Harvey Girls

Bernardo, New Mexico
Kiva RV Park and Horse Motel

Yesterday we had a nice drive from Deming.  We both gave a sigh of relief when we passed our previous site of the battery blowing up back in April.

Our original plan was to stay in Truth or Consequences.  There were many parks listed and I saw one on the internet that said it was brand new and described a beautiful park.  Well the only thing new was the name.  It was a dump with permanent trailers that must not have been moved for at least 20 years.  We checked out the others in the town and decided we'd find something else.  We saw a billboard for a brand new casino rv park at exit 140.   The only problem when we arrived at mile marker 140 was there was no exit.  It turns out the park is on I 40 not I 25.  

About 10 years ago we stopped here before going to the Albuquerque Good Sam Rally.  It hasn't changed much but for $17.50 Passport America rate for 50 amp full hook ups and add in they are all pull thrus, we were happy campers. I've never seen signage that says "Yes, guns are allowed".  Another one says "Kiva RV Park--not a gun free zone."

Today we drove up to Belen to see the Harvey House Museum.  Somewhere in our travels we saw an exhibit of the Harvey Girls but neither of us can remember where it was.  

I'll give a brief story of the place so I won't spoil your visit.  Fred Harvey, a perfectionist, who worked for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway came up with an idea.  He thought that there was a real need to have stops along the railroad for food and hotel rooms.

At a cost of $25,000 the Belen Harvey House was built by the railroad.  It was said that Mr. Harvey walked in one day and the place was in total disarray.  He fired everyone and that's when he resorted to having women working.  Harvey Girls were all single and came from many farm towns.  The girls could make as much as $17.50 a month with room and board.  Their uniforms were included and they could keep any tips. Mr. Harvey was very strict and a perfectionist.

Their uniforms were kept spotless and they were even taught how to take care of them.

Two girls shared a room, but the rooms were large with huge windows.  They were allowed to decorate them.  A white bed and brown dresser were provided for the girls.

The uniforms the girls wore were all custom made from the girls measurements.

The chefs for the Harvey Houses were all from Europe.

There would be a marble lunch counter for the railroad workers or local working people and the dining room would be first class.  Men had to wear a coat and these were kept in a room for those who didn't own one.

The docent who gave us a private tour was excellent and very enthusiastic.  She said the building and furnishing were about 95% original.  I didn't get a photo but they even have the original blue prints.

 Even today the building is beautiful.  The entrance is opposite the railroad track.

It was an excellent tour made so much better by our wonderful docent, Heide.

Of the 18 hotel, restaurants, lunch room, eating house, depot and rest house, there are only a few in existence today.





As we were headed back to the RV park we took a detour.  The Ladd S Gordon Waterfowl Complex was worth driving through.

There were several observation decks for viewing.  

I'm not sure what these cages were used for, but they were a few feet apart down one section of the road.  There were large holes where some creature has burrowed into the ground.

Here's a photo of one of many water towers from Las Cruces north on I 25 that I took yesterday.  







Tomorrow we head north.  The weather has been great and we've been enjoying being outside.

Turtle Safely........