Visit by Ninth Grade Oklahoma History and Government Students and Third Grade, Watonga Public Schools

Freshmen Oklahoma History/Government Classes

The Friends of the Ferguson Home Museum hosted the Watonga Ninth grade Oklahoma History and Government classes at the Ferguson Home Museum on April 7, 2026.  This is an annual event. Former students remember the experience with fondness.

Friends of the Ferguson Home and assistants

Michelle Mendenhall coordinated the visit with the school and volunteers from within the Friends and senior students.  Volunteers included Roy Espy, Mary Brown, Esther Arnold, Teresa and Joe Bryan, Hunter Martinez. Senior Watonga students Boomer Mendenhall, Ayden Perez, and Dominic Meiller assisted.  Connie Burcham attended in the afternoon.

Introduction to Oklahoma Territorial and Statehood History/Government

For the approximately 60 ninth and tenth graders, Joe Bryan gave a welcome and introduction highlighting themes of the Ferguson. These include Journalism, government, music, award winning novel and cinema “Cimarron”, privation of food and clothing https://fergusonhomemuseum.org/canned-beef-and-home-made-clothing/, Frontier Soldiers of the IX and X Cavalry , and Law and Order.

In the kitchen, demonstrations of the wood/coal burning stove, coffee grinder, pressure cookers, and wall mounted phone were aptly presented by Mary Brown and Esther Arnold. 

Teresa Bryan spoke on items in the music room and the organ used to write the first state song of Oklahoma (a different organ than the one shown).

Second floor with demonstration on beauty and fashion, bathroom and sleeping balcony.

On the second floor, Michelle Mendenhall demonstrated methods of beauty of the period, the original bathroom and the areas where the family generally lived. In the summer, the family slept on the balcony (there was no air conditioning.

Third floor houses native American and early dental/medical tools

On the third floor, Hunter Martinez demonstrated the area where Dr. Tyler, Watonga’s first dentist lived as well as medical equipment and native American items donated to the Ferguson.

The Cavalry Station

Outside, Roy Espy informed the students of the use of the cavalry supply facility made of dove-tailed logs for easy assembly/disassembly.  These facilities were located at a day’s travel distance.  They were used in transit from Ft. Reno to Ft. Supply and later Ft. Sill in patrolling the western part of Oklahoma Territory. 

1893 Stacked Wood Jail

The 1893 stacked wood jail housed a number of “famous” prisoners in addition to being a fairly unique structure.

 This image of half of the students in the ninth grade and some older who had missed earlier tours indicates the visit was educational and fun activity.

Third grade visit.  In the afternoon, the Watonga third grade class visited and saw similar areas history.  One addition was the home-made ice cream.  The students learned where to get ice during the pioneer days, milk, sugar, vanilla and rock salt.  They learned something of the thermodynamics of adding salt to make a very cold brine in order to freeze this mixture.   Several had a chance to crank the mixing mechanism. The students enjoyed a taste of home-made ice cream made by Teresa and Joe Bryan.

See videos and more photos at www.facebook/fergusonhomemuseum.org

Respectfully,

Joe P. Bryan, Secretary, Friends of the Ferguson Home