(Mid-1920-July 1, 1980)
- In 1920, they knew it as: Hawkeye's consolation prize as IA 19, the replacement for the North Iowa Pike, avoided town.
- We know it as: County Road W14
- Let's get granular: IA 102, which was not immediately in the system, might have been added by the time markers were painted in July.
- The North Iowa Pike's route had made a special effort to go through Hawkeye, using a now-vacated diagonal coming in from the northwest, Main Street, Quarter Road, and 220th Street. The Pike continued on 220th to Lynx Road, then wound through West Union. In 1920, this meant Hawkeye was a half-mile away from the route but the Fayette County Courthouse was on it.
- In April 1922, that road, then IA 19, was changed to run straight between Fredericksburg and downtown West Union, making 102 a mile longer.
NORTH End (1): IA 19, now W14 at 220th St, Fayette County
NORTH End (2): IA 19, now W14 at US 18, Fayette County
From 1922 to 1980, the intersection where this sign is was the end of IA 102. (7/25/16)
SOUTH End: Hawkeye, Fayette County
Hawkeye (1920 pop. 582, 2010 pop. 449) was the 14th-smallest town with its own spur by the end of 1920. Its school closed in 2013.
Hawkeye
is on the "side track"
Yes, it's a fact. Hawkeye is sidetracked, according to the action of the
State Highway Commission.
The Primary Road — which will be the first to receive paving
consideration — which was originally designated to follow the route of
the North Iowa Pike, has been changed in routing so that instead of
entering Hawkeye it follows the road one half mile north connecting with
the North Iowa Pike at the Joe Knox corner.
As a "salve" for Hawkeye the commission proposes to pave a half mile
south into Hawkeye. This is certainly an unfair ruling.
The Commission takes the ground that they have changed the original
route of the primary road because they desire to make as short a
distance as possible for "through-traffic" and they wish to "avoid
turns" as much as possible. ...
It is time for the people of Hawkeye and vicinity to get busy and find a
way to get the route readjusted that exact justice may be done.
— Hawkeye Beacon, reprinted in
Fayette County Union, July 22,
1920
Page created 3/4/20