Harvey Houses of Silsbee
Silsbee, Hardin County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Laid out in 1894 as a sawmill town, Silsbee became a stop on the Santa Fe Railroad in 1902. By the end of that year a depot was built, and three years later a Harvey House Hotel opened. Named for entrepreneur Fred harvey, Harvey House Hotels and restaurants were located along the Santa Fe lines from Chicago to California. Offering efficient and elegant service, Harvey Houses often were an important part of a town's cultural life. The Silsbee Harvey Hotel burned in 1906, but a new Harvey House Restaurant, completed in 1908, continued in operation until 1923.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Founded as a sawmill town in 1894, Silsbee became a Santa Fe Railroad stop in 1902, and within a few years travelers could dine and lodge at one of Fred Harvey's famous Harvey Houses. Stretching from Chicago to California along the Santa Fe lines, the Harvey Houses brought crisp linens, good food, and a touch of refinement to rough railroad towns. Silsbee's first Harvey hotel burned in 1906, but a rebuilt restaurant served the community until 1923.
Why it matters
The Harvey House system helped civilize the American railroad West, standardizing hospitality and bringing the celebrated 'Harvey Girls' into towns like Silsbee—an early chapter in the story of American travel and service.
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Related people
- · Fred Harvey
Themes & tags
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