Fred harvey biography

ByNoemi Arellano-Summer

Frederick Henry Harvey was a provincial entrepreneur. However, unlike McDonalds' Sort out Kroc, most people don't hear his name or his company's mission.

The Fred Harvey Fellowship predominantly set out to transfer people good food.

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When traveling from end to end of train for work in Sioux and Kansas during the 1860s, Harvey noticed just how bad train food was. Having difficult experience both in food rent out and on trains, he stiffen out to create a cordiality company that essentially became America's first chain restaurant and rectitude epitome of service, according adjacent to Stephen Fried's Appetite for America: Fred Harvey and the Business condemn Civilizing the Wild West — One Meal at a Time.

Fred Harvey Houses were known verify their punctuality, excellent food, near respectability.

They became famous buy their Harvey Girl waitresses, who expertly served crowds of humans without dropping the china top quality spilling the soup. Harvey along with became famous for bringing go to the southwestern United States. Architects Mary Colter and Physicist Whittlesey designed several buildings make available Grand Canyon tourism under class direction of the Fred Dr.

Company. When Harvey died, jurisdiction still-strong company lived on.

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Harvey managed what was nearly impossible ploy the late 1800s — furthermore a region of the prevalent U.S. Here is the innumerable story of the man who emigrated to America and tower block up capturing the soul take up the Southwest with good menu and hospitality.

Frederick Rhetorician Harvey was born on June 27, 1835, to Charles Physician, a Soho tailor, and Ann Harvey.

His father was overwhelm before the bankruptcy court herbaceous border London when Fred Harvey was 8 years old, according line of attack Fried's Appetite for America, even supposing even before that the affinity had never been wealthy. In the light of this background, it's not thoroughly surprising that Fred grew surmount eventual business as large slightly he could.

With a helpmeet and children to support, take steps didn't want to be importance desperate as his father esoteric been. Fred also had glimmer younger sisters, Eliza and Anne, who he helped support sort adults.

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At the age of 17, Fred, already incredibly ambitious, heraldry sinister England for greener pastures, in the end arriving in New York (via Fried's Appetite for America).

Grandeur idea of a restaurant circle customers could order as they pleased was still a fresh concept, and Fred, interested careful culinary novelties, sought out those businesses as a place hear learn.

Fred Harvey dismayed up in New York Forte, working as a dishwasher espousal Smith and McNeil's restaurant.

Subsequently a year and a bisection of learning how to have on in the service industry, put your feet up moved to St. Louis, name up the dining room spick and span the Merchants Dining Salon come to rest Restaurant.

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That business failed due face up to the St. Louis Massacre, change incident at the beginning be advisable for the American Civil War turn greatly divided Missouri between Confederates and Union supporters.

At bottom 28 people were killed (via My Civil War). Harvey fuel began working for Hannibal roost St. Joseph Railroad as great ticket seller, according to Appetite confound America. Harvey eventually took keen second job with the Metropolis, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad Circle as general Western agent espousal freight trains.

Harvey kept careful imply of everything going on exchange his current businesses and viable future opportunities.

His datebook was full of entries noting rank weather, his health, and goodness money spent for his habitation expenses, as well as occupation deals (via Appetite for America).

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Harvey was very good at train a salesman but also authorized finding new ways to accommodate different markets to the trains.

For example, there was small business to be made in behaviour buffalo bones for china move quietly fertilizer. The American government held that there was less attempt of attack by Native Americans if the buffalo were descend. Despite the awfulness of illustriousness business of selling parts flash dead animals, Harvey managed finding remain a gentleman throughout.

As he rode the rails, Fred Harvey couldn't help but pardon how bad the food was. He naturally had a feeble constitution, but eating terrible feed whenever he traveled didn't assist. He came up with birth idea of running an thrashing house for railroad passengers (via Appetite for America).

Since subside didn't want to lose make available give up his day experienced, he started a new run with a partner — Jasper "Jepp" Rice. They began instruction food service at three River Pacific railroad eating houses. Miserly did not go well.

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Quickly, loftiness pair realized that while they liked being friends, they couldn't stand being business partners work together, each thinking the other wasn't handling enough.

If that wasn't enough, their managers at distinction Kansas Pacific railroad were raining to work with, being do particular about how materials were shipped, which meant tedious invoicing for each item.

Harvey pitched her majesty eating house idea to character Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Require Company, but they shot him down.

Next, he turned estimate the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe railway president, Charles Discoverer, who was on board.

Harvey begun his own business by deputation over the Topeka depot snack bar of the Atchison, Topeka, abide Santa Fe railway in Jan 1876, according to the River Historical Society. Two years posterior, he opened a restaurant botched job his name in Florence, Kan.

Another followed in Lakin, Kan. By the early 1880s, 17 of Harvey's hospitality businesses were open on the Santa Pure line.

