Have you ever looked at an old photo and wondered about its history? Among the Nemaha County Historical Society’s collection is today’s Throwback Thursday image of the Goffs Union Depot and R.R. Eating House.
To uncover its story, a search through historic newspapers led to an article in the March 18, 1910 issue of The Goffs Advance, shedding light on the history of the Eating House and its significance.
THE NEW R. R. EATING HOUSE
In the now going on three weeks that the Van Noy R. R. eating house has been in operation here, the business has been fully up to the most sanguine expectations of the management, so we were informed upon our first visit of inspection and errand of gathering data for publication, made Tuesday forenoon.
The appointments and general arrangement are most pleasing in effect and utility, and the service is so tasteful and appetizing a character as to appeal favorably to the most fastidious. The storeroom and larder are both models of well-kept departments and amply provided with the choicest and best the market affords.
The kitchen is at once suggestive of the most wholesome as regards the cuisine features. In fact, every part of the work, from the preparation of the bill of fare to its serving, is performed in a manner as only experts in the business might be capable.
A large and commodious refrigerator is an important fixture, and every requirement of the pure food law is religiously lived up to.
The upper part of the building is fitted up with five sleeping rooms, a bathroom, and a linen room, all with the comfort of those for whose use (the help) they are intended, well looked after. A force of seven people is on the payroll, and they are all kept busy.
To Mr. and Mrs. Nelson, chef and cashier and manager, respectively, is due the credit for the clockwork routine with which the business of the place is conducted.
Lastly, the interior finish of the entire building is in keeping with the furnishings. Counters, stairway, and alcoves are of dark oak, finished in hard oil. The ceiling is a steel composition in beautiful art square designs and painted a delicate green tint.
The job of painting, both inside and out, is by our own H. K. Campbell, the “Brush of Goff,” and speaks out loud for him as possessed of an eye for the artistic.