Norvelt, Pennsylvania facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Norvelt, Pennsylvania Westmoreland Homesteads
Census-designated place
Post Office and Norvelt Union Church Mount Pleasant Road
Etymology: Eleanor Roosevelt
Norvelt, Pennsylvania Location in Pennsylvania Show map of Pennsylvania Norvelt, Pennsylvania Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Westmoreland
Township	Mount Pleasant
Founded	1934
Area
• Total	1.79 sq mi (4.64 km2)
• Land	1.79 sq mi (4.64 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	1,010 ft (310 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	846
• Density	472.10/sq mi (182.28/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	15674 (Norvelt)
Area code(s)	Area code 724
School District	Mount Pleasant Area School District

Norvelt is a small community in Mount Pleasant Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. It was started in 1934 and was first called Westmoreland Homesteads. In 1937, it was renamed Norvelt to honor Eleanor Roosevelt, a famous First Lady of the United States.

Norvelt was created during the Great Depression, a time when many people had no jobs or money. The government built Norvelt as a special community to help coal miners who had lost their jobs. The goal was to give them homes, work, and a better way of life. This was different from older "company towns" built by mining companies, which were often very basic.

The award-winning writer Jack Gantos was born in Norvelt. He wrote two books about the village.

Norvelt's Historical Marker

A special sign, called a Pennsylvania Historical Marker, was put up in Norvelt on September 8, 2002. It tells the story of the town.

The marker explains that Norvelt was first called "Westmoreland Homesteads." It was started on April 13, 1934, by the United States government. This was part of a program called the New Deal, which aimed to help people during the Great Depression.

Norvelt had 250 homes and gave housing, work, and a community to families who were unemployed. In 1937, the town was renamed "Norvelt" to honor Eleanor Roosevelt. She was the First Lady and cared a lot about this project.

How Norvelt Was Built

Why Norvelt Was Needed

During the Great Depression, many people lost their jobs, especially coal miners. The government wanted to help these families. In 1933, a law called the National Industrial Recovery Act set aside money to create "subsistence homesteads." These were planned communities where people could live and grow their own food.

Norvelt was one of the first of these communities. The idea was to help people become more independent. It was also meant to free them from relying only on factory or mine jobs, which could disappear suddenly.

The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), a group known for helping people, played a big part. They had already been helping unemployed coal miners in places like West Virginia. Their ideas helped shape the government's plan for these new communities.

Building the Homes

Westmoreland Homesteads in September 1936

In April 1934, the government bought a large area of farmland in Mount Pleasant Township. This is where Westmoreland Homesteads (Norvelt) would be built. A local architect named Paul Bartholomew designed the community.

He planned 254 individual lots, each with a simple, one-and-a-half-story Cape Cod style house. These homes had 4 to 6 rooms, including a living room, kitchen, bathroom, and bedrooms. They also had water and electricity.

The remaining land was set aside for a cooperative farm, a school, a playground, and a post office. These original homes are still called "Norvelt Houses" by people living there. A six-room house on more than 2 acres of land cost about $2,131. This was a very low price for families at the time.

Many people wanted to live in Norvelt. Over 1,850 families applied, but only 254 received houses. The first residents helped build their own homes. They rented their homes from the government for a small fee each month. This money went towards buying the house later. By 1946, all the families had bought their homes.

These early homes were designed to help families be self-sufficient. They often had a grape arbor, land for a garden, and chicken coops. The government also gave families tools like wheelbarrows, rakes, and shovels.

A view of Westmoreland Homesteads in September 1936

In May 1935, the first families moved into Westmoreland Homesteads. They started their gardens and raised animals like hogs and chickens. Some families grew enough extra food to sell. Later, in 1939, a small clothing factory was built in Norvelt. By 1940, it employed about 150 people, giving residents more ways to earn money.

Eleanor Roosevelt's Visit

On May 21, 1937, Eleanor Roosevelt visited Westmoreland Homesteads. She came to celebrate the last family moving into the community. She believed that cooperative communities like Norvelt could help prevent future economic problems.

The people of Westmoreland Homesteads were so happy she visited that they decided to rename the town in her honor. They combined parts of her name, "Eleanor Roosevelt, " to create "Norvelt."

