A lifetime of memories—carefully tucked into journals, notes, and recollections—has found new life in A Dance of Life, a memoir lovingly compiled by Carol McCormick DeHart in honor of her mother, Margaret Kane McCormick.
What began as a simple desire to understand her mother’s childhood gradually grew into something far more meaningful. While her mother was living in an assisted living apartment at the age of 91, DeHart conducted an oral history interview, capturing stories that might otherwise have been lost to time.
“I wanted to know her story,” DeHart said. “At first, I just planned to make copies for my siblings. But then I found photographs, her journals, and notes—and it became a book.”
The result is a deeply personal narrative told “strictly in her voice,” preserving Margaret McCormick’s words as authentically as possible.
McCormick’s story begins in a small “garden village” in West Pittston, Pennsylvania, nestled along the Susquehanna River. Her early years were marked by both charm and hardship. She endured several family tragedies at a young age, yet her life stands as a testament to resilience and perseverance.
Central to her childhood memories was her grandmother, a strong and influential presence. Living just across the street in a large Victorian home, her grandmother shared the house with extended family, creating a lively and bustling environment. One of McCormick’s fondest memories was exploring the attic, a place of imagination and discovery.
Her grandmother was also a pioneering businesswoman, operating a millinery shop with her sister from 1890 to 1930. Known for designing elegant hats, the sisters even traveled to New York City, where they talked with a leading milliner who allowed them to use the patterns of their fashionable hat shop. At a time when $35 was a considerable sum, their creations were highly valued. Like many businesses of that era, however, the shop ultimately fell victim to the hardships of the Great Depression.
McCormick’s story also captures the lighter moments of youth. She was popular during her high school years and eventually met the man who would become her husband. Together, they raised six children while navigating a life shaped by her husband’s work with the Department of Defense, which took the family to Ohio, Michigan, Arlington, Virginia, and Pennsylvania.
Despite the demands of raising a large family—often centered around a busy kitchen—McCormick still found time to reflect and write. Those writings became the foundation of DeHart’s book.
“It took about a year to put everything together,” DeHart said. “But it was worth it to preserve her voice and her memories.”
Through this memoir, a daughter has ensured that her mother’s life—marked by hardship, love, family, and quiet strength—will continue to be remembered for generations to come.
Books are $10 and can be found at Oasis Gallery in Harrisonburg or through the author, Carol Maureen DeHart, 540-896-6156, or cmaureen (at) earthlink.net.
