by Andra Moss

This photograph, published in the May 13, 1928, Hartford Courant captures the sight of the first airplane to ever land in Norfolk. The flight and landing apparently took place nearly two months earlier, on March 27, with the plane managing to set down without incident on the property of the Stoeckel estate. The caption notes that behind the plane can be seen, “Haystack Mt., 1933 feet high, where Mrs. Stockel is erecting a tower with perpetual light to be given to state as a guide for airplanes.” This seems a bit of early airplane promotion or public relations spin. It is quite unlikely that Ellen Stoeckel was thinking of aircraft when she made plans for the tower. The Courant had previously reported on February 10 that, “a tablet will be placed in the new stone tower, explaining the purpose of the light, having inscribed on it the name of Carl Stoeckel, and the words “”Requiem Anternam dona eis Domine et lux perpetua luceat eis”” – (Eternal rest give unto him, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon him)”. No information could be found about the pilot or the occasion for the March 1928 Norfolk landing. However, the photo could have been selected to run on May 13 to honor the anniversary of Charles Lindbergh’s 1927 solo trans-Atlantic flight. That history-making journey began with Lindbergh’s trip on May 12, 1927, to bring the Spirit of St. Louis on its maiden journey from San Diego to New York.