August 22, 2011

• Road Trip : Barstow CA

  Years ago I saw the movie "The Harvey Girls" starring Judy Garland,
  she sings "The Atchison,Topeka and the Santa Fe" in the movie.
  .

  From then on I have been interested in the history of  "The Harvey House"
  
  At the age of 15, Fred Harvey left his native England for the United States.
  Upon his arrival in New York City, Mr. Harvey began working in the restaurant business
  in New York. The Civil War was bad for restaurants, but good for the railroads, and
  Mr. Harvey made a career Over the next 20 years, Mr. Harvey moved ever westward
  and ever higher in railroad business, but never forgot the restaurant business.
  Traveling for the railroads over the time reinforced Mr. Harvey's view
  that improvement was needed in the food department. Upon arrival in Kansas in 1870,
  Mr. Harvey met Charlie Morse,
  President of the fledgling Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway.
  
  For the next near century, Fred Harvey's company would bring good food at reasonable prices in clean, elegant restaurants, to the travelling public throughout the Southwest.
  They also brought civilization, community, and industry to the Wild West.
  Only 15 years later, there were 17 Harvey Houses; at their peak, there were 84.
  

  The Fred Harvey Company would recruit women via newspaper ads from towns and cities across the United States. The women had to be of good moral character, have at least an eighth grade education, display good manner and be neat and articulate to work in his restaurants.
  In return for employment, the Harvey Girls would agree to a six month contract, agree not to marry and abide by all company rules during the term of employment.
  If hired, they were given a rail pass to get to their Company chosen destination.
  They became known as "Harvey Girls"
  

  On our recent road trip @Saintvi and I stopped at  former Harvey House in Barstow CA.
  in the Mojave Desert. This Harvey House is known as the Casa del Desierto 
  which now functions as an unstaffed  Amtrack passenger station
   as well as housing Barstow city offices and two museums.
  Route 66 "Mother Road" Museum  
  and
  Western America Railroad Museum
  
  
  
  

  Here are some photos from then and now
  
  

  The Lunchroom
  
  

  The Formal Diningroom
  
  

  The hall
  

  The Balcony
  
  

  
  I could easily imagine the hustle and bustle of days gone by when the station was at it's peak
  with weary travelers and girls in uniform.

  We had books with photos of the sights along Route 66
  that we had  people sign when we stopped at places.
  He signed my book, I took this photo on the steps
  because there is a photo of the steps in the book,
  
  

  • 7:32 pm
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