Working on the Chicago River

Hartley Meyer, river tour guide for the Chicago Architectural Foundation
Working on the river for 5 years
“Have you heard of Riverace [rhymes with Liberace]—Vincent Falk? He wears these elaborate costumes and does these little dances on the bridges—kind of a catwalk thing. Occasionally you’re trying to tell people a serious story, and they’re all looking up and laughing. You’ve just got to let Riverace do his thing.”

Jerry “Tater” Dolan, captain of the MV Stacy Dianne, which moves barges on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal
Working on the river for 25 years
“I’ve seen some bodies, for sure. I remember years ago it was my last move of the day. It was very hot out, and I was just about ready to go when I looked behind me, and I saw an arm and a leg kick up in my propeller wash. I was like, ‘Oh no, man, we got a floater.’ I got closer to it, and it was a big love doll—a rubber love doll. But very authentic-looking.”

Ron Dorneker, dive coordinator for the Chicago Fire Department
Working on the river for 8 years
“The worst thing about diving in the river is probably cold water and the ice in the river. Because [an ice-breaker boat] goes through and breaks the river ice up, you get those large chunks that are three-foot, four-foot, six-foot squares. We might have to push them aside to go in and dive. If it was recreational diving, you’d never dive there.”

Darron Morgan, water-taxi captain/taxi operations manager with Shoreline Sightseeing
Working on the river for 11 years
“For me, [operating the taxi is] sort of bittersweet. We lost our 4-year-old daughter…. She died in May four years ago. That year driving [the water taxi], I would always see little children that looked like her. When you see a child that’s never been on a boat, they’ve got that enthusiasm and excitement because it’s so new. For me, seeing those kids really made it easier.”

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