Mary the Doll
Gifting Five Generations of Companionship
Mary was a cherished family doll for over a hundred years whose journey began with Alice Helen Rodgers (1894-1955).
Alice was born at Red Range near Glen Innes, on Noogoorabul/Ngarabal country in northern NSW. Established in the 1850s, the small rural community was predominantly home to settlers who worked on local farms or at the nearby Kingsgate Mines.
Growing up in a remote settlement as one of eight children, receiving her own doll was likely a big moment for Alice. It’s easy to imagine her sharing Mary at playtime, but only if she could keep a watchful eye. As she grew up, this bond also matured.
At 22 years old, Alice gave birth to her first child, Lucy May, who tragically died soon after. (Neither birth or death records note the details of the child’s father.) Even in mourning, Alice remained hopeful for a family of her own and held onto Mary for the day they arrived.
Three years later, Alice married Horace George Hagaman (1895-1972). As she had intended, Mary became the perfect companion for their first two children, Thelma Jean Hagaman (1918-1997) and the thoughtfully-named Eileen Hope Hagaman (1919-1990).
From 1923 to 1930, Horace owned the Glen Innes Laundry and Dyeing Works where he kept local clothing in good nick – perhaps he helped maintain Mary’s prim and proper clothing? However, the Great Depression made it challenging to keep the business afloat, leading the family (now with five children) to move closer to Brisbane.
The change came with its own challenges. At fourteen, Thelma was injured after being attacked by a cow on a property near their new home in Runcorn. Despite the turmoil, both Thelma and Eileen were praised as dedicated students in local papers, with Eileen showing a talent for ‘clever sketches.’
Throughout it all, Mary remained a comforting presence. When Eileen had children of her own, Mary was given to her daughter, Yvonne Hope Smith (1944-2021). And so on, until Mary became a shared experience for five generations of women in the family.
Ultimately, Mary returned to Yvonne, who kept her safely until her passing. At that time, the family decided a good home for Mary – a witness to so much of their family story – would be the Glen Innes and District Historical Society.
