In 1904, settlers could purchase 640 acres of land in Western Nebraska for $14. This was known as the Kinkaid Act, and the settlers in question were called Kinkaiders.
Fast forward to late 2021. Kinkaider Brewery, a beloved fixture in Nebraska’s microbrew landscape, is expanding its patio area in the historic Haymarket district. This requires them to secure more railing, with one caveat: per the city of Lincoln, the new railing must match the vintage railing that’s already there.
Enter Dale’s Custom Welding and Fabrication.
A longtime customer of Kaser’s, Dale Keys is a talented fabricator who always has multiple irons in the fire. He takes on the Kinkaider project, and does a great job. The new railing matches the old one almost exactly.
All of that railing – new and old – arrived at Kaser last month.
We started by blasting off the vintage railing’s old paint and primer. It was a dull, faded green, full of brush strokes, and likely lead based, which meant we had to proceed with caution. We blasted the new railing as well, removing any mill scale.
After pretreatment, we sprayed two coats of PPG’s RAL 6005, a mossy, forest-green color that stayed true to the railing’s original aesthetic while simultaneously bringing it into the 21st century.
Not to brag, but it looks amazing. It’s smooth, glossy, and vibrant.
As a lifelong Nebraskan, I get excited about local projects – particularly ones with such deep roots. The Kinkaid Act was an interesting chapter in Nebraska history, and Kinkaider Brewing represents Nebraskan craftsmanship while celebrating that history.Â
Next time you’re in the Haymarket, stop by Kinkaider and run your hand over some green railing.
