Here are some interesting facts around this heat wave and NYC. In 1896, New York City was still essentially New York County; Brooklyn was its own separate city. It wasn't until 1898 when Greater New York City was formed from the five counties of New York, Bronx, Richmond, Kings and Queens. This is a key year for genealogists as the Municipal Archives collection of vital records began to include all five areas in this year. 1896 "During the summer of 1896, a 10-day heat wave killed nearly 1,500 people*... [about 100,000] people were crammed into tenements on the Lower East Side, with no air conditioning, little circulating air and no running water. Families were packed together — with five to six people sharing a single room. Extra space on the floor was rented out to single men — many of whom worked six days a week doing manual labor [dock workers] out in the sun." http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129127924 These were the days of the 6 day/60 hour work week. An emergency [triage] hospital was set up in the basement of the 2nd Madison Square Garden. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madison_Square_Garden_%281890%29 While NYC Mayor William Strong (Rep) did nothing, Theodore Roosevelt was the hero of these 90 degree days. Acting as NYC Police Commissioner, Roosevelt had ice police precincts distribute ice, ice blocks deposited on sidewalks, and streets hosed down. NYC TENEMENT PHOTO circa 1900 (scan down to see sleepers on roofs ) Park Avenue and 107th Street The mayor, William Strong, did not even call an emergency meeting of department heads until the very last day of the heat wave. Instead it was left to individual department heads to take initiative, change policies, and save lives. One hero of the heat wave was Theodore Roosevelt, President of the Board of Police Commissioners. Five years away from becoming president, Roosevelt proposed giving away free ice to the city’s poor. Before the advent of home refrigeration, ice was a life-saving luxury that had been priced out of reach of many poor New Yorkers because of an “Ice Trust.” Roosevelt personally supervised the ice distribution from the police precinct houses, not only “busting” this particular trust, but also having intimate contact with the city’s working poor. Writing his memoirs years later he would remember the “gasping misery of the little children and of the worn-out mothers.” Such scenes must have helped shape the man who was about to become the dominant figure of the Progressive era. - See more at: http://historynewsnetwork.org/article/131243#sthash.G6fdMlKC.dpuf One hero of the heat wave was Theodore Roosevelt, President of the Board of Police Commissioners. Five years away from becoming president, Roosevelt proposed giving away free ice to the city’s poor. Before the advent of home refrigeration, ice was a life-saving luxury that had been priced out of reach of many poor New Yorkers because of an “Ice Trust.” Roosevelt personally supervised the ice distribution from the police precinct houses, not only “busting” this particular trust, but also having intimate contact with the city’s working poor. - See more at: http://historynewsnetwork.org/article/131243#sthash.G6fdMlKC.dpuf http://www.shorpy.com/node/6896?size=_original#caption DC from heat stroke http://static1.squarespace.com/static/51d507c0e4b0bd06a5ee4ab3/t/51db4229e4b095557275b3f4/1373323819925/cityfeverspell.png?format=500w * tenement dwellers incurred the majority of deaths, some from falling off roofs when sleeping Barb One hero of the heat wave was Theodore Roosevelt, President of the Board of Police Commissioners. Five years away from becoming president, Roosevelt proposed giving away free ice to the city’s poor. Before the advent of home refrigeration, ice was a life-saving luxury that had been priced out of reach of many poor New Yorkers because of an “Ice Trust.” Roosevelt personally supervised the ice distribution from the police precinct houses, not only “busting” this particular trust, but also having intimate contact with the city’s working poor. - See more at: http://historynewsnetwork.org/article/131243#sthash.G6fdMlKC.dpuf