BENTON COUNTY

Youngville Station

Youngville Station stands at the busy intersection of U.S. Highways 30 and 218.

County to let Youngville Bids
(Excerpted from The Cedar Valley Times of Vinton, May 6, 1998)

After two months of mild debate, the Benton County Board of Supervisors will give the go-ahead for the county to handle the bid-letting for the interior work of the Youngville Cafe. The change in the board's stance on the issue comes after a report during Tuesday's meeting with County Engineer Jerry Petermeier. Petermeier told the board that after having a conversation with Iowa Department of Transportation District Secondary Road Engineer Dick Kautz, many unknown issues became quite clear. "IDOT has eliminated all of the hoops we thought we would have to go through and the supervisors have told me once the plans are submitted to set a date for bid-letting," he said.

Youngville.
The "BEFORE" photos, shot in 1994.

Youngville.
"DURING" in 1996.
"In its heyday, the Youngville Station served fine home-cooked meals and dispensed Skelley gasoline and oil for a generation of Lincoln Highway travelers. The Tudor-style building was home to J.W. Young and his daughter, the widow Elizabeth Wheeler. It was built by Young shortly after the death of his son-in-law in 1921. It is probably the largest 1920s filling station on the Lincoln Highway." (Greg Franzwa, The Lincoln Highway: Iowa, The Patrice Press, 1995)
The road house is undergoing renovation. Donations may be sent to Anne Schoonover, 5939 15th Avenue, Garrison IA 52229.

Youngville.
Renovation takes it down to the lathe. The Iowa LHA toured the ongoing project at the Fall 1998 meeting.

Youngville.
Not quite AFTER, but nearing completion. This photo taken in 2000.

Here are some photos taken of Youngville Station in its heyday...

Long-time residents of this area of Benton County are probably familiar with the Midway Cabin Court, also at the junction of U.S. Highways 30 and 218. Midway sat diagonally from Youngville, on the southwest corner of the intersection. There is no trace of it today save a bare patch of dirt. In its day, however, it earned a notorious reputation. Below is a reproduced picture postcard of Midway and the adjoining cabins. Address of this location is given as Watkins, Iowa, Ada McMillin & Harold Wells, Owners..