Written By Clay Riley – The Harvey House Restaurant is one of the most fascinating businesses in Brownwood, was the Harvey House Restaurant located in the Santa Fe Depot.

On December 15, 1914 the Harvey House opened for business at the Brownwood Santa Fe Depot. Fred Harvey conquered the west along the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway through strategic use of pretty girls in high-necked collars, as wait staff in his original idea of fast food for travelers. There was a restaurant and a coffee shop for a quick meal or cup of coffee, when time was limited for passengers. There was a more luxurious dining room with a much broader menu for those individuals that had more time for dining.

Of course, the kitchen and wait staff included the Harvey Girls. Not many photos survived of the Brownwood Harvey Girls. But a few have recently come to our attention, which give us a limited glimpse into the lives of these young ladies and of the original fast food company. We are fortunate to have a look into this unique historical business.

Harvey Girls

As with all Harvey House wait staff, Harvey Girls were unmarried ladies that were provided room and board above the restaurant. The lady manager enforced rigid rules handed down by Fred Harvey management. If young ladies married, then their employment was ended. Dress codes were strictly enforced for female waitresses as well as male kitchen staff.

The photo above was taken circa 1910 at the Santa Fe Depot Harvey House. A description on the back of the photos reads as follows, “Harvey House Girls in front of the Lunch Room in the Harvey House at the Santa Fe Depot in Brownwood, TX ca. 1910. The girls lived in dormitory facilities on the second floor above the Lunch Room. This photo is one of two donated to the Pecan Valley Genealogical Society by Sally Anderson Goodson of Houston.

The Sad Tale of a Brownwood Harvey Girl

(This information was provided by Virginia Hicks of California, Ivy Mauldin’s granddaughter.)

“On January 20, 1912, at the age of 19 years old, formerly Miss. Ivy Hahn of Brownwood, was married to Marshall M. Mauldin by Elder Watkins. Shortly afterward the newlyweds moved to El Centro, California.  Almost 12 months later on Dec. 12, 1912 their one and only son, William Alton Mauldin was born in El Centro where they remained until 1914 when they returned back to Texas on a train.  In June 1916 the family separated and William Alton moved to live with his grandparents William Edward and Laura Jane Mauldin in the Groesvenor area. Marshall moved back to Imperial Valley, California. Ivy stayed in Brownwood where she went to work at the Harvey House until her sad death at age 26 years old, June 8, 1917. “ Nothing is known as to why Ivy made that ill-fated decision.

The third Harvey Girl from the left is Ivy Hahn Mauldin. This photo taken in Brownwood in ca. 1917.

Reopening of the Harvey House for Camp Bowie

The Harvey House closed in 1938, as the automobile replaced most of the passenger service on train. The Harvey House reopened in 1940 as the need for accommodations of the thousands of military personnel being shipped here to the Camp Bowie Training Facility. During the time Camp Bowie was active, the local Harvey House was one of the busiest stops on the Santa Fe Line in Texas. After the end of WWII, the camp closed down and the need for the Harvey House was no more.

The building currently houses the offices of the Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce and the Gordon Wood Hall of Champions Museum, but this historical location next to the Depot was originally a restaurant offering a fine dining experience.

This and many other stories are available at the Brownwood Public Library – Genealogy & Local History Branch at 213 S. Broadway. Volunteers from the Pecan Valley Genealogical Society are there to assist you in your family or local history research.

Clay Riley is a local historian and retired Aerospace Engineer that has been involved in the Historical and Genealogical Community of Brown County for over 20 years.

Should you have a comment, or a question that he may be able to answer in future columns, he can be reached at; pvgsbwd@gmail.com.