On October 9 and 10, The Friends of the Ferguson Home Museum participated in the the 50th Watonga Watonga Cheese Festival. The Friends participated in at least three events. These included a display and activities at the Barrett building just west of the Liberty Theatre on Main Street and second, the noon parade down Noble street and a ribbon skirt fashion show.
The Cheese Festival has many tasting events
As always, there are many other activities such as cheese tasting at the City Hall, also the site of the cheese baking contest. The Lions Club offered an Onion Burger meal for $10. The Senior Club served a Chicken Noodle lunch for $8.00. Many vendors sold everything imaginable. Native American Plains Collective had a number of displays and activities including Fry Bread contests, fashion shows, and on Sunday, a Pow Wow.
Activities at the Barrett Building on Main Street
At the Barrett building, the Friends of the Ferguson Home had several activities and displays. Kristen Lockhart, the museum site director and Michelle Mendenhall , President of the Friends of the Ferguson Home arranged the displays and activities listed below. Joe and Teresa Bryan, dressed as T.B. and Elva Ferguson, visited and stand in front of many drawings and paintings by school children illustrating the 1901 Ferguson Home. The Friends awarded prizes for various age groups. Displays illustrated African American and Native American cultures. The Fergusons represented these ethnic groups while governor and in daily life. Native Americans illustrated carvings and Ledger art. Latin culture is displayed during Hispanic Heritage month. There were few Latin Americans in Oklahoma during the Ferguson time, but these few played an important role in developing railroads. Vendors offered their art for sale.
The Saturday Noon Parade
The second major activity by the Friends of the Ferguson was the Saturday noon parade. Joe and Teresa Bryan dressed as T.B. and Elva Ferguson and drove their one-owner Volkswagen Superbeatle. Of course the Fergusons arrived in Watonga in two horse-drawn wagons in 1892, but duirng their lives did see the developement of rail, cars and planes. What exciting times.
Ribbon skirt/dress fashion show
Janine Espy and Teresa Bryan showed their native American Ribbon Dresses as part of a larger ribbon dress fashion show in the pocket park across from the Liberty Theatre. Janine made her dress and complemented it with earrings, hat belonging to her father, necklace and other items. Teresa Bryan showed a ribbon skirt of Seminole origen. It was a gift from a second cousin, now living in Virginia. Native Americans also demonstrted their ribbon clothing as well. Ramona Tallbear modeled a ribbon dresses and skirt. Men participated as did children. Each part of the costume has significance.
For additional photos, see www.facebook.com/fergusonhomemuseum.
