Stephen L. Robinson was a Western Union telegraph operator working in Chicago in 1871. Back then, Robinson's job was

incredibly important because the telegraph was the only way to instantly communicate the news.

Robinson, like around 100,000 others, had just lost his house in what would soon be called the Great Chicago Fire.

As soon as it was safe, he grabbed a pencil and a printed map of what had been Chicago

and walked the length of the fire's path. His aim, to note any buildings that had survived the

fire. I'm curious city producer Jason Mark, and this week we're marking the 150th anniversary of

the Great Chicago Fire by walking a part of that charred path Stephen Robinson walked a century

and a half ago.

And we're going to hear about some buildings that Robinson noted on his map with some help

from historian Paul DeRica.

And he's joining me now to talk about what's coming up. Hi, Paul.

Hi, Jason.

Well, Curious City has received a lot of questions about the fire over the years, including

several people who have asked us about what actually survived the great Chicago fire.

Yes, there were actually a number of buildings that survived, which Stephen Robinson documented.

Wait.

When I was a kid, we were taught two things about the fire.

Mrs. O'Leary's cow started it by kicking over a lantern, and everything in the whole town

burned down except one building, the water tower.

Yeah, and that's what most people are taught.

But number one, the whole cow thing, it's been debunked.

In an era of anti-arist sentiment, Catherine O'Leary was an easy scapegoat for the press and the

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