The Rogers-Green House, a beautiful Prairie-style mansion, was built in 1903 by Nina and Wallace Rogers.
Robyn Robinson (right) had her eye on a painting in the silent auction collection of USM. Liz Goldman (left) and her husband, from Philadelphia, Miss., had visited the museum earlier in the afternoon and stayed for the benefit and silent auction.
Finding the stairway a comfortable place to enjoy the delicious food are L-R, front row: Marilyn and Kenny Biglane; L-R 2nd row: Missy Scarafoni of Pittsfield, MA, with parents Read and Ed Diket.
Engaged in lively conversation are, L-R, Katie Sullivan, Dr. David Sullivan, Robert Stone and Bobby Stone.
David and Towana Moffet sample the light hors d’oeuvres.
Dorothy Clark (left) and Page Harris have been patrons of the LRMA for many years.
The side lawn leading to the backyard patio with tables set up for the guests to enjoy dining under the stars.
A swimming pool was originally located where the back lawn and patio are today.
This beautiful center piece adorned a table filled with delicious light and heavy hors d’oeuvres.
Andy McDonald, on guitar, and Sue Bush, on piano, provided the entertainment for the evening.
The silent auction included miniature paintings and other items from Mississippi artists.
Guests enjoyed an evening of socializing, fine food, wine and music.
From left: Bob Stone, Carolyn Stone and Richard Green chat as they sample the delicious hors d’oeuvres.
The beautiful Prairie-style mansion was built in 1903 by Nina and Wallace Rogers, one of Laurel’s founding families. Laurel was a booming sawmill town, and Rogers managed one of the area’s largest lumber companies, the Eastman-Gardiner Lumber Company. Their son, Lauren Eastman Rogers, was 5-years-old when the mansion was built. Lauren was expected to grow up and become a community leader like his parents and grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Lauren Chase Eastman. However, at the age of 23, Lauren Rogers died from complications of appendicitis.
After his death, his parents and grandparents decided to build a museum and library in his memory. In 1923 the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art was built across the street, on 5th Avenue, from the house in which Lauren grew up in. In 1950, Eleanor and Gardiner Green, Sr., who were cousins of the Rogers, took ownership of the mansion. In considering what would happen to the mansion after their death, and the fact that their children owned their own homes and would not be interested in living in the mansion, the Greens decided to leave it to the museum. In 2003, 100 years after it was built, the mansion became the museum’s property as part of the Eastman-Rogers Foundation.
According to George Bassi, LRMA’s director, there was no endowment set up for the mansion, and the museum board realized the need to separate the museum’s finances from those of the mansion.
“The museum board established the mansion as its own entity, as a limited liability company,” explained Bassi.
Through a fund-raising event to name the mansion, it is known today as the Rogers-Green House. For the past six years, the mansion and its 1.5 acres have undergone an impressive renovation funded by corporate, group and individual donations, grants, fundraising events and income generated from renting the mansion for weddings, receptions, parties, and other social and community events.
According to Bassi, all of the planned renovation projects have been completed and the “Taste of Art and Wine” will raise approximately $10,000 for the maintenance and preservation of the mansion and grounds. Guests enjoyed music by Sue Bush and Andy McDonald, copious portions of food and wine, and participated in a silent auction of miniature paintings and other items by Mississippi artists.
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