Visitors and WWII reenactors take a tour of the Harvey House during the Troops and Trains event in Barstow
The Harvey House in Barstow is undoubtedly rich in history, for if the walls could talk; the stories they’d tell.
On Saturday, the community got to hear some of those voices that were silenced by time as the Harvey House was converted into the 1940s World War II era, complete with big band music and speeches by Gen. George S. Patton and President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, both played by spot-on impersonators.
“The Harvey House played a big role in World War I and II,” Joseph Hisquierdo, of Lee and Associates, the company who hosted the event, said. “The house is of course tied into the railroad, and interstate commerce at the time was under the control of the United States government, so troops would stop at the Harvey House to feed the soldiers and let them rest.”
The Second annual Troops and Trains event played homage to the World War II era and those who worked and served during that time.
Black and white pictures from the era lined the halls to show the thousands of troops who passed through the train station during war time to and from maritime or air travels, on their way overseas.
“The Harvey House played a very important role in organizing the troops,” Hisquierdo said. “But the staff at the Harvey House did not know when a train would come through because the schedules were kept secret. But still the troops needed to be fed and needed to rest. So the kitchen staff would have cots and bunks in the kitchen instead of being in the rooms or a dorm room.”
Aside from the history, a dance contest was held in the main ballroom at 6 p.m., allowing couples to dance to big band music from the '40s.
“We’re trying to play a homage to what the Harvey House was during that time in every aspect,” Hisquierdo said. “This is a great way to recognize how this building played a role as far as the railroad and military installations. It all ties in centrally to that aspect.”
Outside on the distant property, 30 or so reenactors dressed in World War II and some modern day uniforms to further bring history alive.
Naoki Yamaguchi, a local reenactor from the California Historical group, made an authentic Japanese camp to show how the other side lived.
“We are the Hasegawa Platoon reenacting a camp from the empire of Japan,” Yamaguchi said. “We are preserving history. I believe it’s important to relive the history.”
Yamaguchi said the biggest hurdle and relief was doing away with his cellphone and computer.
“This is an interesting experience to stay away from technology for a day or two,” Yamaguchi said. “I love history and I was born in Japan, so I get to relive my heritage here today.”
Beside Yamguchi was American soldier reenactor, Mike Palmer, whose 1942 Ford military jeep was mounted with a .50 caliber heavy machine gun. For $5 visitors could shoot the gun that didn’t fire bullets, only pushing out propane and nitrogen to give the weapon a realistic feel and deafening sound without any hazards.
Inside, Hisquierdo recounted past visitors who spent part of their life at the Harvey House.
“We have a woman who comes in here and she remembers how she worked for Santa Fe and she remembers meeting the troops and talking with them,” Hisquierdo said. “And she tells how they missed home and we’re looking forward to coming back to the Harvey House.”
About 500 people attended the event last year and before this night was through, the host staff said they expected to reach more than 1000.
“A lot of people also come here to understand what their grandparents were talking about as far as working at the Harvey House and the railroad.” Hisquierdo said. “It’s a generational thing so that these stories can be passed on. It’s a reflection of what someone’s great grandparents did during the war. It’s a focal point of memories.”