Rue Hester liked singing at Memorial Museum

One of the highlights of Rue DeLozier Hester’s life was as a Chelsea high school girl singing at the Will Rogers Memorial.

Before her death, Mrs. Hester fondly recalled her brothers talking about Will visiting with “Aunt Sallie McSpadden. He would entertain them with rope tricks and they would rush home with news he was in town.”

But, it was the day the Will Rogers Memorial opened Nov. 4, 1938 that rang loud and clear for her. She sang with the choir that performed at the dedication and other years on Nov. 4 following the opening. Helen McSpadden Eaton, daughter Tom and Sallie Rogers McSpadden, directed the Chelsea choir.

Although it was not designed with choirs in mind, many choir directors during the past 70 years have said the rotunda steps to the family room provides the best acoustics in the world.

The Hester family, Dr. F rank Hester, Mrs. Hester, and their children, Neil, David and Elaine were frequent visitors to the Memorial over he years.

“Paula was a cousin,” said Neil, retired military who lives in Noman, “we had all kinds of connections and devotion to Will Rogers and the museum. My favorite … Will on Soapsuds … is etched in my mind.”

Mrs. Hester was later associated with the school choir and her church as a pianist and organist.

Dr. David Hester lives in Ashville, N.C., and Elaine Harley lives in Boone, N.C.