Stella Cooper

dancer/entertainer

Born to a banker and his wife in April of 1839, Stella Cooper was a handful from the start. Stella's mother had a great love of dancing, from her days as a young debutante back east, and she passed that on to her daughter. She learned every dance her mother could teach her, and when her mother couldn't teach her any more, Stella would watch the local dance hall girls at festivals and emulate them.

Rosalind Cooper sickened in the summer of Stella's seventeenth year, and by the time winter blew in, she was gone. Left to her own devices and missing her mother, Stella began to sneak out to the local dance hall to watch the performances, and within the year, Stella was performing herself. Her father found out about Stella's dancing when she was twenty, and he strongly disapproved. He came perilously close to throwing Stella out, but she offered up a portion of her wages to supplement the family income, and he grudgingly allowed her to continue dancing.

By the time James Cooper died in 1862, Stella was twenty-three and unmarried, something her father had never let her forget. He left everything to Stella's brother Jacob, with instructions to 'take care of your sister, until she sees reason and settles down with a good man'. Stella was furious, and since Jacob was newly married and obviously displeased with the idea himself, Stella told him not to bother and struck out on her own. Stella's wanderings eventually brought her to New Shelby, not long after the new saloon and dance hall was opened, and she quickly found herself in the employ of Mr. Barnum Dagfinn at The Heel Kicker. She works most nights at the saloon, either dancing or serving drinks, and occasionally -- occasionally -- is coerced into singing, a talent that she's rarely convinced to share with the public, as she considers her voice inferior to her dancing.

MUN: Stacey [contact]

For Stella's complete bio, visit her journal HERE. 

In-game timeline for Stella:

• May 7, 1867; afternoon. Drinks at The Heel Kicker: Robert MacKenzie is in need of liquid refreshment and a friendly face. [COMPLETE] 

• May 13, 1867; afternoon. A runaway bottle of shampoo: Margaret May Austin runs into Stella -- literally. [COMPLETE]

• May 14, 1867; near noon. If you've the time then I've the time: Barnum Dagfinn makes time to speak to Stella. [COMPLETE]

• June 2, 1867; evening. Unwelcome attentions: Stella runs into a bit of trouble, and requires Robert's assistance. [INCOMPLETE]

• June 22, 1867 (?) ; just after sunset. Job hunting: Mattie Ford stops by the saloon in search of employment. [INCOMPLETE]

• July 4, 1867; near dusk. Town festival: During the Independence Day festival, Stella runs into Lizzie MacKenzie. [INCOMPLETE]

• September 5, 1867; early evening. Founders' Day Dancing: With a dance area set up in the town square, Stella's enjoying herself. [INCOMPLETE]