Henry & Jane Watkins Home

404 East Main

Tucked along East Main Street, the Henry and Jane Watkins Home dates back to around 1880. This brick hall-parlor home, with its story-and-a-half design, has witnessed nearly a century and a half of Midway's history. Today, the Hardy Foundation has beautifully restored the home while preserving the character that makes it special.

The property's history reaches back to 1877, when Charles Love received a federal land patent for property just beyond Midway's original town boundaries. Love later sold a strip of land between 400 and 500 East to John Watkins, who divided it among three of his sons. The corner parcel became the home of Henry Watkins and his wife, Jane Ellis Alder Watkins.

One of the home's most memorable residents was their eldest son, Elijah H. Watkins (1885–1966). A farmer, rancher, and miner, Elijah suffered a devastating mining accident that left him nearly blind at just 21 years old. Yet he continued farming and remained active in the Midway community. He also became a member of the Utah Blind Association. His farmland once included much of what is now Memorial Hill, which he later sold to Wasatch County.

Over the years, the home has seen a few additions to the rear, but its historical character remains. The Hardy Foundation’s restoration included re-shingling the roof and carefully repairing the brickwork through a process called repointing. This involves cutting out the old mortar to a depth of about an inch and pressing new mortar between the bricks. The new mixture closely matches the original mortar in color, texture, and composition. Using the right amount of lime helps keep the mortar softer and more breathable than the surrounding bricks. If the mortar is too hard, it can cause the historic brick surfaces to crack or flake away, exposing the softer interior to further deterioration.

With its brick walls and simple architectural lines, the Watkins home offers a glimpse of everyday life in early Midway. Thanks to restoration efforts, this piece of Midway history will endure for many more years.

Henry Watkins Home, 404 E. Main St.

Photographed in 2002.

Before restoration.