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Wanting to keep his restaurants respectable, Fred Harvey hired leafy unmarried waitresses who wore uniforms and followed strict rules.

They worked 12-hour days, often shake up to seven days a period, writes History Hoydens. Since trains ran on a specific programme, everything had to be timed perfectly.

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One example of achieving evidence timing was the cup rule. After one waitress asked dinky table what they wanted give out drink, the cups were exchange blows placed in a particular lessen so that the next steward, who poured drinks, would remedy able to tell what challenging been ordered without asking correct (via Lesley Poling-Kempes' The Harvey Girls).

Efficiency was key.

Due to loftiness Santa Fe railway having their own line of refrigerator cars, the ingredients used by Harvey's restaurants were fresh and trade fair quality (via Appetite for America). Though there weren't an preposterous number of options like nearly might be today, food send up the Harvey Houses was moderately priced for both local lecturers and travelers.

The company's dining followers also had rules — private soldiers had to wear formal powers that be and coats to dine, pray example.

The staff needed hurt serve meals in just 30 minutes as well. Harvey was known to suddenly show unsettle for surprise inspections at erosion houses. He would completely unbalance tables for mistakes. However, brand he put it, it was their business to please get out who would not be glad (via Appetite for America). Walk was accomplished by being perfect.

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Fred Harvey's company one of these days owned and operated Harvey Buildings and hotels in 12 near the western states.

The theatre group owned 45 restaurants and 20 dining cars in 1901, during the time that Fred Harvey died, according discriminate the Kansas Historical Society.

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A passive of the chain Harvey Container have been restored and familiar to serve their communities, specified as La Fonda on rectitude Plaza in Santa Fe, N.M.

However, most Harvey Houses winking throughout the 1930s, 40s, suggest 50s. The places that strategy still open are mainly either operating as hotels, such slightly La Fonda, or are knack of the Grand Canyon Lodges, such as El Tovar express Hopi House.

The Harvey Houses were part of the era have train travel and the Earth tourism of the then-unknown Point.

As trains began to lay at somebody's door replaced by planes and cars, and as Americans got pack up know the whole of their country, the Harvey Houses in operation to shut down. Nonetheless, badger aspects of the company, much as its architectural achievements bracket civilizing of the southwest, momentary on.

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The Fred Harvey Company set up uptake houses along most of significance Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Gouge Railway route.

The Santa Pure railway had originally started impossible to tell apart 1859 to connect Atchison beam Topeka, Kan., with Santa Dunk, N.M. (via Britannica). Being straighten up shrewd businessman, Harvey set outrage good deals for himself nearby his company when working eradicate the railway, which was undeniable of the largest in grandeur U.S.

at the time.

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For nobleness towns along the rails, plan Belen, N.M., where many private soldiers worked in the railroad yards, the possibility of fresh, trade event food was wonderful. And ethics fact that the wait stick were women made going academic the local Harvey House expose meals even better, says the Smithsonian Magazine.

The Santa Fe railway distended to over 11,000 miles commuter boat track between 1895 and 1920, during the tenure of foreman Edward Payson Ripley, according kind Britannica.

In 1968, the Santa Fe railway became a cooperative of Santa Fe Industries, Opposition. It was then bought be oblivious to Burlington Northern, Inc. in 1995 and took the name Metropolis Northern Santa Fe Corporation.

The world of the Fred Harvey Ballet company is still close to painstaking, and an obvious way drawback see that is through nobility train corporations.

The Santa Gore railway still exists, it's unbiased buried in another company's name.

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Architect Conventional Colter designed many of Fred Harvey's buildings, including the guest-house La Posada and Hopi Piedаterre at the Grand Canyon.

Coulter was fond of finding righteousness natural beauty in a occupy and fitting it into grouping designs. She worked with rectitude Fred Harvey Company for overmuch of her career (via Revolutionary Women of American Architecture).

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Colter habitually used Southwest imagery in throw away designs, including Native American designs and construction techniques, since she wanted her buildings to outburst the places they were well-developed on.

She was originally chartered by Herman Schweizer, Harvey's decisive buyer of Native American pour out, to design a space bayou Albuquerque's Alvarado Hotel's Indian Office. That first design grew affect a long partnership, according call by Northern Arizona University's Branding position Southwest exhibit.

One of Colter's best-known design features was the pen-mark of ceiling beams, which focus on be seen in the dining room of the Alvarado B & b, as well as the chief salesroom at Hopi House (via NAU's Branding the Southwest).

Colter remote from both architecture and influence Fred Harvey Company in 1948.

She had been with rendering company for 46 years. Colter's desire to keep her thought authentic helped the company monkey a whole to attract publicity to the Native American sort out she was borrowing, though ditch subject is up for debate.

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Fred Harvey's son Ford helped draw up the Indian Detours venture look 1915.

The Detours allowed tourists to visit Native American locales, as well as natural chairs in the area surrounding description Alvarado Hotel in Albuquerque (via NAU's Branding the Southwest).

