John Hancock Center

WHATEVER A SPIDER CAN On Memorial Day, 1981, Dan Goodwin rightfully earned the nickname “Spider Dan” after illegally scaling all 1,454 feet of the Sears Tower while wearing a Spider-Man getup. He got off with just a wrist-slap $35 fine and vowed he’d climb again to call attention to firefighters’ inability to rescue people trapped in upper floors of skyscrapers. As Goodwin details in his recently released memoir, Skyscraperman, the quasi superhero found his nemesis while climbing the John Hancock Center on Veterans Day, November 11, 1981: Fire Commissioner William Blair.

After shimmying up to the 25th floor using modified rock-climbing equipment, Goodwin felt strong rain. Glancing up, the 25-year-old didn’t see dark clouds. He saw a firefighter leaning out of an open window with a high-pressure fire hose. Blair had given the controversial order to wash Goodwin off the building.

A soaked Spider Dan pushed skyward to the 37th floor, where Blair and his men had smashed out windows and crossed their pike poles to block his path. A growing crowd on the street chanted, “Let him climb! Let him climb!” Police Superintendent Richard Brzeczek and Mayor Jane Byrne stepped in. Leaning through a window, Byrne told Goodwin he was allowed to proceed at his own risk, but police and fire would be on hand in case he needed help.

After four hours of climbing and two hours of being stalled by firemen, Goodwin finally reached the summit of the 100-story building, where he was promptly arrested.

Released on a $100,000 bond (ultimately, he paid a $300 fine and served a year of probation), Spider Dan returned to the scene of the crime the next day, this time for a celebration dinner at the restaurant on the 95th floor.

Skyscraperman is available as an e-book on Amazon.com for $9.99.

• More Around Town articles