VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M.PARSON'S FOUNDATION.
(LAUGHTER) >> BOY, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A LOT OF FUN THIS MORNING, AREN'T WE?
WELL, YOU ALL DON'T KNOW, THIS IS OUR FOURTH TAKE, WE'RE NOT EVEN GONNA TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENED ON THE FIRST THREE, RIGHT?
THAT'S JUST OUR SECRET.
ANYWAY, HERE WE ARE.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL WEDNESDAY MORNING IN SAN BERNARDINO, IT'S ABOUT 9:30.
WE STARTED ABOUT 9:00 O'CLOCK, AND IT'S 9:30 NOW.
AND I'M STANDING HERE WITH THE MAYOR OF SAN BERNARDINO, AND A GROUP OF ASSORTED CITIZENS FROM SAN BERNARDINO, AND WE ARE HERE ON THIS GLORIOUS MORNING, TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THIS GRAND OLD BUILDING RIGHT HERE.
AND A BEAUTY IT IS, FULL OF HISTORY, GREAT ARCHITECTURE, AND MAYOR, THIS BUILDING, THE OLD TRAIN STATION, IS REALLY PART OF THE HEART AND SOUL OF SAN BERNARDINO, ISN'T IT?
>>THAT'S RIGHT.
IT REPRESENTS A LOT OF BEAUTIFUL MEMORIES FOR, NOT ONLY THE PEOPLE BEHIND ME, BUT FOR A LOT OF US, THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
AND EVERYBODY'S REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE RENOVATION PLANS THAT WE HAVE FOR OUR DEPOT.
>>NOW, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT RENOVATION, THE REASON YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT RENOVATION, IS FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW, THE OLD STATION HAS ALMOST BEEN COMPLETELY DESERTED.
AMTRAK IS STILL THERE ON A LIMITED BASIS, BUT THIS GRAND OLD BUILDING, WHICH HAS BEEN HERE SINCE 1918, IS KIND OF, IT'S SEEN BETTER DAYS, HASN'T' IT?
>> OH, OH, IT HAS.
AND THE BETTER DAYS, I THINK EVERYBODY BACK HERE WILL TELL YOU ABOUT THE BETTER DAYS.
EVEN IN MY, IN MY OWN FAMILY, SANTA FE HAS A VERY SPECIAL PLACE FOR MANY PEOPLE, BECAUSE IT WAS A MAJOR EMPLOYER FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.
IT WAS THE, THE HUB OF EMPLOYMENT.
AND A LOT OF US, OUR HISTORY GOES ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE, EVEN MY OWN FATHER, WHO, WHO MANAGED WHAT THEY CALL THE COMPANY STORE.
EVEN I WORKED AT THIS FAMOUS COMPANY STORE WHEN I WAS A YOUNG GIRL, COURSE I DIDN'T KNOW THE CONNECTION THEN, BUT I UNDERSTAND THE CONNECTION NOW.
>> YEAH.
>> WELL, LET'S SHOW THE CONNECTION, 'CAUSE WE GOT THE SEAL.
>> OKAY.
>> OF THE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO.
YOU'RE THE MAYOR NOW.
HERE IS THE TRAIN, RIGHT HERE, WHICH POINTS UP JUST HOW IMPORTANT THE TRAINS WERE- >> YEAH.
>> TO THIS CITY, AND, YOU KNOW, LOUIE'S FATHER WORKED HERE, AT THIS VERY FACILITY- >> I KNOW.
>> --FOR, FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, FOR A LONG TIME.
>> I KNOW, AND, AND LOUIE WAS MY STUDENT.
AND I WANT TO TAKE FULL CREDIT FOR HIS SUCCESS.
(LAUGHTER) >> YOU CAN DO THAT.
>> I WILL DO THAT.
>> HOW MANY PEOPLE KNOW LOUIE HERE?
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF YOU WHO KNOW HIM, BUT THAT'S ANOTHER WHOLE STORY IN ITSELF, TOO, ISN'T IT?
BUT, WE'RE HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE, NOT ONLY ITS PAST, BUT ITS POSSIBILITIES, BECAUSE YOU HAVE GREAT PLANS FOR THIS STATION.
>> YES, WE DO.
YES, WE DO.
WITH THE HELP OF EVERYBODY HERE, AND ALL THE DIFFERENT GROUPS, AND A LITTLE FUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WE'RE GONNA MAKE THIS A DYNAMITE PLACE AND WE'RE GONNA CELEBRATE IT, AND YOU'RE GONNA BE OUR FIRST GUEST TO BE HERE.
>> IN A COUPLE OF YEARS.
SO, YOU'RE- >> IN A COUPLE OF YEARS.
>> --GONNA REVITALIZE IT, MAKE IT INTO WHAT?
>> MAKE IT INTO, WELL, KIND OF WHAT IT USED TO BE, A REAL CENTER AND HUB OF ACTIVITY FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THE COMMUNITY, BECAUSE IT'S A REAL SOURCE OF PRIDE.
>> UH-HUH.
>> AND, WE'RE ACTUALLY, HAVE GONE OUT FOR REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS.
>>SO IT COULD BE ANYTHING, THE POSSIBILITIES ARE OPEN, IT COULD BE- >> RIGHT.
>> --THERE COULD BE RESTAURANTS, SHOPS- >> MUSEUMS.
>> --OFFICES, A MUSEUM.
>> A RAILROAD MUSEUM, I THINK IT SHOULD BE, AND WE'RE GONNA BRING BACK OUR HISTORIC ENGINE WHICH RIGHTFULLY BELONGS HERE.
IT'S GONNA BE A MUSEUM, IT'S, WE WILL TRY TO RESUSCITATE OR RENOVATE THE, THE HARVEY HOUSE.
WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT.
