Sunday's Column - Harvey House

This Sunday's column was about the Harvey House in Barstow.  Built in 1911 this was number four in a  chain of 84 "Houses" that Fred Harvey, an immigrant Englishman, began in 1878.  Trains were opening up the country, but there was no method for travelers to refresh themselves on the long journeys.

The building has just been re-opened as a headquarters for the local Chamber of Commerce and upstairs is a small exhibit of the original furnishings.  The station master's suite contains a bathroom, where in 1929, Winston Churchill took a bath.  He didn't stay there, just took a bath, and I was tempted to take a picture of the actual tub, but it was a little too cramped.

The Barstow Harvey House closed it's doors in 1959, but kept the restaurant running until 1970.  Two trains a day stop at the unmanned station - the South West Chief to and from Chicago.

You can read the entire article at www.sbsun.com/trevorstravels