Keeping Heights Alive: A Family’s Continuing Tradition
Like many kids, Kells Phelan often shadowed his father, Jim, at work, pleading to join him on his climbs.
Jim Phelan was, and still is at 72, a steeplejack — a professional climber who works on tall structures. His job, often scaling light towers and flagpoles, took him to iconic locations like Candlestick Park, the long-time home of the San Francisco Giants and 49ers.
Finally, in 2013, during the 49ers’ final year at Candlestick, Jim relented. His 12-year-old son, Kells, insisted on learning, earning tears when Jim said no for yet another time.
“So I said, ‘OK, go get your harness,'” Jim recounted, “I stayed right with him. The third time I climbed alongside him, on my way up the tower he looks at me and says, ‘Leave me alone, I’m fine.’ So I backed up and stayed behind him as he went to the top.”
That day marked the start of Kells’ journey as the fourth generation of Phelan steeplejacks.
This enduring profession dates back centuries, requiring workers to scale everything from flagpoles and towers to smokestacks and historic crosses. It relies on essential skills like comfort with heights, construction knowledge, tool proficiency, and often electrical expertise.
Jim’s background in the trade wasn’t a familial bug, it was literally in his blood. His father, then his Irish-born grandfather, taught him the ropes (pun intended). Even Jim’s sister, along with her children, became part of the steeplejacking family.
“It’s a fun thing to do, especially when you’re young,” Jim said. “And growing up and being exposed to it seems like a natural thing to do,” added Kells, now 24 and working alongside his father in their company, J.C. Phelan and Son, Inc.
The father-son duo has shared many unforgettable moments in their careers. They fixed a flagpole at the Atlantis resort in the Bahamas, inspected a clock tower at UC Berkeley, dodging the occasional falcon, and even handled an emergency repair on a flagpole at Honolulu’s National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific right before a visit by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, joining President Barack Obama in paying respects at the site of the Pearl Harbor attack.
Interestingly, 70% of their work involves flagpole maintenance, which can be quite daunting. Their job often involves replacing damaged ropes, the flag-hoisting mechanisms, or even the ball at the top, all while safely suspended high above the ground.
Jim, before Kells joined him, performed his delicate maneuvers at sites like Arlington National Cemetery and iconic buildings like the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., among many other major US cities.
They make a pair, mirroring the tall structures they climb, steadfastly carrying on a vanishing legacy, generation by generation.## A Life Climbed High
This article tells the story of Kells Phelan, a steeplejack whose career has spanned decades and taken him to dizzying heights.
After the 1989 earthquake, Phelan was the only person capable of scaling Candlestick Park’s light towers to ensure they were safe. Though he wasn’t an engineer, his climbing skills made him indispensable. This incident is just one example of his fearless approach to a job that often requires bravery and skill.
Facing Fears
Phelan recounted another harrowing experience, the removal of a bent flagpole from the Ferry Building after the earthquake. Despite high winds and the pressure of media attention, Phelan secured the pole and prepared for its removal by a helicopter. But disaster struck: the line snapped, sending the heavy pole crashing through the building’s roof. Phelan, narrowly avoiding serious injury, described this event as his scariest ever.
Even prior to this, Phelan had experienced a terrifying fall while working on the Bay Bridge in the 1970s. He dangled 200 feet above the water, only managing to pull himself back up by his fingertips. These close calls highlight the inherent dangers of his profession.
A Dying Trade
The dangers, combined with the physically demanding nature of the work, have led to a decline in the number of steeplejacks. Nick America, owner of Steeplejacks of America, estimates that there might be fewer than 10 pure steeplejack companies in the entire country.
Young people are less and less interested in this vanishing trade – highlighting a skills gap for maintaining and repairing structures that require expert high-altitude access.
Finding Freedom at the Top
Phelan and his son, Kells, are steadfast in their dedication to traditional climbing techniques, despite the availability of cranes and scaffolding. They find satisfaction and freedom in the directness and control their methods offer.
For Phelan, his work is more than just a job. It’s a source of accomplishment and a testament to his physical and mental strength. At 70 years old, he continues to scale heights, finding joy and liberation in the challenge.
Climbing High: Father-and-Son Team Carries On Family Steeplechasing Legacy
Jim Phelan, 72, has spent over five decades scaling buildings as a steeplejack. They even called him “Spiderman” back in his free climbing days! Now, he’s passing on his skills to his son, Kells, who at 24 years old is already a skilled climber in his own right.
Kells even does about 80% of the climbing for their business, tackling jobs like fixing a flagpole rope atop the huge scoreboard at the Giants’ ballpark!
Although he recently graduated college with a business degree, Kells’ heart belongs to his job as a steeplejack. He might be startled by a spider suddenly appearing on set, but heights have never been a problem for him.
“It’s pretty easy for me not to be scared because Big Dad is such a large sample size,” says Kells, “It’s just a unique experience.”
