Entrepreneur Fred Harvey is much better-known than architect Louis Curtiss. After Harvey’s death in 1901, Curtiss designed some of his “Harvey House” hotels and restaurants for the Fred Harvey Company. Said to be the first restaurant chain in the nation, they were dotted along numerous railroads serving the American Southwest beginning in the late nineteenth century. The Harvey Houses (eighty-four of them at their height of popularity) are noted for the “Harvey Girls” – young, single, women who Mr. Harvey hired to work in his restaurants. A surprising (or not) number of them went on to marry men they met through their employment. These hotels and restaurants were often credited with helping to bring civility to the southwestern part of the country.
The Sequoyah Hotel was one of several fabled Harvey Houses which were designed by Curtiss. Located in Syracuse, Kansas, along the Santa Fe Railway, it was opened in 1908 and demolished in 1972 (well, 99% of it… details below). The back of the postcard depicted below reads, in part, “The hotel is built of reinforced concrete in mission style of architecture which has been modified somewhat to meet modern conditions.”
Um, no. In his riveting and thoroughly documented exposé of Curtiss usurper Mary Colter entitled “False Architect: The Mary Colter Hoax“, author Fred Shaw more accurately describes the structure in this way: “Curtiss’s Sequoyah was an uncommon hybrid of the Vienna Secession melded with elements of Mission architecture.”
Several years ago I ran across a light fixture in an antique mall. Its tag read: “Sequoyah Harvey House Dining Room Light. Old Harvey House Syracuse”. It must have been sitting there a long while as the tag was worn and the price was discounted 50%. I had to have it. I still haven’t found a use for it, but I will. Now, here is where the uncertainty comes in… I started looking at photos online to see if I could find a match to this fixture. The only image I could find which was specifically identified as the dining room of the Sequoyah had similar, but not exact, fixtures. However, an image of another Curtiss-designed Harvey House – the Bisonte in Hutchinson, Kansas – did show identical fixtures in the dining room. The Bisonte was demolished in 1964 and replaced with a Ramada Inn. The Harvey House in Wellington, Kansas, (which was older but might have been updated by Curtiss) also used these fixtures; the draped chain can clearly be seen on the globe in the foreground. The Wellington Harvey House was demolished in 1965.
So, did my fixture come from another depot or did it come out of a room other than the dining room in the Sequoyah? Or – is the lithographic postcard depicting the dining room of the Sequoyah so retouched that the fixtures depicted are not true to life? Currently, I’m inclined to think this; the image is simply not an actual photograph though it is based on one. Hopefully a clear, actual, photograph of the Sequoyah’s dining room will emerge and answer the question. It would be very cool if Curtiss designed the fixture, but I would assume that the fixture was merely specified by him. Any insight into this issue would be greatly appreciated!
The Sequoyah Hotel and Santa Fe Depot designed by Louis Curtiss shortly after construction. Note the blocky wing at the far end of the structure… amazingly, this portion was saved when the building was demolished in 1972 and it still stands today (neglected, of course).
The dining room of the Sequoyah Hotel as depicted in an early 20th century lithographic postcard. The light fixtures appear to be similar, but not identical, to my light fixture. What is that crazy strapping on the ceiling beams all about? The light fixtures seen in a photo of the Bisonte’s dining room appear to match mine exactly (sans chain draped over glass globe).
This is all that is left of the depot and hotel today… a utilitarian space which appears to be forgotten. Image courtesy Google Street View.
A better view of the remnant. Image source: http://trailsandtreasures.com/images/Kansas%20FH/Syracuse/203-0348_IMG.JPG
The still-vacant site of the Sequoyah. Image courtesy Google Street View.
Here’s the light fixture I finally found today after Montana’s incessant nagging. Squeaky wheel gets the grease! The frosted glass globe is missing; I hope it will not be too difficult to find a suitable replacement.
The only bit of documentation I have. But is it accurate?
The very cool hexagonal canopy came with an original spacer or shim which appears to be handmade of some durable (perhaps fireproof?) material.
thank you thank you – i can die happy now. Ross has a go-to guy named Bo who is up on all the hardware of houses etc – hinges, knobs, pocket door hardware, etc. and is mentioned many times in his blog. i bet he would know who made this lamp. it’s pretty cool and looks quirky enough to possibly not just be a catalog item although there was some pretty neat stuff back then,
How fascinating, and what a charming and unique structure. Have any of the others survived?
