Watkins, Iowa
Youngville Café, northwest of Watkins on Highway 30, is a restored café and museum. It was saved from extinction by the Youngville Highway History Association and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Located five miles south of Highway 30 on County Road W12, the unincorporated community of Watkins is home to approximately 100 residents. Quiet rural living is the hallmark of this village that lies just north of Prairie Creek.
Midway between Blairstown and Norway, Watkins was platted in 1873 and named that year in honor of railroad Superintendent Watkins, who had died in a railroad accident east of town.
In its early years, Watkins was a thriving shipping point for grain with 116,000 bushels shipped in 1878.
Since 1913, baseball has been an important part of Watkins’ culture and a source of community pride. The Watkins Athletic Association was formed that year and has since taught game fundamentals to boys and girls in Pee Wee, Pony and town leagues.
Watkins’ amateur baseball team, the Watkins Mudhens, continues to bring the community statewide recognition. The 21-man team won the Iowa Amateur Baseball Association championship in 2000, 2005, 2008 and 2009, defeating teams from Des Moines to the Quad Cities. Randy Walter is the coach/manager.
Completely independent and self-supported, the team plays regular season games on Thursday, Sunday and occasionally on Wednesday. This year’s season runs May 16 through the second week in August. District play will be July 30 through Aug. 1. The state tournament is set for Aug. 6 through 8 at a location yet to be announced.
Watkins baseball sign
Gabe Kuester Memorial Ball Park is the site of the community’s annual Independence Day celebration that draws large crowds the Saturday after July 4. Sponsored by the Watkins Savings Bank, the event features free admission to two Watkins-Norway men’s baseball games starting at 5 p.m. A fireworks display follows at dusk.
A community of caring citizens, Watkins hosts an annual September car show to assist a local person or persons with medical or other expenses. The event typically draws more than 100 entries.
Youngville Cafe
Northwest of Watkins at the intersection of Highways 30 and 218 sits Youngville Café, a restored eatery, filling station and museum.
One of the state’s few remaining rural commercial sites along the Lincoln Highway, Youngville Café was in business from 1931 to 1967, when interstate travel robbed the highway of much of its traffic.
Youngville Café fell into disrepair until a group of local citizens interested in its preservation and the Lincoln Highway formed the Youngville Highway History Association in 1997.
Federal, state and local funding enabled the association to restore the café using as much salvageable material as possible.
Youngville Café is the recipient of an Iowa Historic Preservation Alliance award and in 2007 was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The café features Lincoln Highway and local memorabilia, souvenirs, lunch on Tuesdays and Thursdays and a farmers market every Friday from late May through mid October.
Apple Daze are observed annually the third Sunday in September with displays, food and vendors selling a variety of goods.
UTILITY INFORMATION
Water/sewer – Poweshiek Water Association (800) 543-7419
Electric/gas – Alliant Energy (800) 822-4348
Phone Service – Southslope Cooperative Communications (319) 626-2211
Internet/Cable TV – Southslope Cooperative Communications (319) 626-2211
Trash/Recycling – Country Mile Disposal & Recycling (319) 560-8982 or contact Watkins Savings Bank (319) 227-7773
PUBLIC SAFETY
For emergencies call 911
Police – Benton County Sheriff’s Department
113 E. Third St.
Vinton, IA 52349
(319) 472-2337
Watkins Fire Department
104 First St.
Watkins, IA 52354
Fire Chief – Dallas Smith
EMS
Blairstown Ambulance
205 Main St. NE
Blairstown, IA 52209
(319) 454-0078
EDUCATION
Benton Community School District
Administrative Offices
304 First St.
Van Horne, IA 52346
(319) 228-8702
Benton Community High School/Middle School
600 First St.
Van Horne, IA 52346
(319) 228-8701
Norway Elementary
100 School Drive
Norway, IA 52318
(319) 227-7142
Central Lutheran School
310 Third St. West
Newhall, IA 52315-0190
(319) 223-5271
SERVICES
U.S. Post Office: 201 First St. (319) 227-7788. Window hours: Monday through Friday, 8:15 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3:45 p.m.; Saturday, 9 to 10:45 a.m. Lobby open 24 hours.
WHERE TO WORSHIP IN WATKINS
St. Patrick’s Catholic Church
109 Second St.
(319) 228-8131
Rev. Jack McClure, C.PP.S
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