She was an heiress, but her best known parties were open to some of the poorest citizens in town.  She was declared legally unable to manage her own interests and finances, but she was a renowned musician, respected community member, and well-loved friend to many.  Local legend calls her a recluse, but she was a frequent attendee to events she hosted.  She only lived in town for a few months a year, but her philanthropy made a lasting impact on Huntsville.

Her name?  Mary Virginia McCormick. 

I recently had the pleasure of traveling to Wisconsin to study some of the McCormick family archives and view primary sources about Virginia's life, including diaries, correspondences, and notes by her nursing staff.  Buckle in for an adventure in catchy songs, May Day celebrations, and donations towards healthcare equity as I share what I learned on my road trip to, in a way, meet Virginia.

For more Huntsville, Alabama, history you can subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, follow us on Facebook and Instagram at @lilyflaggpodcast, and check out our website (with show transcripts) at lilyflaggpodcast.wordpress.com.

This episode is sponsored by WeAreHuntsville (wearehuntsville.com, @WeAreHuntsville on social)