Al Southwick: The legend Charley Parkhurst, Worcester's one-eyed stagecoach driving woman
Al Southwick
Worcester has hosted a number of colorful characters over the years. One of them was Charley Parkhurst, deserving of some notice from the women’s rights brigade. Old Charley was one tough old stagecoach driver, expert in guiding loaded wagons through rugged mountain trails.
Charley was also female, a fact discovered after her death.
Born about 1812, perhaps in Worcester, perhaps in New Hampshire, Charley, maybe a runaway from an orphanage, apparently was drawn to horses and the livery business at an early age. Charley was hired by Ebenezer Balch’s livery stables in Worcester in the 1830s and moved with Balch to Providence a few years later.