>> THE OLD RESTAURANT.
>> THE OLD RESTAURANT, YEAH.
>> WE HAVE ONE OF THE ORIGINAL HARVEY GIRLS RIGHT HERE, WE'RE GONNA GET HER STORY IN JUST A MINUTE.
>> YEAH, YEAH, THAT'S WONDERFUL.
>> ACTUALLY, YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE WITH US.
YOU HAVE OFFICIAL DUTIES, TODAY, RIGHT?
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
I HAVE TO GO TO COURT.
AND THAT WASN'T MY DOING, THAT WAS ANOTHER MAYOR'S DOING, BUT, BUT I INHERITED IT, SO I'M ON MY WAY.
>> THAT'S ANOTHER STORY >> THANK YOU.
>> WELL, YOU'RE KIND OF HERE WITH US TO HELP US KICK THIS THING OFF- >> YOU BET.
>> --AND PUT YOUR OFFICIAL BLESSING.
>> YES, AND TO THANK YOU, AND, AND LOUIE AND EVERYBODY HERE FOR COMING.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE, AND THANK YOU.
>>THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NOW, WE'RE GONNA ALL GO ACROSS.
THIS STATION REALLY HAS A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL HISTORY, DOESN'T IT?
THIS REALLY WAS THE HUB.
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
AND IT WAS NOT ONLY A PASSENGER STATION, FOR ALSO PASSENGERS AND, AND FREIGHT, BUT IT ALSO WAS THE DIVISION HEADQUARTERS OF THE LOS ANGELES DIVISION.
ALL THE OPERATING.. >> OF SANTA FE.
>> OF SANTA FE, YES, AND ALL THE OPERATING SUPERVISION CAME OUT OF HERE.
THE SUPERINTENDENT WAS HERE, WE HAD THE TRAIN MASTERS, THE DISPATCHERS, THE, THE DIVISION ENGINEER.
EVERYBODY THAT WAS CONCERNED WITH RUNNING THINGS ON THE LOS ANGELES DIVISION, WHICH, AT THAT TIME, STARTED AT BARSTOW, AND WENT WEST TO LOS ANGELES, AND DOWN TO SAN DIEGO.
>> SO, THIS WAS REALLY THE HUB, AND LOOK AT THIS ARCHITECTURE, THIS IS CALLED WHAT?
>> I WOULD, I'VE HEARD IT DESCRIBED AS MOORISH ARCHITECTURE, SPANISH MOORISH ARCHITECTURE.
>> KIND OF A MISSION MOORISH, SPANISH, MISSION MOORISH COMBINATION.
>> I'M NOT AN AUTHORITY ON THAT SORT OF THING, BUT THAT, THAT'S WHAT I'VE HEARD.
>> WELL, IT SOUNDS GOOD, AND IT LOOKS GOOD.
COME ON, LET'S ALL HEAD OVER.
THE MAYOR'S LEFT US, SO WE'RE GONNA KIND OF LET OUR HAIR DOWN, NOW, AND TALK, YOU KNOW, TALK JUST AMONG US.
>> WHEN I WAS A YOUNGSTER, AND LIVING IN RIVERSIDE, MY FOLKS USED TO COME OVER HERE AND GO TO THE HARVEY RESTAURANT.
IMAGINE A LITTLE FELLA LIKE ME BEING OVER HERE IN THE HARVEY RESTAURANT.
THAT WAS BEFORE THE WAR, OF COURSE.
>> OKAY.
WE'RE NOW INSIDE THIS WONDERFUL OLD STATION, AND I'M WITH, YOUR NAME SIR, IS?
>> HAROLD TYREE.
>> AND YOU'RE WITH AMTRAK.
>> YES, SIR.
>> NOW, YOUR HISTORY HERE GOES WAY BACK, DOESN'T IT?
>> WAY BACK, I WAS HIRED UPSTAIRS 41 AND A HALF YEARS AGO.
>> UH-HUH.
>> AS A, A APPRENTICE TELEGRAPHER, AND I'M STILL HERE.
I CAME BACK IN 1994 AS A STATION AGENT.
>> SO, YOU REMEMBER THIS PLACE BACK IN ITS GLORY DAYS.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> YOUR POSITION RIGHT OVER THERE AT AMTRAK, YOU'RE KIND OF FLASHING BACK TO,.
TO BETTER DAYS.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> WELL, NOW, WAIT A MINUTE, THIS IS,.
IS THIS ORIGINAL TILE, DO YOU THINK?
>> YES, YES, THAT'S THE OLD ORIGINAL TILE, AND IT WAS VERY REPRESENTATIVE OF THE WAY THEY DECORATED THEIR, THEIR LARGER STATIONS ON THE SANTA FE.
THE OTHER EXAMPLE, OF COURSE IS IN SAN DIEGO, WHERE THEY HAVE A BEAUTIFUL STATION THERE, WITH LOTS OF TILE.
>> WELL, IT'S BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL, ORIGINAL COLOR, AND IT COVERS ALL OF THE WALLS.
>> AND THE HARVEY HOUSE HAD A LOT OF THIS TILE IN IT, TOO.
WHICH IS BEHIND US HERE.
(TRAIN WHISTLE) >> OKAY, THERE GOES ONE OF THE OLD SANTA FE ENGINES GOING BY, NOW TELL US WHAT USED TO BE OUT HERE.
>> WELL, OUT HERE, THEY HAD A, A ROUND HOUSE.
THEY HAD NUMEROUS SHOPS.
THE, THE FIRST SHOPS WHERE THEY WOULD WORK ON THE ENGINES, CAME ABOUT 1880, LATE 1880'S.
THERE WAS A REPAIR DEPOT, THERE WAS AN ICE HOUSE CLOSE BY, AND THIS WHOLE, YOU KNOW, PROPERTY, HERE, IT WAS, IT WAS HUGE.
