Story by Mark Wing with research by Paul and Marilyn Duncan. Photos by Mark Wing (unless otherwise noted)
On Sunday, July 21st, the Tin Lizzies of Albuquerque drove to Belen, NM for a show and picnic at the Belen Harvey House Museum. This event was organized by Tin Lizzies officers Paul (president) and Marilyn (treasurer) Duncan and Dave Ferro (vice president) and the Belen Harvey House Museum Staff Coordinator Frances Zeller. Six Model Ts participated on this day – the Duncans drove their recently restored 1927 Model T pickup truck, the Azevedos came in their 1912 touring car, Mark Dominguez drove his 1927 touring car and his wife Sharon pulled a flatbed truck with the family’s 1923 runabout, Dave Ferro made the trip in his 1918 depot hack, and local Belen resident Steve Langdon arrived at the museum in his 1926 Model T coupe.
The participants met at the Isleta Casino and Resort in southern Albuquerque to caravan to Belen – a driving distance of approximately 25 miles, but an hour-long drive via Model T. The route follows the Rio Grande (the river that runs north-south through Albuquerque and Belen) so the terrain was almost flat. The drive took us through Albuquerque’s South Valley, Isleta Pueblo, the communities of Bosque Farms, Los Lunas, and Tome. The weather was very warm, reaching the upper-90’s in the afternoon.
The City of Belen is home to approximately 7,200 residents and has been getting international exposure recently as the location of artist Judy Chicago’s “Through the Flower Art Space” – gallery, learning center, and store. The grand opening was the on the 20th, the day before our visit to the Belen Harvey House. As the two buildings are less than a block apart, we met several people from out-of-town who came for the opening and were delighted to visit the Harvey House Museum and see our cars as well.
The Belen Harvey House was built in 1910 and operated until 1939. It was one of the Fred Harvey Company chain of restaurants and hotels. Fred Harvey (1835-1901), was born in England, was intelligent, ambitious, and innovative. He worked his way up from a dishwasher to (at the time of his death in 1901) owning 47 restaurants, 15 hotels, and 30 dining cars along the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad railway routes. The women who staffed the restaurants and hotels were called “Harvey Girls” and were between 18 and 30 years old. These women were under strict codes of conduct and, in the case of the Belen Harvey House, lived dormitory-style on the second floor. Their reputation was for outstanding customer service and high standards. The Belen Harvey House was spared from demolition (many of the hotels and restaurants in the chain are now long gone) and is now a branch of the Belen Public Library specializing in railroad and southwest history.
The day was spent visiting the excellent museum, talking to visitors about our cars, and enjoying the picnic lunch of hotdogs, chips, and lemonade provided by the museum staff. At around 3pm, the Tin Lizzies began the hour-long drive north in the hope of beating late-afternoon monsoonal rains. It was a great day in Belen and scenic drive in the green belt along the Rio Grande.
Thank you to our hosts – Frances Zeller and the staff at the Belen Harvey House Museum and to our event organizers – Paul and Marilyn Duncan and Dave Ferro!
Location 104 North First Street, Belen, NM 87002