Some Drummond Home decorations are ruined
HOMINY — Like everything around it, the Drummond Home took a hit during the flooding caused by heavy rains May 20-21. More than eight inches of rain fell the night of May 20 in Hominy and firefighters spent hours rescuing residents out of flooded houses and swamped vehicles.
The Drummond Home, which is a nearly 115-year-old tourist attraction on North Price Avenue, had four feet of water in its basement, curator Beverly Whitcomb said. The house itself was not flooded, but the basement was a mess, she said.
“Oh, she’s muddy all right. There’s no way I can get the mud out of these wings,” Whitcomb said, as she displayed a ruined Christmas angel. Drummond Home does extensive decorating for Christmas and its decorations — trees, wreaths, lights, ribbons, and more — were in the basement.
Drummond Home has been owned and operated by the Oklahoma Historical Society since 1980. It is the ancestral home in Osage County of the extended family of Drummonds. Frederick Drummond, a merchant cattleman, and his wife, Addie, lived there. The home still contains its original furnishings and is considered an interpretation of the period 1910-1920.
Whitcomb, who has been working at the Drummond Home for about 15 years, said two sump pumps helped get the water out, and her supervisor came over from Guthrie with a humidifier, but the overall process of cleaning up after this year’s spring flooding has been slow.
“It’s just a long, slow process; slow and tedious,” Whitcomb said. Construction on the three-story sructure began in 1900 and was completed in 1905, she said.
By last Saturday, Whitcomb had separated piles of ruined decorations in the basement from groupings of items that can be kept and used again. The historical society had supplied 14 large Sterelite containers to hold items that are being retained.
Plans are also afoot for upcoming exhibits and events. The Drummond Home is planning an exhibit in August of antique China snack sets — sets of dishes that ladies used to entertain at home and at church. Whitcomb is, herself, a collector of snack sets, with more than 50 in her personal collection, she said.
Additionally, the Friends of the Frederick Drummond Home are brainstorming about a new type of event for Halloween this year. They have held a storytelling type of event in recent years, but would like to possibly move in another direction, Whitcomb said.
The home, which is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays, and from 1-5 p.m. Sundays, will be looking to replenish its Christmas decorations. Whitcomb indicated she’ll be looking around at rummage sales and so forth, but if you have something attractive that you no longer use and would be willing to donate, the home would be thrilled to have your donation.