Watonga Community Coffee on July 16 held at the Ferguson Home Museum and hosted by the Plains Collective. These quarterly coffees are […]
Elva Ferguson and the Philadelphia Sesquicentennial
In Honor of our nation’s 250th anniversary, come hear the story of Elva Ferguson and the Philadelphia Sesquicentennial this Thursday, July 16 at noon at the Watonga Public Library. Bring […]
Independence Day 1907 in Watonga
I hope you had a memorable and safe 250th celebration of the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Last week, we reprinted T.B. Ferguson’s account of the […]
Independence Day Watonga, 1894
The following is reprinted from T.B. Ferguson’s account of Independence Day 1894 as published in the Watonga Republican. Independence Day in the two-year old town of Watonga “The Fourth of […]
Five Generations of Ferguson Fathers
Writing this on Father’s Day, June 21, I would like to share five generations of Ferguson fathers. Abner B. Ferguson We are most familiar with Thompson Benton (T.B.) Ferguson, governor […]
Ferguson Tea and Flag Day in Review
It was a busy weekend for the Friends of the Ferguson Home. On Saturday, June 13, the Friends held their annual Ferguson Tea and on Sunday, June 14, we celebrated […]
Ferguson Tea and Flag Day
As Connie Burcham moves to a virtual editorship, I want to thank her for her professionalism in editing these Ferguson Features. To date, I have researched and written approximately 150 […]
Changes in Personnel at the Friends of the Ferguson Board
Notice of June 3, 2026:The Board of Directors of the Friends of the Ferguson Home met May 28 to discuss recent changes. Appreciation of Friends of the Ferguson Board President, […]
The 1893 Blaine County/Watonga Jail
Concluding this series as part of the National Preservation Month, we highlight the 1893 stacked-wood jail now on the property of the Ferguson Home Museum. This jail served as the […]
Military Way Post
Continuing the Preservation Month theme for May, an interesting and important structure exists on the Ferguson Museum property. It is mentioned in the Ferguson Home National Park Service National Registry […]
Canned Beef and Home-made Clothing
One of the goals of the Friends of the Fergusons Home is to educate people on the pioneer life that persons in Oklahoma Territory experienced, endured and overcame. Mrs. Ferguson, […]
Governor Ferguson’s Oklahoma Territory
What were the areas of Oklahoma Territory when T.B. Ferguson was governor of the Territory? As in previous articles, T. B. and Elva Ferguson participated in two land runs: 1889 […]
Fergusons and the 1893 Land Run
The Fergusons also participated in the 1893 Land Run which opened the Cherokee Outlet and Strip to settlement. The Cherokee Strip is actually the 2.5 mile-wide strip across the top […]
Land Run of 1892
Continuing the theme of Land openings in which the Fergusons had an important part, this article is about the Cheyenne-Arapaho opening of April 1892. Understand that the Fergusons arrived from […]
Fergusons and the Land Run of 1889
We might call April Land Run month as two of the major land runs were in April. Land runs largely shaped Central and western Oklahoma opening land for settlers between […]
Edna Ferber
Edna Ferber is the fourth subject in this Women’s History Month series of women who had a major impact on the Ferguson Home Museum. Ferber visited the Ferguson family and […]
Theresa Hunt Tyler
Theresa Hunt Tyler served as Watonga’s first dentist. She has an important connection to the museum. Having desired to be a dentist from a young age, Teresa graduated from 8th […]
Ellen Shaw: This Old House in Watonga
The Friends of the Ferguson Home will celebrate the 169th birthday of Thompson Benton (T.B.) Ferguson on Tuesday March 17 at 5:15 PM at the Watonga City Hall. Ferguson, a […]
Mother of the year: Elva Ferguson
March is Women’s History Month. As such, I plan to celebrate the lives of four women who played important roles in the life and history of the Ferguson Home Museum. […]
The Jayhawkers: A tale of the border wars
T.B. Ferguson published a historical novel called “The Jayhawkers: A Tale of the border wars” in 1892. His characterizations of Pro-slavery and abolitionist struggling to bring Kansas into the Union help us understand the roots of the civil war. His characterization of John Brown, at least seven native American Tribes, and African Americans in the underground railroad helped shape Ferguson who later served as governor of the Territory of Oklahoma.
Racism in the Movies “Cimarron”
As we continue to celebrate African-American Heritage month, the Friends of the Ferguson Home invite you to an evening with Professor Roger Hardaway of Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alava. […]
Edwin P. McCabe
Edwin P. McCabe died March 12, 1920. At his funeral, only his wife and the undertaker were present. One wonders how such an important figure in Governor Thompson B. Ferguson’s […]
Elva Ferguson on Education and P.E.0.
Women’s education is one of the important contributions of Elva Ferguson. Likewise, the P.E.O. has promoted women’s education and service. The Friends of the Ferguson Home Museum salute the P.E.O. […]
The Pencil
Mrs. Ferguson mentions a hardship for the 1892 pioneers of Blaine County. They responded with innovation, a characteristic of Blaine County residents even today. And the solution had a wide-ranging […]
Friends of the Ferguson Home in Review 2025
As we begin 2026, the Friends of the Ferguson Home want to thank the citizens of Oklahoma for their visits and support (our new motto is “Ferguson is Oklahoma”). We […]
The First Watonga Christmas
Mrs. Ferguson continues to describe the first Watonga Christmas in her book “They Carried the Torch…” Is there no Santa Claus “And here let me say that if any skeptically […]
A Blue Christmas on the Oklahoma Frontier
We are deep in the Holiday spirit, having celebrated as a town with holiday hot chocolate, games, and lighting of the big round cedar tree. There were trailer rides around […]
Celebrating Heritage during the Holiday Season
The Holiday season is a great time to celebrate our pioneering heritage. During December, the Friends of the Ferguson want to thank everyone for their support this past week. Plains […]
From Statehood to Stewardship: Community, Culture, and the Ferguson Tradition
As part of the Ferguson Good Government Symposium for seniors in high school on Nov. 14, we celebrated Oklahoma Statehood Day (Nov. 16). Statehood was a major goal of the […]
Governor Ferguson’s 1902 Thanksgiving Proclamtion:
This week’s Ferguson Feature is the Thanksgiving proclamation T.B. Ferguson made in 1902 while he was Territorial Governor. The original is housed in the Library of Congress, “Providence has bestowed […]