>> NOW, MR. GARRET, THIS IS INTERESTING, BECAUSE YOU BROUGHT THIS WONDERFUL PICTURE OF THE WORKERS HERE, AND YOU SAY THIS IS JUST A SMALL PART OF 'EM.
>> YES, THIS IS JUST HALF THE SHOP.
THIS IS THE LOCOMOTIVE SHOP THE CAR REPAIR SHOP HAD JUST AS MANY EMPLOYEES AND, AH.. >> NOW, WERE THESE MACHINISTS, WERE THESE WELDERS, WERE THESE... >> THESE WERE SHEET METAL WORKERS, MACHINISTS, AH, WELDERS, ELECTRICIANS, ALL THE, ALL THE PEOPLE THAT DID ALL THE MECHANICAL WORK ON THE LOCOMOTIVES.
>> WOW.
THIS WAS A HUGE AREA.
>> THEN THE OTHER HALF, WHICH I DON'T HAVE HERE TODAY, THEY, THEY REPAIRED THE FREIGHT CARS, AND THE PASSENGER CARS.
>> SO, THIS WHOLE AREA OUT HERE WOULD HAVE BEEN WHERE PEOPLE WORKED.
THE.
ROUND HOUSES, THE, THE PLACES WHERE THEY REPAIRED AND RESTORED ENGINES AND CARS.
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
AND THEY REALLY WERE A BUSY LOT OUT THERE.
AND THEY WORKED TWO, AND SOMETIMES THREE SHIFTS.
>> AND HOW LONG DID YOU WORK HERE?
>> THIRTY SIX YEARS.
>> THIRTY SIX YEARS?
DID YOU KNOW LOUIE'S DAD?
HE WORKED HERE ABOUT 35 YEARS.
>> I'M SURE I DID.
>> AND HERE IS A GREAT SHOT.
THIS SHOWS THE ROUND HOUSES UP HERE.
NOW, THEY'VE BEEN TORN DOWN NOW, BUT THESE ARE A GROUP OF RETIREES HERE IN 1994.
>> CORRECT.
UNFORTUNATELY, SOME, A LOT OF MY BUDDIES ARE NOT WITH US ANYMORE.
>> YEAH,.
BUT THIS WAS KIND OF A FAREWELL TO THE OLD SHOPS BACK HERE- >> YES.
>> --BEFORE THEY WERE TORN DOWN.
>> THAT'S EXACTLY WHERE THEY WERE, AND I'M GLAD WE DID IT., BECAUSE SHORTLY AFTER THAT, THAT SKYLINE OF SHOPS DISAPPEARED, AND WAS GROUND UP AND REPAVED, AND NOW IT'S A TRUCKING FACILITY.
>> WELL, THE SHOPS WERE TORN DOWN, BUT THE STATION IS STILL HERE.
>> CORRECT.
AND I THINK IT'S A JEWEL, AND I'M JUST DELIGHTED TO SEE THE INTEREST IN IT THAT IS, AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING IT RESTORED.
>> YEAH.
NOW, WE'RE WALKING DOWN THE TRACK, BUT THIS JUST ISN'T ANY OLD TRACK, IS IT?
>> NO, IT'S NOT.
THIS WAS A SPECIAL TRACK THAT THEY USED TO BRING THE PRIVATE RAILROAD CARS DOWN FOR THE DIGNITARIES THAT WOULD ARRIVE IN SAN BERNARDINO.
AND AS A YOUNGSTER, I CAME DOWN WITH MY PARENTS AND MY SISTER, TO SEE DWIGHT AND MAMIE EISENHOWER COME FROM KANSAS.
THEY PARKED THE TRAIN HERE, AND THEY GOT OUT AND TALKED FOR A WHILE, THE NEWSPAPER WAS HERE COVERING IT.
THEN THEY GOT IN THEIR AUTOMOBILE, AND WENT DOWN TO PALM SPRINGS.
>> WOW.
>> SO, THAT WAS QUITE A THRILL FOR A YOUNGSTER.
>> SO IKE AND MAMIE WERE RIGHT HERE, ON THIS TRACK?
>> OH, YEAH, YEAH, MORE THAN ONCE.
AND, ALSO THE RAILROAD DIGNITARIES, WHEN THEY WOULD COME IN, LIKE THE VICE PRESIDENT, OR THE PRESIDENT OF THE RAILROAD, WHEN THEY'D BRING 'EM IN THEIR PRIVATE RAILROAD CARS, THEY'D PARK IT RIGHT DOWN AGAINST THIS BUMPER, TOO.
>> WELL, SEE, NOW THAT'S A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF HISTORY BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT ABOUT THIS TRACK.
FOR ME, I WOULD LOOK AT IT AND THINK IT WAS JUST ANOTHER TRACK.
>> RIGHT, WELL, THERE'S A LOT OF ACTIVITY IN HERE.
A LOT OF MOVIE STARS USED TO COME THROUGH HERE.
MY GRANDPARENTS USED TO COME FROM NEW YORK, AND WE'D COME DOWN TO GET 'EM OFF THE TRAIN, AND ONE TIME, WE WERE IN HERE, AND WE SAW JUDY GARLAND, AND SHE GOT OFF THE TRAIN- >> REALLY?
>> --AND SHE GOT OFF THE TRAIN AND SIGNED AUTOGRAPHS FOR THE PEOPLE HERE AT THE STATION.
>> YOU KNOW THE SAD PART ABOUT THIS OLD PLACE.
I REMEMBER I USED TO HAVE TO COME DOWN HERE FROM THE YARD OFFICE.
