It has become a tradition for many LFHS students to hop on the train and head to downtown Chicago for the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. These students are always eager to get a glimpse of the Chicago River in its once-a-year emerald green color, but have you ever stopped and wondered when and why this tradition started?  

Richard J. Daley, the son of an Irish immigrant, became mayor of Chicago in 1955. He was determined to develop the riverfront and clean up the Chicago River as the river had been a vessel of Chicago’s waste.

In order to find out where sewage was leaking from the pipes, plumbers used a green dye to identify the sources. The story has been told that Daley’s friend, Stephen M. Bailey— business manager of the Chicago Plumbers Union— noticed the emerald green color it left on workman’s coveralls. He went to Mayor Daley with the idea of dyeing the river green for St. Patrick’s Day. So, that very day in 1962, the tradition began.  

Although Dailey originally wanted to dye part of Lake Michigan, his friend convinced him the river was a better idea.  They started with 100 pounds of dye that lasted over a week and since then have scaled down to 40 pounds. The environmentally friendly dying of the Chicago River has been sponsored by the Chicago’s Plumbers Local Union ever since.

If you would like to see the Chicago Plumbers Local Union in action, head down before the parade starts to watch them dye the river green on Saturday, March 15th at 10am. The annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade will start at 12:15pm at the intersection of Columbus and Balbo Drive and will continue north, ending at Columbus and Monroe Street. The parade is free but you can purchase VIP grandstand seating with access to bathrooms. Happy St. Patrick’s day and be safe!