Have you ever heard of "Harvey Girls"?

[femmocrat]

This is cool... I never heard of them, but NM is honoring their contributions to settling the West:

No monuments or signs commemorate them. In fact, they often were relegated to history’s sidelines. But the women who for decades ventured to work in iconic Fred Harvey establishments along the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway line are gradually getting their due.
Mayors of Santa Fe and Albuquerque, along with Gov. Susana Martinez, have declared Saturday as Harvey Girls Day in honor of more than 100,000 women who helped transform the West.
Their adventures began in 1883, when the girls began answering Fred Harvey Co. ads in newspapers throughout the Midwest and along the East Coast. Wanted: Well-mannered young women ages 18 to 30 years old to work as waitresses in dining rooms attached to remote stops along the new railway.

More at link:

http://www.santafenewmexican.com/life/features/researchers-document-harvey-girls-who-helped-transform-the-west/article_defa81a8-e3d8-5911-84dd-2516640e81ac.html

There is even an old movie about them, starring Judy Garland! http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038589/

[montanacowboy]

1. Yes, Hollywood made a movie

about them and I think it's called The Harvey Girls starring Judy Garland

Very interesting, they all dressed in startched white aprons and hats and I believe they all lived in one place.

[Duckhunter935]

2. Yep

Saw a special on them.

[femmocrat]

6. There is also a documentary (mentioned in the article).

Not sure where one could see it though.

Here is the link to the sneak peek: http://www.santafenewmexican.com/sneak-peek-at-the-documentary-the-harvey-girls-opportunity-bound/youtube_d0036390-010f-11e5-ba2f-9f21b29f09e0.html

[rurallib]

3. Remember seeing the movie on late night TV back in the 60s

Only remember the name these days.

[monmouth4]

4. They were also quite disciplined. No Hooters were they....n/t

[femmocrat]

5. From reading the article, it looks like they had to be.

They didn't want to be mistaken for "loose" women.

[TheCowsCameHome]

7. Yep, sure have.

They were legendary in the west.

[BarbaRosa]

8. Yup,

having lived in Taos for a few years and then SW NM for the next 50 years, yes I have.

[elleng]

9. Heck yes!

[iandhr]

10. Nope never have

[IllinoisBirdWatcher]

11. Grand Canyon, Illinois Tollway, and many other locations

Fred Harvey had the concession contract at many National Parks. Probably the most famous was the El Tovar Hotel at the south rim of Grand Canyon.

When the original Illinois Tollway opened as a bypass around Chicago in the late 1950's, Fred Harvey had the exclusive on restaurants in the Tollway Oases which were unique for their time because they were built over, rather than next to, the traffic lanes.

[Frustratedlady]

12. Yes, my mother-in-law and her friend were hired as Harvey Girls.

They were trained to check for signals, like where the glass was placed, which would signify what type of drink the customer had ordered ahead of arrival. Same with food. Thus, the customers were always amazed at how they were able to serve them so fast.

[NV Whino]

13. Yes

And I was in a masters painting class with the grandson (or maybe great grandson?) of Fred Harvey in Santa Fe many years ago. Nice kid, and he had some talent. The class was invited to paint at both Harvey residences. Good times.