Portrayal of “Stagecoach” Mary Fields at Dover Library 

The College Club of Tuscarawas County and Dover Public Library will host actress Robin Echols Cooper as she portrays Mary Fields, better known as “Stagecoach Mary,” an African-American entrepreneur, stagecoach driver and pioneer who lived by her wits and her strength. This event will take place on Thursday, October 22 at 6:30 PM in the community room of the Dover Public Library, located at 525 N. Walnut Street.

Mary Fields was born a slave in Tennessee in 1832. She grew up an orphan, never married, had no children. She traveled north to Ohio, settled in Toledo and worked for a Catholic convent that relocated to Montana. When Mary was turned away from the mission because of her inappropriate behavior, the nuns financed her in her own business. She opened a cafe but she drove her business into the ground several times because she would feed the hungry. In 1895 she found a job that suited her, as a U.S. mail coach driver for the Cascade County region of central Montana. She and her mule Moses never missed a day, and it was in this capacity that she earned her nickname of “Stagecoach”, for her unfailing reliability.

Robin Echols Cooper, who joined the Women in History organization in 2000, is a storyteller, performing and visual artist. Robin grew up on a small farm in Ohio where she enjoyed listening to songs and wonderful stories. She has been writing and sharing stories all of her life. Robin received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications with minors in art and theater from Ohio State University. She has been telling stories professionally since 1992. She has performed in a wide variety of venues. She also presents creative specialized workshops in the art of storytelling. Her affiliations include Young Audiences of Greater Cleveland, Inc., The National Association of Black Storytellers, The Cleveland Association of Black Storytellers, Inc., and Western Reserve Association for the Preservation and Perpetuation of Storytelling, Puppetry Guild of Northern Ohio.

This program will be held on Thursday, October 22 at 6:30 PM at the Dover Public Library, located at 525 N. Walnut Street. To register, visit www.doverlibrary.org/events or call the library at 330-343-6123.