Norvelt was a success in helping people during the Great Depression. Even though some of its original goals, like everyone farming together, changed over time, it provided homes and a fresh start for many families. Today, you can still see signs of its original name, like the "Homestead" laundromat.

Education in Norvelt

Hurst High School

Hurst High School was built in 1905. It served as both a high school and a junior high school. The school was an important stop on the electric railway line from Latrobe. Many students rode the orange electric cars to and from school.

In 1961, the school districts of Mount Pleasant Township and Borough joined together. Hurst High School and Ramsay High School became the new Mount Pleasant Area Junior and Senior High School. Today, the old Hurst High School building is used for small businesses and offices.

Norvelt Elementary School

Norvelt Elementary School opened in 1938. It is a primary school that is part of the Mount Pleasant Area School District. It is the biggest building in Norvelt. It was designed to look like Independence Hall in Philadelphia.

The school is a two-story brick building. It was updated and made bigger in the early 1990s. It sits on a hill, looking over the fire department and post office. Norvelt School has a large lawn with a baseball field and playground. The Norvelt Colts football team uses the grassy area for practices.

The first school building in Norvelt was not big enough for all the children. So, some students went to class in the morning and others in the afternoon. The government provided school lunches, often including bean soup and peanut butter and honey sandwiches. This original school building later became the Norvelt Fireman's Social Club.

Public Services

Fire Department

The Norvelt Fire Department is made up entirely of volunteers. It is located on Mount Pleasant Road.

Roosevelt Hall

The Norvelt firefighter's hall is called Roosevelt Hall. It is named after Eleanor Roosevelt. This hall is often used for events like wedding receptions.

Post Office

Norvelt has a US Post Office branch. It used to be across the street from the clothing factory. Today, the post office is in a renovated building on Norvelt's main street, close to the fire department.

Sports and Fun

Baseball

Norvelt is home to PONY League Field. This field hosts Little League and PONY League Baseball games all summer. There is also a second baseball field in front of Norvelt Elementary School. This field was used by teams from the garment factory and the volunteer fire department.

Football

Hurst Hurricane Football

Hurst High School had a football team called the Hurricanes. They were very good, losing only one game in 1925 and 1926. Their coach was Robert Mitinger Sr., a great player from Greensburg. His son, Robert Mitinger, became an All-American player for Penn State and played in the National Football League.

The Hurst Hurricanes had an amazing undefeated season in 1927. Their team also included John Murtha, whose son, also named John Murtha, became a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. The Hurst team won the WPIAL (Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League) championship in 1931 and again in 1938. Some players from the 1938 team, like Joe Glamp, Walt Gorinski, and Joe Cibulas, even went on to play in the NFL for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

In 1961, Hurst High School closed when the school districts merged. The football field at Hurst Stadium is now the home of the Mount Pleasant Junior Football Association.

The Norvelt Colts

Norvelt is also home to the Norvelt Colts Football Team. They are part of the Mount Pleasant Area Junior Football League. Their motto is "The Area's Team." The Colts have won 12 league championships since 1965.

Golf

Norvelt Golf Course is located at the Norvelt Golf Club. It opened in 1968. The course has narrow fairways and water hazards on some holes. Steve Bosdosh, a famous golf teacher, grew up in Norvelt. He is a PGA golf professional.

Geography

Town Sections

Norvelt has two main areas, called "A" section and "B" section. They are connected by two roads, East Laurel Circle and West Laurel Circle, which form a loose circle about 2 miles long. These roads wind through rolling hills and are lined with trees.

Waterways

Norvelt has many small waterways. The largest is Sewickley Creek. This creek flows through several nearby towns, including Norvelt. A group called the Sewickley Creek Watershed Association works to protect the creek for fun activities like recreation.

Norvelt also has many smaller creeks. These small creeks often have stone blocks along their sides and run next to the circular streets and through people's yards.

Population

Norvelt in Books

The book Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos is set in Norvelt. This book won the 2012 Newbery Medal, which is a top award for children's books. It also won the 2012 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction.

Jack Gantos also wrote a second book about the town called From Norvelt to Nowhere, which came out in 2013.

See also

In Spanish: Norvelt para niños