Category Archives: Norvell Family History

When Ohio and Michigan Went to war

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

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My Dog Spot …

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 ???

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

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Santa is Sad this year

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

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F4 Crash in Alaska

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 , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

My Mother and the Turkey — A Thanksgiving Fable

  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

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Stories from the family Vault

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

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

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

An Officer’s Lady on the Frontier

Elizabeth Proal Norvell (1848-1931) was the wife of Colonel Stevens Thompson Norvell, an officer of the 10th Cavalry, one of the famed Buffalo Soldier regiments on the great plains.    Life for these women who accompanied their husbands to the … Continue reading

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