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In a letter written in 1960, Stephen L. Robinson's granddaughter, who donated
his map to the Chicago Historical Society, confessed that she didn't know
exactly when he made his survey, "But I was always given to understand that it
was as soon as things were cool enough to allow it. Grandpa was a restless and
impatient man and I can't imagine that he'd waited long." At the time of the
fire, Robinson was a Western Union telegraph operator who lived on Grant Place
just west of Halsted Street. His list of remaining buildings, which includes
some small park and service structures, is very legible in the detailed views of
the map. They are: "Ogden House & barn," "Dredging house" (North Avenue at Lake
Michigan), "Pest House" (by the lake in Lincoln Park, just above North Avenue),
"House not finished 'Geo Mixh'" (northeast corner of Lincoln Avenue and what is
now Lincoln Park West, then Franklin Street), "4 houses west side Clark St."
(between Wisconsin and Armitage, then Centre), "Supts house Lincoln Park" (in
Lincoln Park, east of where Centre Street ends at the park), "Cottage 17 Lincoln
Place" (policeman Richard Bellinger's house on Hudson Street, just north of
Armitage).
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The Burnt District 