The public is invited to enjoy a free historical program featuring the Harvey Girls which were an important part of the Brownwood Depot’s history. The program, “Harvey Girls Settle the West” will begin at 6:00pm Thursday, May 12th at the Martin & Frances Lehnis Railroad Museum, which is located at 700 E. Adams Street in Brownwood.
“The West was hell on women and horses in the 1880’s, but that changed when entrepreneur Fred Harvey placed an advertisement in a Kansas City newspaper “Wanted young women 18-30 years of age, of good moral character, attractive, & intelligent….” The question was, “Would they come?” commencing in 1883 over 100,000 young women answered the call and helped civilize the West.
The Winslow Harvey Girls are coming to town to take audiences on a walk through history with those adventurous young ladies and a one-of-a-kind Trunk Show featuring Santa Fe Railroad and Fred Harvey China and memorabilia.
Based at La Posada in Winslow, AZ, the Winslow Harvey Girls are in their 16th year as volunteers dedicated to preserving the history of the Santa Fe Railroad, Fred Harvey, the famous Harvey Girls and noted architect Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter. These ambassadors of good will dressed in 1890’s black uniforms topped with white pinafore aprons, have appeared
at Grand Canyon’s Centennial Celebration, Painted Desert Inn, the Arizona State Capital, in Gallup New Mexico’s Silver Rails & Silver Screens Celebration, Belen, New Mexico’s Harvey House Museum, and Beatrice, Nebraska’s Pioneer Days.”
The program is free; however donations are always appreciated and are currently being raised for building the 7 ½” Railroad. For more information, please call the museum at 325-643-6376.
