• Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
Brookwood School District 167
  • Schools
    • Brookwood Junior High School
    • Brookwood Middle School
    • Hickory Bend Elementary School
    • Longwood Elementary School
  • Resources
    • CHAMPIONS
    • CrisisGo
    • Curriculum & Instruction
    • District Forms
    • District Report Cards
    • Human Resources
    • Learning Packets
    • PowerSchool Portal
      • PowerSchool | Administrator
      • PowerSchool | Teacher
      • PowerSchool | Parent
    • Psychologist
    • Read 180 – Next Generation
    • School Bus Stop Information
    • School Nurse News
    • School Supply List
    • Staff Directory
    • Technology Help Desk
    • Welcome To Food Service
  • Administration
    • Mission Statement & Beliefs
    • Office Of The Superintendent
    • Business Office
    • Bid Proposal
    • Request For Proposals
    • Employment Opportunities
  • News & Noteworthy
  • District Calendar
  • Board
    • Members
    • Development and Trainings
    • Public Participation At Board Meetings
    • Policy Handbook
    • BoardBook
    • FOIA Requests
  • Gallery
  • Menu Menu
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn

St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago would not be the same if the Chicago River was not colored green. Chicagoans can thank the legendary Mayor Richard J. Daley and his love of St. Patrick’s Day for this rich Chicago tradition.

A New Tradition Is Born

Brookwood

  • The story behind turning the river green is believed to originate in 1962
  • Some local plumbers mistakenly spilled green dye into the Chicago River
  • Mayor Richard Daley saw it and wanted to know if it could be done for St. Patrick’s Day

One Family Since 1962

Brookwood

At that time, a man named Tom Rowan was in charge of the river’s police boats. He immediately offered to dye the Chicago River, and the rest is history. Tom Rowan died in 2002. His brother, Thomas took over the reins, and Bob Rowan joined the team in 2005.

Bob Rowen states that his family practiced “a long time” to get it right. There were issues with getting the perfect shade without bright streaks. Now, they have the ideal fluorescent hue.

Nothing keeps the Rowan family from completing this tradition.  Bob Rowen recalls that they have dyed the river in rainstorms, blizzards, and high winds.

“We did it one year when it was real windy, and the dye blew up onto Wacker Drive, so we ended up dyeing the entire South Side of Upper Wacker green. As I passed people on the street and saw green all over their faces, I was like, ‘we need to get out of here.’ It was pretty wild.”

Magical Leprechaun Dust

Brookwood

Turning the Chicago River green entails a two-hour boat trip up and down the Chicago River and connecting canals. The distance totals 156 miles. Sixty pounds of “Leprechaun Dust” is used. The recipe is a well-kept secret. However, the family is quick to note that the product is much healthier and more accessible than ever before. Fish, turtles, muskrats, and beavers inhabit the water and nearby land.

Others Have Tried, Few Have Succeeded!

Brookwood

  • The city of Savannah tried dying its river in 1961 but gave up after the dye became filtered in the fast tide. Instead, the city dyes several of its fountains.
  • Tampa uses 250 pounds of an orange powder called “Bright dyes.” It lasts for about 5 hours due to tide impact.
  • Indianapolis uses a concentrated liquid dye to color a downtown canal. They started this tradition in 1996. It can last for 2-4 days.

The Rowan family has been requested to visit as far as France and Dublin to color their rivers. In Dublin, they found the river so dirty, the impact of the dye was little.

Even The White House Got In On The Fun

Brookwood

During the Obama administration, the White House dyed the water in the fountain of the south lawn green on St. Patrick’s Day.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn

Like Us On Facebook

Like Us On Facebook

News & Noteworthy

  • BrookwoodBrookwood 167 | Remote Planning DayFebruary 17, 2021 - 8:04 am
  • BrookwoodBrookwood 167 | Pause | In-Person-LearningFebruary 14, 2021 - 11:52 pm
  • BrookwoodBrookwood 167 | Pre-K ScreeningsFebruary 12, 2021 - 9:01 am
  • BrookwoodBrookwood 167 | Parent University | Nonsuicidal Self-Injury (NSSI)February 11, 2021 - 11:22 am
  • BrookwoodBrookwood 167 | Parent University | Remote Learning ResourcesDecember 7, 2020 - 2:48 pm

BROOKWOOD SCHOOL DISTRICT 167

  • Brookwood Junior High School
  • Brookwood Middle School
  • Hickory Bend Elementary School
  • Longwood Elementary School

We’ve Gone Social!

  • Like Us On Facebook
  • Follow Us On Twitter
  • Watch Us On YouTube

News & Noteworthy

  • BrookwoodBrookwood 167 | Remote Planning DayFebruary 17, 2021 - 8:04 am
  • BrookwoodBrookwood 167 | Pause | In-Person-LearningFebruary 14, 2021 - 11:52 pm
  • BrookwoodBrookwood 167 | Pre-K ScreeningsFebruary 12, 2021 - 9:01 am
  • BrookwoodBrookwood 167 | Parent University | Nonsuicidal Self-Injury (NSSI)February 11, 2021 - 11:22 am
  • BrookwoodBrookwood 167 | Parent University | Remote Learning ResourcesDecember 7, 2020 - 2:48 pm

Contact Information


ADDRESS
201 Glenwood-Dyer Road | Glenwood, IL 60425

TELEPHONE
(708) 758-5190

FAX
(708) 757-2104

EMAIL
info@brookwood167.org

Like Us On Facebook!

Like Us On Facebook!
© Copyright - Brookwood School District 167 | Powered By Net Ninja
Kids Learn A Lot More Than Just Grammar In School Brookwood Brookwood Healthy Recipes: Reubens 2 Ways | Sandwich or Casserole
Scroll to top

Brookwood School District 167 relies on parent
feedback when planning for the future.

Dear Parents/Guardians/Families:

We highly encourage you to complete the 5 Essentials Survey for your child’s school. Your feedback matters. We use this feedback to develop school improvement plans and activities to make continuous improvement. The data needs to reflect the voices of our parents in order to address/validate school concerns or support for existing programs.

Your honest responses are confidential and needed to better inform our upcoming goals and strategies we will be implementing for the 2021-2022 school year.

Please share your input through the annual Illinois 5Essentials survey! The survey is administered by UCHICAGO Impact and is based on the Five Essentials for School Success, an evidence-based framework developed by the University of Chicago.

The 5Essentials Are:

⤷ Effective Leaders      ⤷ Collaborative Teachers       ⤷ Involved Families       ⤷ Supportive Environment      ⤷ Ambitious Instruction

Steps To Complete Survey:

The survey takes about 10-15 minutes to complete; 

⤷ Select the necessary language to complete the survey (English or Spanish);
⤷ Enter the name of your county and the name of your child’s school;
⤷ Advance to survey questions;
⤷ Answer all applicable questions;
⤷ Click Submit Survey

Each school needs a parent response rate of at least 20% to receive a results report. Please complete the survey no later than April 2, 2021.

Thank You For Your Participation!

Bethany A. Lindsay, Superintendent

Brookwood
Click Here To Take The Survey
X