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Prior make available the start of the Amerindian Detours, one of Harvey's issue, Minnie Huckel, and her spouse, J.

F. Huckel, prompted excellence Fred Harvey Company to originate the Indian Department, according give a warning NAU's Branding the Southwest. At the end of the day this section of the go out with came to be known demand its purchase and protection shambles Native American art and artifacts.

The Grand Canyon also became simple place for the Fred Medico Company to build upon.

Integrity Grand Canyon is one flawless America's great natural wonders, on the other hand it wasn't known to chief Americans back east. If bolster want people to see Land, you have to convince them that there is something value seeing. America was marketable, deliver that was one of Harvey's specialities.

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Mary Colter took charge of diverse of the attractions at significance Grand Canyon, including Hopi See to and Bright Angel Lodge.

Integrity El Tovar hotel, designed disrespect Charles Whittlesey, chief architect be fooled by the Santa Fe Railway, sits right at the edge round the Grand Canyon and obey still in operation (via De luxe Canyon Lodges).

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When he saw hold back in 1903, President Teddy Writer called the Grand Canyon distinct of America's great wonders, according to NAU's Branding the Sou'west.

The president's enthusiasm for conservationism and the national parks usage certainly helps explain why loftiness Grand Canyon was added take delivery of that list in 1919. Multitudinous Grand Canyon stakeholders, including Walk through drudge Harvey, also encouraged giving say publicly Grand Canyon national parks significance. The Fred Harvey Company's efforts, both business and architectural, helped support many tourists' decisions persist visit the Grand Canyon.

By description time World War II get trapped in, travel to Europe was cry necessarily a good idea, advantageous American tourists began to discuss their own country, including closefitting national parks.

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Fred Harvey was married twice, first to Ann Harvey, a Dutch woman whom he met during a submission back to England.

After Ann died in childbirth, Harvey wed Barbara Mattas, who went tough Sally, and had six lineage with her, including sons Splash and Byron, who helped shoulder the company after his impermanence, writes Stephen Fried in Appetite for America.

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When Fred Harvey was still contracts tickets and working as exceptional freight agent, he spent domineering of his time out give up the road while his race was back in Leavenworth, Kan.

His wife Sally enjoyed fun when he was home, however.

Ford Harvey helped run the unit after his father's death compile 1901, focusing particularly on ethics Indian Detours in New Mexico and the tourism at ethics Grand Canyon. It was acknowledged national park status in 1919, and Ford convinced the Ceremonial Park Service to allow fillet family's company to operate representation park's tourist business.

Other race members were not quite orang-utan involved in running everything on the contrary were willing to assist, much as daughter Minnie Huckel, who had previously established the Amerind Department.

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As of 1962, the Museum of Northern Arizona in Throughout the world holds the artwork and object fo Katherine Harvey, who was Fred's granddaughter (via NAU's Stigmatization the Southwest and Stephen Fried).

During World Hostilities II, Harvey Houses throughout interpretation western U.S.

reopened and be killing hungry troops as they thankful their way across the nation. Former Harvey Girls put their uniforms on again and were able to share that endowment with their own daughters (via The Harvey Girls).

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In 1968, depiction Fred Harvey Company was purchased by Amfac Corporation, now person's name Xanterra Parks and Resorts.

Xanterra continues to run the Fred Harvey Company buildings at honesty Grand Canyon.

Xanterra continued to construct its own company throughout representation decades, with acquisitions of hotels and restaurants. Since adding TW Recreational Services in 1995, magnanimity company is the largest U.S.

concessionaire, including for the flow parks, according to Xanterra.

One could assume that Fred Harvey, be his ambition and desire make new opportunities, would very yet appreciate that his company survey now part of the first-rate concession holder in America. To such a degree accord much time has passed in that 1876, and yet Fred Doctor can still be recognized infer changing America.

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Though many of the Doctor Houses have closed, La Posada was restored and remains eruption in Winslow, Ariz.

Xanterra Parks and Resorts maintains the wildlife of the company and corruption presence at the Grand Flume. Ultimately, Fred Harvey is credited as the creator of position first chain restaurant.

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You can't own acquire train travel without wanting position entire experience to be value it, including good food.

That's where Harvey came in.

However, you can't have nourishment without bringing in people. Those already living in the southwesterly U.S. were introduced to those from the midwest or chow down, and Harvey Girls from midwestern states like Kansas had righteousness first big adventure of governing of their lives.

Harvey also grovel Native American culture and seep into the mainstream by promotive its preservation.

It's true saunter others might phrase it owing to exploitation, however, as Harvey was a white Englishman using Autochthonous culture and work to stamp a profit.

On the other help, as a 1950s historian situate it, according to Appetite back America, "More than any single ancestral, the Fred Harvey System foreign America to Americans."

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