WHEN THESE PASSENGER TRAINS COME IN, THERE WOULD BE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE DEPART AGAIN, AND GETTING ON, AND LOT OF THEM AND WHEN THERE'D BE CELEBRITIES COME IN, IT SEEMED LIKE THE WHOLE TOWN WOULD BE DOWN HERE.
>> YEAH.
>> HUNDREDS, AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE.
>> YEAH.
>> THEY SAID THEY WERE ON THEIR WAY TO PALM SPRINGS.
>> MA'AM?
>> THIS IS WHERE THEY STOPPED ON THE WAY TO PALM SPRINGS.
IN THE 20'S AND 30'S, THERE WAS NOT PLANE SERVICE, SO THEY TOOK THE TRAIN, AND THIS LITTLE GAL WAITED ON A LOT 'EM.
>> WILL ROGERS, EDDIE, CANTOR, JOAN CRAWFORD, I COULD NAME A DOZEN.
>> YOU WAITED ON ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE?
>> YEAH, RIGHT HERE.
>> OH, MY GOSH.
>> AND AMOS AND ANDY.
I NEVER WILL FORGET THEM BECAUSE HE, I HAD A STATION WITH SIX STOOLS ALONG THE COUNTER, AND HE WOULD COME IN AND SIT IN ONE, AND PUT HIS FEET UP ON ANOTHER ONE, AND PUT HIS, WHATEVER HE'S HAD WITH HIM, CARRYING, OVER ON ANOTHER ONE, AND THAT'D TAKE UP MY WHOLE STATION, AND GET UP AND WALK OUT WITH NOTHING.
>> DIDN'T GIVE YOU A TIP?
>> NO, AND I DON'T, I DON'T LIKE AMOS AND ANDY TO THIS DAY.
[LAUGHTER] >> WELL, WELL, THANK YOU FOR VENTING FOR US LIKE THAT, WE'RE GLAD YOU FINALLY GOT THAT OFF YOUR CHEST.
A HARVEY GIRL COMES CLEAN ABOUT AMOS AND ANDY.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S WALK DOWN HERE BECAUSE LOOK AT THIS LOUIE.
THIS IS ACTUALLY JUST BEAUTIFUL DOWN HERE, THE WAY THE VINES HAVE, HAVE GROWN UP OVER AND, AND THIS WHOLE EACH ONE OF THESE LITTLE AREAS HAS A, WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S A LITTLE ENTRANCEWAY HERE, IT'S REALLY NICE.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
YEAH, THEY'RE- >> LOT OF ARCHES HERE.
>> OH, IT'S BEAU-, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST, IT'S YOU KNOW YOU MENTIONED THAT THE STYLE WAS MISSION REVIVAL, BUT UP ON TOP, YOU'VE GOT THESE DOMES, THAT WERE MOORISH, IN, IN ARCHITECTURE.
IT'S, IT'S REALLY WONDERFUL.
>> NOW, WHAT WAS ALL THIS AREA DOWN HERE USED FOR?
>> THIS IS A BAGGAGE AREA, AT, BACK IN THE EARLY 40'S, I BELIEVE IT WAS THE RAILWAY EXPRESS.
>> UH-HUH.
>> THE OLD WELLS FARGO EXPRESS.
>> AND NOW IT'S JUST SITTING HERE TOTALLY GROWN OVER.
>> THIS IS THE ENTRANCE DOOR GOING UP STAIRS NOW.
IT'S, THE VINES HAVE COME DOWN OVER THAT, WE, WE LET THOSE, WE DON'T CUT THOSE, WE LEAVE THOSE COME DOWN THERE, BECAUSE WE HAVE TROUBLE WITH PEOPLE BREAKING IN.
>> THIS IS YOUR CUE, THE LADY WITH THE KEYS.
>> OH, NO, ON THIS PART, ON THIS SIDE, HE HAS THE KEYS.
>> OH, YOU'VE GOT THE KEYS.
>> HAROLD HAS SOME OF 'EM AND.. >> SO WE'RE GONNA GET TO GO IN HERE, IS EVERYBODY UP FOR THIS?
>> ISN'T THAT SAD, THAT IS SAD.
>> THIS IS MARIO- YEAH, BUT THIS, THIS IS GONNA WORK.
>> HE CUTS THESE VINES DOWN AND KEEPS IT TRIMMED AROUND HERE, AND HE'S, HE'S MY NIGHT AGENT, AND, HE KEEPS THE PLACE.. >> WELL COME ON, LET'S GO IN HERE.
>> THIS WAS THE SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE.
>> RIGHT.
>> OH, MY GOSH, OH MY GOSH.
[WHISTLES] HOW LONG'S IT BEEN SINCE ANYBODY'S BEEN IN HERE?
>> IT'S MY FIRST TIME IN HERE.
>> REALLY?
COME ON IN, THIS IS A REAL ADVENTURE FELLAS.
UPSTAIRS IS WHERE THE SUPERINTENDENT HAD HIS OFFICE.
>> LOOK AT IT NOW, IT HASN'T CHANGED A BIT.
>> ALRIGHT, LET'S HEAD UPSTAIRS.
HERE WE GO.
>> NOW, OH MY GOSH, OH MY GOSH THERE GOES A PIGEON.
LOOK AT THIS.
NOW THIS IS DEFINITELY ANOTHER PIGEON - SEEN BETTER DAYS.
WHAT WAS THIS UP HERE?
>> THIS WAS WHERE THEY HAD TIME KEEPERS, EVERYTHING LIKE THAT FOR THE TRAIN OPERATORS.
>> WHO WAS UP HERE?
>> I WAS.
>> OH, OKAY, WHERE'S YOUR OFFICE.
>> IT WAS SET RIGHT OVER HERE.
>> WOW!
SO THIS MUST BRING BACK A LOT OF MEMORIES.
>> SURE DOES.
>> NOW WHAT ARE THEY THINKIN' ABOUT USIN' THIS FOR?
WHAT WOULD THIS BE PART OF IN THE REDEVELOPMENT.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY IDEA?
>> I HAVE NO IDEA.
>> I KNOW THE HARVEY HOUSE AREA - THEY WERE THINKING ABOUT POSSIBLY TURNING IT INTO A RESTAURANT.
ALSO POSSIBLY TURNING THAT INTO A MUSEUM.
THIS SECTION HERE, I'M NOT SURE OF.
>> LET'S WALK THROUGH THIS, THIS IS FUN.
>> NOW THIS WAS ALL A MODERNIZATION IN THE MID-50S.
THEY MODERNIZED ALL THIS IN ABOUT 1955.
BEFORE THAT IT WAS A LOT OF CUBBY HOLE OFFICES.
THEY OPENED IT UP AND THEY CLOSED OFF MOST OF THE WINDOWS SO THAT WE HAD A NICE NEW DIVISION ENGINEERS OFFICE IN THIS AREA HERE.
THE DRAFTING ROOM, THE SUPERINTENDENT, HIS DIVISION ENGINEER.
>> BUT LOOK WHAT YOU STILL GOT.
YOU CAN SEE THROUGH THE BLINDS THE WONDERFUL OLD MOORISH ROUND MISSION WINDOWS THAT STILL RETAIN THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE OLD PLACE.
>> AND ALONG HERE, THE SAME THING.
THEY HAD NOTHING BUT WINDOWS ALONG HERE.
BUT THEY CLOSED OFF MOST OF THE WINDOWS BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO BE ABLE TO AIR CONDITION THE PLACE AND NOT LOSE EVERYTHING.
>> SO THIS WHOLE WALL OVER HERE WAS - OH LOOK, LOOK.
YOU CAN SEE THE OUTLINES OF THE WINDOWS RIGHT HERE.
RIGHT HERE.
RIGHT HERE.
WINDOWS ALL THE WAY DOWN.
>> IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO WORK IN AND WHEN I FIRST CAME HERE IN 1947 WE WORKED IN THE DRAFTING ROOM WHICH WAS ON THE TRAIN SIDE AND BEFORE WE HAD AIR CONDITIONING, WE USED TO HAVE THE WINDOWS OPEN AND THE TRAINS WOULD COME BY AND THE SMOKE WOULD COME INTO THE WINDOWS.
>> OH WOW.
>> SEE, THESE ARE THE KIND OF TRAIN STORIES THAT CAPTURE PEOPLES' IMAGINATIONS.
YOU CAN HEAR THE WHISTLE BLOWIN', YOU CAN FEEL THE SMOKE AND STEAM.
>> EVENTUALLY THEY CLOSED THE WINDOWS AND WE GOT A SWAMP COOLER.
THAT WAS A BIG IMPROVEMENT.
>> NOW I GOTTA TELL YA, THIS IS A - THERE'S A SMELL IN HERE THAT HAS KIND OF A PIGEONY SMELL ISN'T IT?
>> JUST A LITTLE ONE, NOT THAT BIG.
>> WHERE THERE ARE A LOT OF PIGEONS IN HERE.
>> OH YEAH, YOU GOTTA WATCH YOUR HEAD WHEN YOU COME IN HERE.
>> WHERE ARE WE GOIN' IN NOW?
'CAUSE WE SAID WE KINDA WANTED TO GO INTO THE ATTIC.
OH MY GOSH.
THERE ARE PIGEONS.
>> YEAH WHAT WE'VE GOTTA DO IS GO UP THE STAIRS HERE AND THERE'S ONE DOME THAT YOU CAN WALK INTO.
THE REST OF THEM ARE JUST OPEN AREAS THAT YOU CAN'T WALK INTO, BUT EVERYTHING OUT THERE IS A CAT WALK.
SO BASICALLY WHEN YOU'RE ON TOP, YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE SITTING ROOM STATION.
>> NOW WHY ARE WE GOIN' UP HERE?
WHAT'S THE - >> THERE WAS A BLUE PRINT ROOM UP THERE.
YOU KNOW WHAT A BLUEPRINT ROOM IS?
>> NO.
>> OH, WELL YOU'RE GONNA FIND OUT.
ALL THE BLUEPRINTS OF EVERYTHING THEY HAD WAS UP THERE.
>> WHY UP IN THE ATTIC?
>> WELL, I'LL TELL YOU ABOUT THAT WHEN WE GET THERE.
>> QUIT JAWIN' AND BUILDIN' THE SUSPENSE.
COME ON, WE'RE GOIN' UP TO THE BLUEPRINT ROOM.
COME ON IN.
HERE WE GO.
LOOK AT THIS LOUIE.
DON'T TOUCH THE RAILS.
AND WE ARE WALKING IN ABOUT THREE INCHES OF SOUVENIRS LEFT US BY A BUNCH OF PIGEONS.
YOU KNOW THEY LIVE HERE.
>> THIS IS AMAZING.
NOT MANY PEOPLE GET TO SEE THIS VIEW DO THEY?
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
VERY FEW PEOPLE UP HERE.
LOOK OUT HERE LOUIE, THIS IS ALL STEEL.
>> YES DEFINITELY.
>> SO THIS WHOLE BUILDING IS MADE OF CONCRETE AND STEEL.
>> YES ABSOLUTELY, BUILT IN 1917, OPENED IN 1918.
>> IT WAS MADE TO LAST.
>> ON YES.
DEFINITELY.
>> ALRIGHT NOW WE'RE GETTIN' DOWN TO THE BLUEPRINT ROOM.
AND AMANDA'S GOT THE KEYS.
OH BOY MORE PIGEONS.
OH MY GOSH.
AND YOU KNOW THIS IS KIND OF SAD.
>> IT IS YES.
>> BECAUSE WAY UP HERE THE BLUEPRINTS - RIGHT HERE - THERE'S HISTORY LAYING ON THE FLOOR HERE.
>> OH NOW THIS IS A SHAME!
THIS IS A SHAME.
WISCONSIN BRIDGE COMPANY.
LOOK AT ALL THIS STUFF DOWN HERE.
YEAH, LOOK AT THESE BOXES OVER HERE.
OH MY GOSH.
YOU KNOW SOMEBODY OUGHT TO BE SAVING THIS.
>> I THINK IT'S TOO FAR GONE RIGHT NOW.
>> WHY WASN'T THIS TAKEN OUT WHEN THEY CLOSED DOWN THE STATION?
>> WELL, THERE USED TO BE A BLUEPRINT MACHINE HERE.
THERE WAS AN ARCH.
IT HAD THREE ARCH LAMPS IN IT AND THE BLUEPRINT MATERIAL WAS DEVELOPED FROM THAT ARCH MACHINE AND THEN WHEN YOU PUT THE BLUEPRINTS OUT, YOU PUT THEM IN WATER IN A DEVELOPING TANK AND THEN THEY WOULD, FROM THERE, THEY WE'D DRY THEM UP AND WE'D SOMETIMES IRON THEM OUT, LIKE WITH A HAND IRON TO MAKE THE PRINTS FLAT.
LATER WE GOT A DRUM DRYER WHICH DID THE JOB.
>> BOY THIS IS AMAZING.
CAN YOU GET DISEASES FROM BEIN' AROUND PIGEONS?
>> I DON'T BELIEVE SO.
>> WE'RE NOT BREATHIN' ANYTHING BAD ARE WE?
>> AND THEY'RE ALREADY OUT HERE TAKIN' PICTURES.
>> OH LOOK, LOOK AT THIS.
WE'RE LOOKIN' RIGHT OUT TO THE OLD TRAIN YARD OVER HERE.
THERE'S THE OLD SANTA FE SMOKE STACK OVER THERE AND YOU CAN SEE PART OF THE MOORISH ARCHITECTURE RIGHT OUT HERE AND THE REST OF THE STATION.
THIS REALLY GIVES YOU A NICE VIEW OF JUST HOW BIG THIS WHOLE AREA WAS OVER 30 TRACKS.
>> THROUGH THIS WINDOW, THE OLD TIMERS TOLD ME THAT INSTEAD OF HAVING A MACHINE TO EXPOSE THE BLUEPRINT, THEY PUT THE MATERIAL OUT ON THIS PLATFORM HERE WHICH HAD SMALL RAILS AND THE WHOLE FRAME WENT OUT AND THEY EXPOSED THE BLUEPRINT TO SUNLIGHT.
NOW THAT'S WHAT THE OLD TIMERS TOLD ME.
>> AND LOOK, WHEN YOU LOOK OUT THE WINDOW HERE LOUIE AT THE ARCHITECTURE THAT YOU SEE, RIGHT UP HERE, THE GREAT OLD TOWER.
BOY THIS IS BEAUTIFUL.
I HOPE THEY DO SOMETHING HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT WITH THIS ROOM WHEN THEY RESTORE IT.
>> GIVEN ENOUGH MONEY THEY WILL.
>> THIS OUGHT TO BE, DON'T YOU THINK?
>> IT SHOULD BE PRESERVED FOR HISTORICAL PURPOSES.
>> ALRIGHT NOW WE'RE - WHERE HAVE YOU BROUGHT US?
>> THIS IS THE DISPATCHER'S OFFICE WHERE THEY HANDLED ALL THE TRAINS FROM SAN DIEGO TO NEEDLES.
>> AND THIS IS - LOOK, THIS IS ALL - >> OPERATORS AND THE TRAIN HANDLERS THAT WORKED IN EACH SHIFT AND WHICH DIVISION THEY WERE ON.
>> LOOK SUPERINTENDENT FRESNO, BARSTOW, LOS ANGELES, RICHMOND, GENERAL SUPERVISOR OF SIGNALS.
>> THAT'S AFTER MY TIME.
>> OH, OKAY SO THESE ARE KINDA UPDATED HERE.
THESE WERE FROM WHAT THE 70S, THE 80S.
>> THE 80S.
I LEFT IN '79 AND WE STILL HAD THE DISPATCHERS HERE.
>> BUT THIS IS SIGNIFICANT WHERE WE'RE GOIN' RIGHT NOW ISN'T IT?
>> ABSOLUTELY, I HIRED OUT RIGHT HERE, THIS SAME SPOT, IN 1957 WITH MR. RED BARRY, CHIEF DISPATCHER.
AND I WAS THE TRAIN ORDER OPERATOR.
WE HAD STATIONS UP ALL FROM BETWEEN HERE AND LOS ANGELES.
>> LET'S WALK IN HERE.
WHAT HAPPENED IN A DISPATCHER OFFICE?
WATCH YOUR STEP HERE LOUIE.
>> IN THOSE DAYS WE HAD - >> OH LOOK.
>> THEY HAD BOARDS THAT SHOWED WHERE THE TRAINS WERE ON THEIR DISTRICT AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME AND THEY COULD SET IT UP TO STOP THEM AND TO START THEM AND TO PASS UP ORDERS TO THEM AND WHATEVER FROM THIS BUNCH OF BOARDS.
>> LOOK AT WHAT'S STILL HERE.
THEY JUST WALKED - OH LOOK BACK HERE.
LOOK AT THIS LOUIE.
WHAT'S ALL THIS BACK HERE?
>> THOSE ARE TRANSFER SYSTEMS.
>> AND THEY JUST WALKED OFF AND LEFT IT WHEN THEY LEFT THE - >> THEY DIDN'T NEED IT AND THE FUNNY PART ABOUT THIS IS THAT WHEN THEY LEFT HERE, THEY WENT BACK TO ILLINOIS, JOHANNESBERG, THEN WHEN THEY MERGED WITH BURLINGTON ORE THEN THEY WENT TO DALLAS TEXAS, I BELIEVE, AND THEY'RE GONNA COME BACK TO CALIFORNIA HERE WITHIN THE NEXT TWO OR THREE MONTHS.
BACK OVER TO SAN BERNARDINO.
>> SEE, WHAT GOES AROUND, COMES AROUND, DOESN'T IT?
>> OKAY, NOW WE'VE COME BACK OUTSIDE AND I'M VISITING WITH- >> BOB.
>> AND BOB'S CLAIM TO FAME IS THAT YOU WORKED HERE FOR HOW MANY YEARS?
>> I DIDN'T WORK HERE TOO MANY YEARS BUT I WORKED HERE WHEN IT WAS A BUSY PLACE.
THIS TIME TABLE IS FROM 1957 AND I WENT TO WORK IN 1956.
IN THIS TIME TABLE THERE WERE TEN TRAINS EACH WAY IN 24 HOURS.
NOW SIX OF THESE TRAINS WERE SANTA FE TRAINS AND FOUR WERE UNION PACIFIC AND THEY, MOST HAD SACK MAIL.
AND WE USED THOSE BAGGAGE WAGONS RIGHT BACK THERE TO HAUL THIS.
>> SO WAIT A MINUTE, YOUR JOB HERE WAS TO - >> SORT THE SACK MAIL THAT CAME IN FOR DESERT COMMUNITIES, MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES AND AREAS WHERE THERE WASN'T ANY TRAIN SERVICE.
BUT SOME MAIL WOULD COME OFF OF A TRAIN LIKE IT'S GOIN' TO PASADENA AND GOIN' TO RIVERSIDE AND WE'D PUT THAT ON ANOTHER TRAIN, PLUS BESIDES THAT, WE SOMETIMES HAD BODIES WITH SHIPPING CASKETS WITH DEAD PEOPLE.
>> GOOD GRACIOUS, SO YOU DID A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING IN HERE.
A LOT OF MAIL ON THE TRAINS.
>> AND WE HAD COMPANY MAIL TO MESS WITH, AND THIS IS CALLED A 1,000 MILE ENVELOPE.
YOU'D ADDRESS IT TO THE NEXT YARD DOWN THE LINE AND YOU NEVER SEALED THEM.
AND THAT'S CALLED A 1,000 MILE ENVELOPE.
>> SO THIS WAS LIKE INTEROFFICE STUFF.
>> YEAH, THEY GENERATED A LOT OF MAIL.
A LOT OF MESSAGES GOIN' - THEY DIDN'T HAVE FAX MACHINES, NO E-MAIL, NO VOICE MAIL - >> ALL DONE BY HAND.
>> YEAH, BUT THEY HAD TELEGRAPH THOUGH.
THERE'S A TELEPHONE OFFICE DOWN HERE BUT THEY HAD THEIR OWN TELEGRAPH SYSTEM ALSO.
>> NOW IS THIS WHERE THE MAIL ROOM WAS?
>> YES, THE MAIL ROOM AND BAGGAGE ROOM IS OVER HERE AND RAILROAD EXPRESS WAS IN ANOTHER AREA OVER HERE.
THEY CONTRACTED TO HAVE THE RAILROAD HAUL THEIR MERCHANDISE BUT THEY HANDLED THEIR OWN MERCHANDISE.
>> WELL, THIS MUST BRING BACK A LOT OF MEMORIES FOR YOU.
>> I HAD EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE TO WORK UPSTAIRS IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE.
HERE'S WHERE ALL THE ACTION WAS.
YOU KNOW EVERY DAY THERE WAS SOMETHING DIFFERENT GOING ON, AND ALL THESE TRAINS COMIN' AND THE FREIGHT TRAINS HAD ALL THE DIFFERENT BILLBOARD CARS AND ADVERTISING ON THEM AND EVERY DAY THE UNION PACIFIC HAD A LIVESTOCK TRAIN GOING TO FARMER JOHN'S OR SOMEWHERE IN LOS ANGELES WITH LIVESTOCK OR GROCERIES.
>> NOW WE'VE COME INSIDE AND I'M WITH - I NEVER GOT YOUR NAME.
>> IDA PETERSON.
>> IDA PETERSON WHO WAS HERE AS A HARVEY GIRL IN THE OLD HARVEY GIRL RESTAURANT BACK IN - >> 1933 I CAME AND THEN I GOT MARRIED IN 1936 AND SO I DIDN'T WORK ANYMORE.
>> YOU GOT MARRIED AND QUIT WORKIN'.
>> YEAH.
>> NOW IS THIS THE OLD HARVEY HOUSE RESTAURANT RIGHT IN HERE?
THEY SAY IT WAS, THAT WAS THE DOOR THAT YOU CAME IN RIGHT OVER THERE.
>> THROUGH THE KITCHEN, DOES THAT GO IN THE KITCHEN?
>> NO I THINK THAT GOES OUTSIDE.
SEE WHAT THEY DID WAS, THEY BROKE ALL THIS UP AND MADE OFFICES OUT OF IT.
BUT THIS IS THE ORIGINAL WINDOW OVER THERE.
WELL, TELL US WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE A HARVEY GIRL HERE.
>> WELL YOU COULDN'T GO OUT ON A DATE UNLESS YOU HAD LATE PERMITS.
IF YOU STAYED LATER THAN LIKE 10:30 AND THEN IF YOU DIDN'T COME LATE, YOU COULD GO GET ONE OF THOSE GREEN CARTS THAT WE SAW IN THE OTHER BUILDING, THOSE LUGGAGE CARTS, BIG ONES?
