AVON, Ohio — “Stagecoach” Mary Fields was born in 1832 and died at age 82. On Sunday (May 21), an actress portraying her told her story during the Avon Isabella Guild’s High Tea at the Knights of Columbus Council 3269′s Father Ragan Hall.
Robin Echols Cooper came as a member of “Women in History” to tell the story of the first Black woman to be employed as a “star route” mail carrier in the United States.
As Fields, Cooper entertained the women at the tea with stories of her mail delivery route from Cascade, Mont., to St. Peter’s Mission, an historic Roman Catholic mission located on Mission Road, 10.5 miles west-northwest of Cascade.
Fields drove the route for two four-year contracts, from 1895 to 1899 and from 1899 to 1903. The hale and hearty woman lived until 1914.
Fields was born into slavery in Hickman County, Tenn. After the Civil War ended in 1865, she was emancipated and found work as a chambermaid aboard the Robert E. Lee, a Mississippi River steamboat.
“It was both educational and entertaining and gave our guests a glimpse into Fields’ remarkable life,” Cynthia Murnyak Czarnecki, a member of the guild committee. said
The Women in History group entertains so that many accomplished women who would never be heard from will be remembered. They bring the characters to life, mostly to women’s groups.
There were 111 guests at the Isabella Guild’s High Tea, Czarnecki said.
“It is always a special occasion when Women in History show up at a women’s event. We were happy to enjoy this special occasion together,” she said.
“On behalf of the Isabella Guild, I would like to express gratitude to the other three committee members: Jerri Zigmont, Sherri Robertson and Pam Christopher, our officers, each of the guild members and our community supporters for their contributions, and to our guests for supporting our scholarship program and other charitable works.”
And then, of course, there were the tea and sandwiches.
“Our guests enjoyed delightful tea fare provided by the Emerald Necklace Inn & Tea Room,” Czarnecki said. “The tea sandwiches, scones and desserts were a big hit, as was the Metropolitan Tea Company’s Monk’s Blend Tea, that was provided by the Emerald Necklace as well.”
There was also an antique farmer’s wagon loaned out and displayed at the event from the Avon Historical Society. The wagon is owned by locals Mark and Amy Ladegaard.
The centerpieces included Civil War-era reprint fabric and authentic vintage postcards. The addresses, the postal cancellations, the words written from the senders to their loved ones and the sites being visited all offered a glimpse into the senders’ lives and what was important to them.
Czarnecki ended by saying, “This tea offered an opportunity for women to support and build relationships with other women and enjoy their company as well. This was a fundraising event, but it also allowed all to ‘Have some tea and continue to talk about happy things.’ (Quote from Chaim Potok, American rabbi and author).”
Read more from the Sun Sentinel.