Norma Ann Wordell Elwell

Norma Ann Wordell Elwell

Born 1934

Norma Elwell, April 2020. Portrait courtesy of Serena Parente Charlebois of Serena’s Studio.

Norma Ann (Wordell) Elwell lives on Long Highway in Little Compton. Norma’s youth was spent at Tiverton Four Corners and she attended Nonquit School. Her social life was going next door to play with Sally or she coming to Norma’s house, going 2 fields south to ice skate, or going across the road to go sliding. At age 12, she was helping Edna Snell at the Union Public Library. She was a member of Amicable Congregational Church and a choir member for a number of years.

At 15 years old she was scooping ice cream at Gray’s. In 1948, she went to high school at J.F. Wilbur for a new experience with new classmates, majoring in secretarial courses. She made the grades and graduated in 1952, going to work at a private business in Tiverton.

In 1950, Norma joined the local Nonquit Grange organization. She was been Rhode Island State Grange “Queen” in 1952 and represented Rhode Island at the November 1952 National Grange Session. Norma held many offices, including RI State Grange Pomona. When Nonquit Grange closed, she joined Little Compton to help that grange keep going. In 1954, she married classmate Walter C. Elwell and they built their home on Long Highway where 3 sons joined them. She was a Cub Scout (Den Mother) and member of Amicable Congregational Church and Acoaxet Chapel.

In 1957, Norma started as bookkeeper at Est. of C.R. Wilbur in the office across from the meat bench. Five years later, on the arrival of their second son, she did Wilbur’s books at home.

When the computer came out Norma did not have a job so in 1982 she applied for mail carrier. She got part-time and then full-time work until 1996 when she retired. In retirement, Norma has done gardening (flower and vegetable) and traveled to their house in Maine. She has continued to support all grange activities.

This year she will receive her 70 year grange certificate.

Norma, with the assistance of her husband, also contributed numerous histories to this project: Elsye Julia Johnson, Elizabeth “Lizzie” Bixby, Ida M. Bixby Elwell, Mabel Gray Wordell Bixby, Pearl L. Wilbour Hatton, Helen S. Peckham, Agnes Leeds Burchard Perkins, Edith Pearce Wordell, Emma Perry Waite, Janet Blanche Goodwin Wilber, Lois Wilbur Sylvia, Maria Wordell Petty, Mildred Wordell Seabury, Doris Simmons, Vida Sylvia, and Elizabeth M. Brownell.