Sorry to have been so quiet on the blog (although you can always find me posting more frequently on my facebook author page which I encourage you to join.) Just wanted to let you know of all the Fred news and new Fred-folks I encountered in my travels to promote the new paperback of Appetite for America.

First we were in Kansas, where Fred was recently named by the governor as one of the 25 most influential Kansans ever. We spent a few days in Dodge City, which is sort of the capital of Western Kansas and is making a play to be a bigger part of the Fredisphere–as it was during Fred’s own life (of all the Harvey cities, Fred spent more time in Dodge than almost anywhere else because he had family there, and his cattle ranch was near there.) Anyway, the restored El Vaquero–which has had a new station and dinner theater for several years–is now trying to expand into more Harvey history, restoring the first of several upstairs hotel rooms and looking into doing more Fred history at the depot and in other places in the city. (I met with a lot of folks from various institutions, who are interested in upgrading and updating the way visitors experience the town’s history.)

The main person in charge of all this–and you should add her to your growing list of Harvey Heritage contacts, is Barbara Straight, president of the Depot Theater Guild (who I predict will lead an effort soon to create a Dodge City Historical Society, because they need one.) She and Sandie Olson from the Waynoka Harvey House are developing a sister-institution relationship, because both of them would like to see folks continue their Tours de Fred east of Las Vegas and keep going to Dodge and/or Waynoka (which I recommend.)

The El Vaquero also hired a new chef, Kim Smith, who served many different Harvey dishes during the two meals we had there. They don’t have a full-time restaurant yet–he just cooks for the theater and special events–but the food is great, and we’ll soon post some of his recipes.

In Topeka, I also had a chance to finally meet the executive director of the Kansas State Historical Society, Jennie Chin, who said she has been a devoted Fredhead for some time and would love to see the museum do more Harvey-related programming.

Then Black Bart and I returned to the Southwest. In Albuquerque–where I spoke at a huge Jewish Book festival event–I met the local Harvey Girls group, which is the only one in the country (that I know of) which is officially affiliated with the BNSF. Its director is Darlene Rice. While Albuquerque doesn’t have an official Harvey building anymore–the Alvarado was torn down–it does have a new substitute: the stunning Hotel Parq Central which is a delicious rehab of the old Santa Fe RR employee hospital and a marvelous boutique hotel.

From Albuquerque I made a quick detour to LA, to speak at the San Gabriel and Pomona Valley Jewish Book Festival, where I met some local ATSF model railroaders but was also pleased to see one of the founders of the Harvey Girl historical group in Orange Empire Railway Museum. She informed me that her little group is about to become much larger and more ambitious, because a museum benefactor gave them $100,000 to broaden their efforts. I’m hoping this means they will make a big move to do a great online resource so the families of Harvey Girls can post photos, history and contact information, and maybe they can start collecting for a real Harvey Girl museum in California.

We then went to Southern New Mexico, to booming Las Cruces, which never had its own Harvey House (the closest was Deming–Fred’s most-robbed location) but enjoys its Harvey history at the local railroad museum. For those interested in a Harvey contact there, Garland Courts, the museum director, was our gracious host.

Perhaps our biggest and most pleasant surprise is that El Paso, TX has a thriving Harvey Girls group, run by the indefatigable Pres Dehrkoop and a great interest in its Harvey history, based at the lovingly restored Union Station (run by FH from the early 1900s until 1948) and its gem of a railroad museum, run by trainiac Prince McKenzie.

Meeting Pres and her El Paso Harvey Girls, and TK and her Albuquerque HGs just reminds me it’s time for a truly national Harvey Girl convention and reunion. Perhaps next year in Kansas City, when the National Archives does its show on Harvey Girls!

Well, that’s my update. Now, all you old and new Fredheads, talk amongst yourselves!

This article is copyright © 2024