Category Archives: Norvell Family History

A Letter Home

Posted on May 30, 2017 by jenorv

Stevens Thompson Norvell (1835 -1911) enlisted in the army on January 23, 1858 as a private in Company A 5th U.S. Infantry. One of his first assignments was as an infantryman in the West; later he would fight with Teddy … Continue reading →

Posted in American History, Battlefields, Michigan History, Military history, Norvell Family History | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

When Ohio and Michigan Went to war

Posted on April 29, 2017 by jenorv

In 1834, my great-great grandfather John Norvell found himself embroiled in a controversy that involved Michigan with her neighbors. Ohio and Michigan had long claimed a disputed section of land which included the Toledo area. The dispute over this area … Continue reading →

Posted in American History, Michigan History, Military history, Norvell Family History | Tagged | Leave a comment

My Dog Spot …

Posted on March 10, 2017 by jenorv

Well actually he is a very big male cat. I say this because about a week ago I got a letter from a local governmental agency, which shall remain nameless, saying “it has come to our attention that you have … Continue reading →

Posted in American History, Anchorage, Anchorage Alaska, New York, New York State History, Norvell Family History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Home Repairs ???

Posted on January 4, 2017 by jenorv

The time after the holidays is always a good time to regroup. We put away the decorations and get back to those projects and repairs that have been neglected. So it was when I was younger as well. My father … Continue reading →

Posted in American History, Norvell Family History, NY, NY History | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Santa is Sad this year

Posted on December 7, 2016 by jenorv

For  44  years my old Air Force friend and I  sent the same Christmas card back and forth in an ongoing tradition.  This began when he sent the card to me, before I was married,  when I was in flying … Continue reading →

Posted in American History, Christmas, Holidays, Norvell Family History | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

F4 Crash in Alaska

Posted on November 25, 2016 by jenorv

In Alaska, December is a bitter month. I have previously written about attending arctic survival school outside of Fairbanks when it was -50F and the techniques I learned to survive.  Still it gave me, and every fighter jock I flew with, … Continue reading →

Posted in 43 TFS, American History, Anchorage, Anchorage Alaska, F-4 Phantom II, F4 emergency, F4 Phantom II, Fighter Aircraft, Norvell Family History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

My Mother and the Turkey — A Thanksgiving Fable

Posted on November 13, 2016 by jenorv

  My mother wrote the following story many years ago: “When I was young, our neighbor came home with a parcel of turkeys and chickens. Since there wasn’t much traffic on our road, he let them run wild.   This … Continue reading →

Posted in American History, American holidays, Norvell Family History, NY, NY History, Thanksgiving | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Stories from the family Vault

Posted on November 1, 2016 by jenorv

Families often have stories that are not shared with younger members, one such story concerned my grandfather.     My grandfather Hamilton Redfield Norvell was born in Detroit in 1863, when his father died in 1881 leaving the family with … Continue reading →

Posted in American History, Detroit History, Elbert Hubbard, New York, New York State History, Norvell Family History, NY, NY History, Roycroft, Social History | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Halloween House

Posted on October 18, 2016 by jenorv

When I was small my father carved a large Jack O’Lantern for me. It was a very special bonding moment. One that I will always remember.  Perhaps that is why I have always liked Halloween. It started out innocently enough. … Continue reading →

Posted in Air Force, Alaska, American History, Anchorage Alaska, Halloween, Hauntings, Holidays, Norvell Family History, NY, NY History | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Moose Recce and other Alaskan sports

Posted on August 25, 2016 by jenorv

My wife was a big cross county skier when we lived in Alaska. Luckily Anchorage had an extensive series of trails.  So every winter, she and a friend would load the dogs — hers a Malamute, ours a Samoyed– into … Continue reading →

Posted in 43 TFS, Alaska, Alaskan Air Command, Alaskan glaciers, American History, Anchorage, Anchorage Alaska, F-4 Phantom II, F4 Phantom II, F4 PhantomII, Norvell Family History | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment