Manufacturer: Syracuse China
Pattern name: Encanto #75001 or #75002
User: Fred Harvey
Date of celery: 1922

Notes: When found with an orange line, as shown below, this pattern was used at La Fonda Hotel in Santa Fe, N.M.

According to the hotel's website, La Fonda was built in 1922 and in 1925 "was acquired by the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway and then leased to Fred Harvey, who was renowned for his hospitality. He turned La Fonda into one of the famous Harvey Houses and it remained a Harvey House until 1968 when it was acquired by local businessman, Sam Ballen."

As found in an early Syracuse China catalog of underglazed patterns, Encanto was made in several combinations: either #75001 or #75002. The only version that was used at La Fonda, though, is the one with an orange outer line. Additional rim treatment includes a motif of stars, leaves and vines and a flower or floral spacer. Colors are yellow, green, rusty red and blue.

About Fred Harvey
Fred Harvey was well known in the last quarter of the 19th century and during the 20th century for his railroad eating houses, many of which went by the name Harvey House. The restaurants – said to be the first chain – provided prompt service and high-quality food for incoming rail passengers. Eventually Harvey provided dining car and hotel service as well.

From the wikipedia: "Fred Harvey, a fastidious innkeeper, set high standards for efficiency and cleanliness in his establishments, personally inspecting them as often as possible. It was said that nothing escaped his notice, and he was even known to completely overturn a poorly-set table."

"It has been suggested that the Harvey Houses originated the 'blue-plate special,' a daily low-priced complete meal served on a blue-patterned china plate; an 1892 Harvey menu mentions them, some thirty years before the term became widespread. In addition to the Santa Fe, the Harvey Company operated dining facilities for the Gulf Coast and Santa Fe Railway, the Kansas Pacific Railway, the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway, and the Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis."

Harvey died in 1901, but his Fred Harvey Company continued to 1968 under the management of his sons and grandson, when it was sold to Amfac Inc.

For related info:
Fred Harvey – Harvey Paisley by Bauscher Brothers
Fred Harvey – Webster by Syracuse China
Fred Harvey – Denmark by Syracuse China
Fred Harvey – 4300 Series by Syracuse China
Fred Harvey – Membreno by Syracuse China
Encanto by Syracuse China
Berkeley by Syracuse China

Catalog page contributed by Larry Paul
Photo contributed by Susan Phillips