Harvey House Ties

Bob O’Sullivan’s “Act of Kindness” (Jan. 22) brought back many poignant memories. My father, John H. Watson, was the manager of the Harvey House in Albuquerque 1929-1938. I grew up there in the Alvarado, a dignified old Spanish-style hotel with lots of charm and famous for its food. There were lots of stories of hungry men rummaging in the back garbage cans for food during those lean years, and there were surely other instances such as Bob described.

Those were the days of the Santa Fe Super Chief, which panted to a stop on the brick platforms where the waiting Indians were gathered to sell their wares, often to the movie stars who frequented the trains.

I’m forever grateful to have such a story to send to my grandchildren for their family history albums. Thank you for such a lovely window on the past.

FRANCES WATSON PFITZER

Cayucos