Temple in Bell County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Temple's Harvey House

Food for the Santa Fe:

Photographed by James Hulse, July 3, 2026

1. Temple's Harvey House Marker

Inscription.

Temple's Harvey House. Food for the Santa Fe:. , Harvey Houses, named for entrepreneur Fred Harvey, were once located along the Santa Fe lines from Chicago to California. These establishments offered efficient and elegant service, where travelers could enjoy a hot meal served by well trained, well-groomed young women waitresses, known as Harvey Girls., Temple's Harvey House once stood on the east side of the Santa Fe Depot. Opened in 1899, it was a two-story structure and had both a lunch counter and dining room to meet the needs of both travelers and railroad crew. The second floor mainly served as a dormitory for the Harvey Girls, and had several rooms for the weary traveler., Train schedules shifted, trade fell off, and the Great Depression all contributed to its closing in 1933. It was demolished in 1937., Harvey Girl , Harvey Houses were also famous for Harvey Girls: young, decent, hard-working women, with at least an 8th grade education from around the country to serve as hostesses. The "girls" signed yearlong contracts and live next to or in the Harvey House, under close supervision. Besides their pay, they received room and board. For many of the young women, it was the first time they had left home., Their uniforms consisted of a long black dress overlaid with a starched white apron, black opaque stockings, and black shoes. They underwent six weeks of training and worked six days a week., Peach Tree Dairy Farm , As early as the 1880s, Fred Harvey began setting up farms along the train routes to ensure availability of fresh local food. In 1910, the Santa Fe Railroad and the Fred Harvey Company purchased almost 300 acres on the outskirts of Temple., Peach Tree Dairy Farm opened in 1911. Touted as one of the finest in the country, the farm supplied fresh produce meat, and dairy to the Harvey eating houses and Santa Fe dining car service in the state., Captions: , Temple Harvey House Dining Room, University of Arizona, Special Collections , Temple Harvey House Lunch Counter, University of Arizona, Special Collections , Temple Harvey House staff. Manager P.A. Craig is seated in the center, 1916 , Santa Fe Depot , Temple Harvey House

Harvey Houses, named for entrepreneur Fred Harvey, were once located along the Santa Fe lines from Chicago to California. These establishments offered efficient and elegant service, where travelers could enjoy a hot meal served by well trained, well-groomed young women waitresses, known as Harvey Girls.

Temple's Harvey House once stood on the east side of the Santa Fe Depot. Opened in 1899, it was a two-story structure and had both a lunch counter and dining room to meet the needs of both travelers and railroad crew. The second floor mainly served as a dormitory for the Harvey Girls, and had several rooms for the weary traveler.

Train schedules shifted, trade fell off, and the Great Depression all contributed to its closing in 1933. It was demolished in 1937.

Harvey Girl
Harvey Houses were also famous for Harvey Girls: young, decent, hard-working women, with at least an 8th grade education from around the country to serve as hostesses. The "girls" signed yearlong contracts and live next to or in the Harvey House, under close supervision. Besides their pay, they received room and board. For many of the young women,

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it was the first time they had left home.

Their uniforms consisted of a long black dress overlaid with a starched white apron, black opaque stockings, and black shoes. They underwent six weeks of training and worked six days a week.

Peach Tree Dairy Farm
As early as the 1880s, Fred Harvey began setting up farms along the train routes to ensure availability of fresh local food. In 1910, the Santa Fe Railroad and the Fred Harvey Company purchased almost 300 acres on the outskirts of Temple.

Peach Tree Dairy Farm opened in 1911. Touted as one of the finest in the country, the farm supplied fresh produce meat, and dairy to the Harvey eating houses and Santa Fe dining car service in the state.

Captions:
Temple Harvey House Dining Room, University of Arizona, Special Collections
Temple Harvey House Lunch Counter, University of Arizona, Special Collections
Temple Harvey House staff. Manager P.A. Craig is seated in the center, 1916
Santa Fe Depot
Temple Harvey House

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Railroads & Streetcars • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1899.

Location. 31° 5.709′ N,

Photographed by James Hulse, July 3, 2026

2. Temple's Harvey House Marker

The view of the marker along the train tracks.

97° 20.678′ W. Marker is in Temple, Texas, in Bell County. It is on West Avenue B west of S 3rd Street, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 315 W Avenue B, Temple TX 76501, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Texas.

It is also in the American South.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Santa Fe Railroad Workers (a few steps from this marker); Temple Chamber of Commerce (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Bernard Moore Temple (about 300 feet away); Santa Fe Depot (about 400 feet away); Former Site of Y.M.C.A (about 500 feet away); Steam Locomotive No. 3423 (about 600 feet away); Temple Daily Telegram (about 700 feet away); Pool of Tears Veterans Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map

Photographed by James Hulse, July 3, 2026

3. Temple's Harvey House Marker

The marker looking toward the Temple Depot.

of all markers in Temple.

Photographed by James Hulse, July 3, 2026

4. Temple's Harvey House Marker

The Temple Train Depot.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 4, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 4, 2026, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 4 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 4, 2026, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.