AND THEN PUT IT ON THIS OF THE GATE, AND GET ANOTHER ON THE OTHER SIDE, AND THEN WE WOULD CRAWL OVER.
>> OH YOU'D SNEAK IN!
>> SURE.
>> YOU'RE HEARING THESE STORIES ABOUT YOUR MOM.
>> AMAZING.
>> WELL, WE'VE HEARD 'EM BEFORE.
>> NOW YOU MET YOUR HUSBAND HERE.
>> I MET HIM IN SAN BERNARDINO, BUT NOT HERE AT THE STATION.
THEY HAD A TAXI BUSINESS IN SAN BERNARDINO AND HE'D COME DOWN AND MEET ALL THE TRAINS AND HE'D COME IN AND HAVE SOUP AND A HUGE POUND OF BUTTER IN PORRIDGE AND A BOX OF CRACKERS FOR 25¢ I THINK IT WAS.
>> AND DIDN'T YOU LIVE HERE IN THE STATION?
>> YEAH, ABOVE THE COFFEE SHOP.
I HOPE WE GET TO GO UP THERE.
>> SO ALL THE HARVEY GIRLS LIVED IN THE STATION WHERE THEY WORKED AND WE'VE GOT A PICTURE HERE.
HERE SHE IS, POINT OUT WHERE YOU ARE HERE.
YOU'RE RIGHT HERE.
SECOND ROW AND THIS IS THE WHOLE HARVEY GIRL STAFF.
>> THIS IS MR. AND MRS. HILLMAN, THE MANAGER, AND THIS WAS THE NEWSSTAND MANAGER AND THAT WAS THE WAITRESS, THAT WAS THE BANKER, AND THAT WAS THE - HE BAKED MY WEDDING CAKE.
>> OH GOODNESS.
AND THE HARVEY HOUSES WERE REALLY KNOWN FOR THEIR FOOD AND FOR THEIR WAITRESSES, ALL THEIR PRETTY WAITRESSES, AND FRIENDLY WAITRESSES.
>> THIS IS THE OUTFIT THEY WORE.
>> OH LOOK, SO YOU WOULD HAVE WORN SOMETHIN' LIKE THIS?
>> EXACTLY LIKE IT.
>> THIS IS THE INSIDE OF ONE OF THE HARVEY HOUSES.
>> IT'S THE SAME AS THAT ONLY- >> THAT'S WHAT A HARVEY HOUSE WOULD HAVE LOOKED LIKE INSIDE.
>> AND HERE I WAS 18, WHEN THAT WAS MADE.
>> AND HERE'S WHAT IT WOULD HAVE LOOKED LIKE.
>> WELL ONE WAS THE COFFEE SHOP AND ONE WAS THE DINING ROOM.
>> THIS IS THE DINING ROOM.
>> AND WHAT KIND OF FOOD DID YOU SERVE?
>> OH EVERYTHING.
YOU NAME IT.
>> GOOD FOOD?
>> YEAH.
>> BUT EVERYTHING HAD TO BE JUST SO.
THE LINENS, THE FORKS, EVERYTHING HAD TO BE JUST PERFECT AND FRED HARVEY WAS VERY VERY PARTICULAR.
>> WELL, THIS, THE HARVEY GIRLS, AND THE HARVEY HOUSE RESTAURANT IS AS MUCH A PART OF THE HISTORY OF THIS STATION AS ANYTHING.
WELCOME HOME.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
>> NOT BAD FOR 89.
>> WELL WE'RE BACK OUTSIDE AND THERE RIGHT ON CUE IS A TRAIN COMIN' BY.
IT'S NOT QUITE LIKE IT WAS IN THE OLD DAYS, BUT YOU ALL HAVE KINDA GIVEN US A SENSE OF WHAT IT WAS LIKE HERE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR STORIES.
FOR BRINGIN' YOUR MOM DOWN.
THANK YOU SIR.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SIR.
THANK YOU SIR.
THANK YOU SIR.
THANKS FOR THE TOUR!
GIVE OUR REGARDS TO THE PIGEONS.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
THANKS FOR COMIN'.
THANK YOU SIR, THIS HAS BEEN A LOT OF FUN.
THERE'S THE LADY WITH THE KEYS.
THANK YOU SIR.
AND WHAT WE HAVE BASICALLY DONE TODAY IS TAKE A LOOK AT THIS WONDERFUL OLD TRAIN STATION WHICH HAS BEEN SUCH A PROUD PART OF SAN BERNARDINO'S PAST AND THE MAYOR YOU KNOW EARLIER IN THE PROGRAM INVITED US TO COME BACK IN A COUPLE OF YEARS TO SEE THE REBIRTH OF THIS WONDERFUL BIT OF HISTORY.
IT'S GONNA BE BIGGER AND BETTER THAN EVER.
THIS IS A TRUE SUCCESSFUL STORY HERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND SAN BERNARDINO.
THE OLD TRAIN STATION, INCLUDING THE HARVEY HOUSE IS COMIN' BACK AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY TRAINS COMING, WELL THERE'S ONE ENGINE RIGHT THERE.
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER WE CAN GET IT TO BLOW ON CUE OR NOT FOR US.
[TRAIN WHISTLES] >> EVERYBODY GIVE A - ALRIGHT A MINUTE - LOOK AT THIS LOUIE.
[TRAIN WHISTLES] YOU WERE CHEATIN'.
>> YOU CAUGHT ME.
>> WE'VE HAD A LOT OF FUN AND IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL DAY HERE AT THIS GRAND OLD TRAIN STATION IN SAN BERNARDINO.
[TRAIN WHISTLE] VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION.