Tag Archives: Harvey Girls

Juliette Fay’s Harvey Girls

We recently wrote about Fred Harvey and the Harvey Girls with their place in history and a restaurant in the Kansas City train station. This was a simple story that detailed some of the food offered and even the Harvey Girls movie. Recently after publishing the story, we were sent information of an author that has a book on a similar subject.

Juliette Fay—acclaimed for her “well-drawn characters and historical backdrops” (Library Journal)—returns with The Harvey Girls, a sweeping, heartfelt novel set in 1920s America. Perfect for fans of Kristin Hannah and Kristina McMorris, this is the unforgettable story of two very different women who must learn to trust each other: one trying to save her family, the other trying to save herself.

Charlotte Crowninshield comes from one of Boston’s most prestigious families—but she’s fleeing a violent husband and seeking safety in the vast, unfamiliar Southwest. Billie MacTavish, the eldest daughter of Scottish immigrants in Nebraska, has been working since childhood to help support her large family. When even that’s not enough, she’s forced to find another way.

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The Harvey Girls and Railroad Dining from a Distant Time

Harvey’s at Union Station in Kansas City’s Union Station carries a rich history that intertwines with the legacy of Fred Harvey’s dining empire and the iconic 1946 film The Harvey Girls, starring Judy Garland.

Fred Harvey, a freight agent turned restaurateur, revolutionized railroad dining in the late 19th century by establishing the Harvey House chain. These establishments offered travelers quality meals, a significant improvement over the typical station fare of canned beans and cold coffee. The Harvey House at Union Station opened in 1914, seating 300 diners and featuring a remodeled dining room known as the Westport Room by 1936. This location operated until December 31, 1968, marking the end of an era when the Fred Harvey Company was sold to Amfac Inc.

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