Discover the Wild West: Top 13 Fun and Fascinating Facts About Stagecoach Mary Fields

1. First Black Female Mail Carrier

Hold onto your horses, it's time for a wild ride through the US Postal Service: Mary Fields, also known as "Stagecoach Mary" and "Black Mary", was the first Black woman to grace the reins as a star route postwoman, delivering mail with unwavering reliability from Cascade, Montana, to Saint Peter's Mission for eight years, earning her a place in history and the hearts of her fellow Montanans.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

2. Two-Gun Postwoman with a Soft Side

Forget horsepower, it's all about girl power with an Old West twist: Stagecoach Mary Fields was one of the first African American women to carry mail in the United States, donning men's attire, and rocking two guns on her rounds, eventually becoming only the second female star route carrier for the postal service. Despite her badass demeanor, she had a softer side, adored by townsfolk for her generosity and love for kids, and upon her retirement after eight years, her funeral was among the largest the town had ever witnessed.
Source => history.com

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=> Fun Facts about Sojourner-Truth

3. Rifle-Toting, Revolver-Ready Mary

Mary Fields, Wild West mail carrier and star route rock star, ditched the conventional Stagecoach Barbie doll image for a rifle-toting, revolver-ready persona that even Post Malone would approve of: As the first African American woman to carry mail, Mary braved perilous roads, battled the elements, and protected her precious parcels like ducklings, all while squashing the myth that she was a gunfighter and secretly earning affection for her charity and love for children.
Source => history.com

4. Six-Foot-Tall Mailing Powerhouse

Picture a large Mary Poppins on steroids: Stagecoach Mary Fields was a 6-foot-tall, 200-pound mail-delivering powerhouse, the first African-American woman mail carrier in the US, known for her incredible kindness, skillful handyman abilities, and strong support for her beloved Cascade community, even prompting schools to close in celebration of her birthday.
Source => montanacowboyfame.org

5. Laundress and Babysitter Turned Stagecoach Superhero

Watch out, Mary Poppins: there was a babysitting, laundress-turned-stagecoach superhero in the Wild West! Meet Stagecoach Mary Fields: Originally a laundress in Cascade, Montana, she built a successful laundry service, fearlessly collected unpaid bills with her fists, and lovingly cared for children in the community, all while nurturing a passion for flowers and baseball.
Source => badassoftheweek.com

6. Trousers, Skirts, and Concealed Holsters

Well, butter my butt and call me a biscuit: Stagecoach Mary Fields often sported trousers under her skirt and apron, a sartorial power move to combat Montana's chilly climate. Not one to shy away from accessorizing, she creatively used her apron as a concealed holster for her trusty firearm, ready for action whenever necessary.
Source => americacomesalive.com

7. Whiskey Myths and Tall Tales

They say whiskey's for drinkin' and water's for fightin' out in the Wild West, but ol' Stagecoach Mary Fields might just call that a load of horsefeathers: Contrary to popular belief, the 6-foot-tall, cigar-smokin' legend wasn't much of a drinker – in fact, there's no concrete evidence that she had a drinking problem, with her penchant for booze likely being blown out of proportion through tall tales and exaggerations.
Source => history.com

8. Barrier-Breaking "Black Mary"

Before Pony Express got a bad case of the “Black Mares”: Mary Fields, also known as "Black Mary," broke barriers and mailboxes alike as the first African American woman to carry mail – and she did it with a no-nonsense attitude that earned her respect and a fierce local reputation.
Source => history.com

9. Mandolin Mary, Musical Sharpshooter

Move over Mozart, make way for Mandolin Mary: Stagecoach Mary Fields was not only the "Beyoncé of the Backcountry" with her impressive guitar, banjo, and harmonica skills, but she was also a certified sharpshooter who kept the wild west in check with her expert rifle and handgun mastery.
Source => cowboysindians.com

10. Age-Defying Fastball Prodigy

They say age is just a number, but for Stagecoach Mary Fields, it seemed more like a mere suggestion: At the ripe age of 60, she could outrun men half her age, dominate town foot races, and even pitch for the local baseball team like she was born with a fastball.
Source => nps.gov

11. Letter-Delivering Trailblazer

Move over, Pony Express - Stagecoach Mary was the original mail boss, delivering letters with a side of sass: Mary Fields, the first African American woman postal carrier, successfully tackled a 17-mile route between Cascade and St. Peters Mission in Montana, and today, her birthday is celebrated with fundraisers and mascot honors, proving that she overcame discrimination and paved a trailblazing path for generations to come.
Source => greatfallsrisingmt.org

12. Discrimination-Busting Stagecoach Driver

They say neither snow nor rain nor heat nor the pesky discrimination of the early 20th century could stop this woman from her appointed rounds: Mary Fields was a legendary figure who broke barriers as an African American woman, forging a trail of stamps and steeds as one of the first U.S. Postal Service stagecoach drivers and earning herself a well-deserved statue in Cascade, Montana, in 2021.
Source => imdb.com

13. Cascade's Beloved Multitasker

Who needs a superhero when you've got Stagecoach Mary: a laundry-owning, babysitting, beer-guzzling mascot for a Montana baseball team? Underneath her tough-as-nails persona, Mary Fields was the darling of Cascade, Montana, where she ran a laundry business, babysat local children, and became a beloved symbol of the town's sportsmanship – all while enjoying free meals and drinks at local establishments that celebrated her brave and generous spirit.
Source => postalmuseum.si.edu