Street-side view of the former EL Garces Harvey House in Needles California. During the era of steam-powered rail travel, trains needed to stop approximately every 100 miles for water, fuel, and mechanical servicing. To meet the needs of passengers during these stops, Fred Harvey developed a network of Harvey Houses—hotels and dining rooms located along major rail lines. These establishments provided consistent, high-quality meals and lodging for travelers and railroad workers. The El Garces Harvey House in Needles, California, was one of the last and most architecturally ambitious in the chain, and is the setting of my free short story “Iced Water free by the Glass.”