The first days of September 1939 dawned warm over the Lehigh Valley. Normally this would be late beach weather and there were crowds at New York’s World’s Fair. But there was nothing normal about this late summer as radios were blaring the news that World War II had begun with the German invasion of Poland and a declaration of war by England and France.
“Those who had not kept their radios on all night,” noted the New York Times, “awoke with fingers itching to flip the switch. And those who either had no set or preferred to listen outdoors crowded around loudspeakers in taxis, bars, restaurants and neighborhood shops. Wherever word was being received by air eager knots of listeners mulled over, argued, disagreed, mocked or approved.”
Crowds gathered in front of the Times building at Times Square. A photo that appeared in the newspaper shows the backs of many heads looking up at the electronic sign that carried the news. “Around the Times Building,” noted the newspaper, “in glowing letters five feet high rippled the same story… out-of-towners who had never seen it before leaned against buildings and stared…newsboys were shouting “’War Extras.’”
Outside the cities the news was spreading as well. In an interview several years ago, the late George Hurd, a Bethlehem Steel executive, recalled standing in front of the clubhouse of the Saucon Valley Country Club with his usual foursome that included Steel president Eugene Grace. When they heard the news, Grace turned to the others. “Gentlemen,” he said, “we are about to make some money.” Then they played golf…