Out on the glistening waters of Lake Michigan stands the Southeast Guidewall Light, a beacon guiding ships into the Chicago River. Don’t let its unassuming appearance fool you – this lighthouse holds a fascinating story closely tied to Chicago’s history and public health.
The Southeast Guidewall Light, built in 1938, marks the entrance to a lock system that was crucial in solving a rather unsavory problem. Before this system, the Chicago River carried the city’s sewage into Lake Michigan, the very source of its drinking water. This led to devastating outbreaks of diseases like cholera and typhoid.
To address this, the flow of the Chicago River was reversed in 1900. It was engineered to flow away from the lake, eventually reaching the Mississippi River. However, heavy rains could still cause flooding and backflow into Lake Michigan, jeopardizing the city’s water supply. The solution came in the form of a lock system, built between 1936 and 1938, with the Southeast Guidewall Light acting as a crucial guide for ships navigating this new system.
Today, the Southeast Guidewall Light is a testament to Chicago’s ingenuity in overcoming a public health crisis. This elegant structure is not just a navigational aid but a symbol of the city’s commitment to protecting its most vital resource – clean water.