The Hemet Heritage Foundation/Hemet Depot Museum will host a free presentation, “The Harvey Girls: Civilizers of the Wild West” on Monday, Jan. 13.
In the beginning the Harvey Girls defined hospitality in the Wild West of the 1880s. They were young, single, intelligent women who were also of “good character,” and had the sort of sense of adventure that propelled them to unknown territory to work as waitresses. The Harvey Girls were described as one of the first workforces made up of all women in the Southwest, serving as most of the staff employed at the Fred Harvey Company’s hotels and railroad restaurants along the route of the Santa Fe Railway.
The Harvey Girls were famous for their impeccable service. Training was meticulous, and there were strict rules to guide them. The F
