At Last
Hear Ye!  Hear Ye!
The Word Is Out
Rain or Shine

Dedication, Ribbon Cutting, Open House and ISTEA Party

  Frisco Depot 
Frederick, Oklahoma

Wednesday, Novmeber 18, 1998
12:00 Noon

At Last Our Dreams Are Becoming a Reality

"S Construction," Lawton, Oklahoma was the successful bidder of the contract to restore the depot. The buzzing of saws and banging of hammers are certainly "welcome noises" at the depot. The office and waiting rooms will be restored as near  to original (circa 1915) as possible. We have in our possession some of the early pieces of furniture that were actually located in the depot during this time period. The warehouse area will be used for other exhibits with the large elevated "glassed-in" display case down the center for delicate exhibits. This display case will also facilitate the heating and cooling duct work which will be located under the case with air ducts coming out of the sides.

The wall on the south end of the warehouse area that contains so much dated graffiti will be preserved. It is felt that this local graffiti wall has a story to tell of its own and adds to the color and flavor of the museum.

The contractors at S Construction projected the completion date for the depot restoration is September 1, 1998, which will not be one day to  soon. Before that completion date, we hope to have construction started on Phase II of the overall project which will include landscaping, security, implement shed and/or country store. Come by and share with us any ideas you have for this complex. 

Tillman County Museum Complex Operation leased to OHS

With the unanimous backing and support of the Board of Directors, the day to day operation of the museum has been leased to the Oklahoma Historical Society.  This has enabled our own Frances Goodnight to be hired on as a part time employee to do what she loves best, working at the museum. Mrs. Goodknight works 20 hours a week as a paid employee of the Oklahoma Historical Society and is still volunteering much other time as a museum sifter.

As our complex is completed the Oklahoma Historical Society will provide for additional employees in the form of a grounds keeper and a full time curator. This means jobs for Frederick! While the grounds keeper position will most likely be filled locally, the curators position, due to its state mandated requirements will most probably mean at least one family moving to our city.

While OHS will run the museum on a day to day basis, the long range planning goals, vision, and most importantly the ownership and/or guardianship of all artifacts remain the responsibility of the Tillman County Historical and Educational Society. Our society's board has final say in all matters pertaining to these artifacts. With these safeguards in place, we feel this will insure a professionally run, locally orientated museum with a very long and secure future.

  Articles Needed for Display in the Museum

Frances has complied a "Dream List" of artifacts she feels that we all need to be on the look out for. These items would go a long way to helping us "complete" some exhibits and expand others.

The" list" is as follows; quilts, all kinds but especially "Friendship Quilts", anything from Gosnell or Hazel; large picture of Abraham Lincoln; Ink Well for students desk; telephones (esp. Candlestick); oven that fits on stovepipe of wood  burning stove; complete egg incubator with kerosene heater; things for country store; filling station and cream buying equipment; anything pertaining to RR or depot; exhaust for Maytag washer; early directories business ads, souvenirs, etc.; photos of trains, downtown, cotton, dairies; copies of Prairie Lore.

If anyone has or finds any of these items and would like to donate them give the museum a call at 580-335-5844 or email Bradford Lee Benson (bradbenson@pldi.net)