Kimball Celebrates Lincoln Highway

The Lincoln Highway has a special place in Kimball history. Now two crosswalks have been painted on Chestnut Street at the corner with 2nd Street to commemorate the highway's original route through town.

The Lincoln Highway was the first transcontinental highway across the United States. It officially opened in 1913, even though it wasn't completely paved until years later. Initially, it went through the downtown area of most of the towns it intersected, but it has since changed course slightly to the Highway 30 we know today.

Jessica Rocha began planning the crosswalk project while she was Kimball County tourism director, but wasn't able to get it completed due to weather and time constraints.

Jessica's sister, Jamie Bright, is still very involved in community projects throughout the Panhandle and was able to bring it back to the forefront to be completed before Farmers Day.

Helping making the project possible were Panhandle Public Health District for grant money to purchase the paint and supplies; the City of Kimball for closing the street during the painting; Daria Anderson-Faden, Bradley Leis and Juan and Cruz Rocha for helping paint; and Ed Avila and Jack Shaw for providing snacks and tools.

Kimball art instructor Mr. Jefferis created the basic design of the crosswalk and made the stencil of President Lincoln's head.

Potter has a Lincoln Highway crosswalk already and there are plans to paint an old bridge in Bushnell soon. If you want to learn more about the Lincoln Highway, or to become a member, visit https://www.lincolnhighwayassoc.org.