Will Rogers Memorial Museums docents visit California ranch

Will’s California home
Hoytanna Benigar (left) and Judy Eagleton, docents at the Will Rogers Memorial Museums in Claremore, are greeted by Randy Young, Will Rogers Ranch biographer, who gave them a personal tour of Will’s California home.

 

Will Rogers Museums — The more they learn about Will Rogers, the more they want to learn.

Judy Eagleton and Hoytanna Benigar, members of the first graduating class of Will Rogers Ropers, soaked up stories of Will Rogers in the weeks of intensive training to prepare them to be docents.

Eagleton, who was born and raised in Claremore, said she thought she “knew a lot about Will Rogers.” But, after weeks of Roper training, “ I realized I didn’t know Will,” she said.

“The more you learn, the more you want to learn,” Benigar said.

They have taken docent training to another level — a visit to the Will Rogers Ranch in the Santa Monica Mountains of Pacific Palisades, California.

Three years ago on a California trip with traveling buddies, they wanted to go to the ranch, but it was closed for renovations. This year, their eighth trip with many of the same group and their fifth time to do California, they got the royal ranch tour arranged especially for them by Jennifer Rogers Etcheverry, Will Rogers’ great-granddaughter.

Betty’s writing desk
This desk, where Betty Rogers wrote a book about her husband after his death, brought poignant memories to Claremore Will Rogers Museums docents Hoytanna Benigar and Judy Eagleton, who read the book during their training sessions last year.

“Seeing Betty’s desk where she wrote her book, we recalled all the memories of her book,” Benigar said solemnly. “Will Rogers” by Betty Rogers was one of the required reading during their training.

“If it had been three years ago, we wouldn’t have appreciated it as much,” she said.

Randy Young, Will Rogers Ranch biographer and friend of the Rogers family, “was very gracious,” they said. “He gave us the extended tour into non-public places.”

 

Family wing
The north wing of the Will Rogers California ranch contains the family’s bedrooms, sunroom, Will’s study with a view of the golf course and the library-music room.

Will and Betty’s bedroom
Will’s boots are at the bedside in the master bedroom of the family wing of the Rogers’ ranch home in Pacific Palisades California.

 

They saw the rooms where they family entertained, rustic in style with river stone fireplace (rock from the property), a Texas Longhorn steer head (horn span of seven feet) over the fireplace, and branding irons from the home ranch in Oologah on the hearthstone. Rough cedar ceilings are complimented by wood carved figures of Will’s favorite horses, ceilings are rough cedar, wagon wheel light fixture is made from a wagon wheel found on the land. Western art by family friends Charlie Russell and Ed Borein decorates the walls. Saddles and tack hang on the mezzanine railing. Native American textiles are on the floor, throws on couches and sometimes hung on walls. Zuni baskets, gifts from E.F. Hutton, were throughout the house.

The kitchen, very modern for its time has a nickel, copper and iron sink, six burner electric stove, Dutch oven and built-in electric refrigerator. Goblets, plates and dinnerware used by the family are in place at the little green table in the kitchen, where they sat with such notables as the Charles Lindbergh family.

Patio dining
The pergola and outdoor fireplace was a favorite gathering and dining place for the Rogers family.

An outdoors setting — huge fireplace and pergola — is where Will and his family most often ate and entertained.

It was in the 13 rooms in the family wing that they got a fresh glimpse into the Rogers family and the privacy that was special to them. The family bedrooms, library, music room with Betty’s piano and Will’s collection of autographed books offers a view of the four-hole golf course where Young told the visitors Bobby Jones once played.

Will Jr.’s “Oz” series is still on his bedroom bookshelves.

 “Oh, it is beautiful,” Benigar said of the barn where the family horses were stabled.” Randy said the horses had the best view.”

Ropers first volunteered during the November 2008 Will Rogers Days. Benigar and Eagleton enjoy meeting people from all over the world, but are just as excited when Claremore and Rogers County people visit the museum.

One of Claremore most vigorous cheerleaders. Eagleton said “I just love Will, have always loved Claremore and Will Rogers … People in Claremore, especially school children should know more about him.”

Her grandfather was born in 1879, the same year as Will, and grew up around Chelsea.

 

Golf course
A view from the Will Rogers office at his California ranch offers a scan of this four-hole golf course, where it is said Bobby Jones played.

Judy at ranch

Riding path
Children were riding at the Will Rogers California ranch when docents from Claremore visited.

 

(Editor’s Note: In 1944 Mrs. Rogers deeded the 186-acre ranch to the state of California for public use. Located in the central Santa Monica Mountains, the park offers panoramic views of downtown Los Angeles and the Pacific Ocean. A major restoration of the home was completed in 2006. For information and details about the park, visit www.parks.ca.gov.)