Harvey House in Barstow marks 100 years

The landmark Harvey House in Barstow, Calif., is marking its centennial, and a  celebration is planned in the coming weeks, according to the Desert Dispatch newspaper.

[T]he Chamber is planning a community-wide carnival style celebration of the Harvey House’s 100th anniversary in the spring, although details have yet to be worked out.

The current Harvey House was completed in 1910 but opened its doors to rail passengers in 1911 as a welcome respite from long periods of train travel. Passengers could eat a fine meal on china and linens and be waited on by “Harvey Girls” or stay the night in one of the station’s 30 rooms. Famous guests include Winston Churchill, who stopped to use the House’s baths in 1929.

However, with rail travel’s declining popularity, the Harvey House closed its doors in 1971 and was slated for demolition. Several local groups came together to save the station and the city eventually purchased the property in 1990.

Rehabilitation efforts were set back in 1992 when the Landers earthquake damaged the Harvey House extensively, requiring some walls to be rebuilt brick-by-brick. The building was painstakingly restored and brought up to modern standards and rededicated in 1999.

Among the tenants at the Barstow Harvey House is the Route 66 Mother Road Museum.

Barstow was at least foresighted enough to preserve its Harvey House. Albuquerque demolished its Fred Harvey-created Alvarado Hotel in 1970 — to the city’s eternal regret. The Alvarado was partially re-created in Albuquerque as a bus and train station. Another Route 66 town — Seligman, Ariz. — also saw its Harvey House fall to the wrecking ball in 2008.

A website devoted to the history of Harvey Houses can be found here. “Appetite for America,” a recent book about Fred Harvey and the rise and fall of his Harvey Houses, also comes recommended (my review is here).

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