There are a few depots which have survived, as well as one or two hotels. I might post about them at some point, but I’ll give everyone a break from Louis Curtiss after today’s post!
WTF – they ripped down that wonderful place and left that little piece. what the heck for. another poke in the eye of history. rather than just another empty lot, if you remembered and loved the old hotel, now you get to be sad every time you drive by and see this poor little remnant. thanks so much and would you like to kick me in the ribs while you’re at it. what the hell are people thinking – oh, right, they’re not
the mindset of the current inhabitants of the white house and us capitol i think are similar to the mindset of those who destroy buildings like this with no thought to the future. it’s always better to repurpose and many time cheaper than to destroy the past. and especially in this case – for what – a vacant lot with a sad reminder of what was. in the words of the eminent exitentialist philosopher, Charles Brown – AAUUUGGGGHHH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have a copy of The Syracuse Journal, published in Syracuse, Kansas, June 5, 1936. In this article it
state : ” Light equipment of the hotel is being shipped to other hotels throughout the system.” So…
those light fixtures could be in ANY Harvey House !
In the book, “Appetite for America” written by Stephen Fried and copywriten in 2010, has quite a lot of information about Fred Harvey and the Harvey Houses. A picture shows the Harvey Girls in Syracuse, Kansas!…as well as the building where the Harvey Girls lived.
Thanks, Joan! It does appear that the same fixtures were used in multiple Harvey Houses. For those interested, here’s a link to the book (available on Amazon): Appetite for America
Ms. Joan Sutterfield, I read your comment about a Syracuse Journal article. I grew up in Syracuse and remember (only ten at the time) how the community of Syracuse tried to save the “Harvey House” as a museum however, the railroad stated it was too close to the tracks and it had to come down, so sad.
Syracuse has a Facebook page by the name of “Remember in Syracuse” that the community at large shares in, pictures etc. It has a museum as well as the Syracuse Journal that is still published weekly and in regards to that.
I am not sure it is possible but, is there anyway that your copy of the Syracuse Journal could be shared to my hometown, please advise.
Here is the web address to;
thesyracusejournal.com
Kevin Schafer
Denver
303.435.0274
All, I too, remember the old “Harvey House” in Syracuse. As teenagers we loved to go exploring the grand old building, I remember what must have been an informal dinning area where you could almost imagine a bar and counter area for serving breakfast and lunch. The big dinning room was next to it (or so I think as I recall). The upper level had what I am sure was hotel rooms. It was fascinating. It was quite disappointing to come home from college and see the demolition had started. It must have been a grand old place in its day.
I must say that in our country we knock down history but other countries save it. When I was in high school we would sneak in the Harvey House through the coal chute and it was something else — there was an locomotive in the basement, the kitchen had a big hood also chicken keepers for live chickens egg keepers. 42 rooms upstairs, steam heat, tile floors… it was so cool for a kid 16 years old!
Sounds like fun! A locomotive in the basement?!?!
Hi there! Thank you for the great article and image. I own an auction company in Pueblo West, CO, and we are currently handling an estate for a retired railroader who mentioned he acquired these antique light fixtures from the Harvey House in Syracuse, Kansas. The two we have are identical to yours and are also missing the globes. I believe they are bronze—what’s your opinion on that? Interestingly, I stumbled upon this using Google Lens (love the tech!), so I would agree that these are indeed from the Harvey House. On a personal note, my great aunt and uncle, Harold and Edith Bray, owned the only hardware store in Syracuse for many years, and I have fond memories of visiting there as a young girl.
Thanks for confirming the origin of my light fixture! The fixture does indeed appear to be bronze. I tested it with a magnet on the chance that it might be cast iron with a bronze finish, and it did not stick.
Technology can be a great tool when it is used responsibly. Unfortunately, like any tool, it can be used for bad purposes also. Glad that this tool led you to my fixture! Good luck with the sale of the Harvey House fixtures… I hope they find an appreciative home.