On this block in 1925

On this block in 1925. . , The Bell Telephone Building, located at the northeast corner of 19th and Arch Streets, was built in 1925 as the headquarters of the Bell Telephone Company. The building was designed by Zantzinger, Borie and Medary, the same architecture firm that designed the famous Philadelphia Museum of Art. Although the Bell Telephone Building was intended as an industrial building, it was built in a simplified version of the modern set-back columnar skyscraper from popular in the "roaring twenties" of the post-World War I era., The building was placed on the National Register of Historical Places in 2000 and is now luxury loft style apartments., In 1925 , President: John Calvin Coolidge Jr. (R) , Mayor: W. Freeland Kendrick (R) , Philadelphia population: 1,823,779, Events , January 3, Mussolini dissolved the Italian parliament and became dictator., February 28, "Tea for Two" recorded by Marion Harris hit #1 on the Billboard music charts., March 2, Nationwide road numbering system and U.S. shield marker accepted for the U.S. highway sign., June 15, Philadelphia Athletics go into bottom of 8th inning trailing 15-4, then score 13 times to defeat Cleveland 17-15., June 25, Robert Venturi, Pritzker Prize-winning architect was born in Philadelphia. Venturi rose to international acclaim, along with his partner and wife Denise Scott Brown, through his writings and the design for his mother's house in Chestnut Hill (Vanna Venturi House, 1961)., July 10, Scopes "Monkey Trial" began in Tennessee, a test case on the legality of Tennessee's ban against teaching evolution in school. The first trial to be broadcast by radio, it sparked national interest and heated debate over Darwin's evolution theory., July 18, Hitler published Mein Kampf ("My Struggle"). It became the bible for the Nazi Party, featuring blueprints for world domination., The Gallery of Dr. Albert C. Barnes was completed in Merion, Pennsylvania. Designed by Paul Philippe Cret (architect of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and Rodin Museum), the building housed Barnes' collection of French impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces African artworks., "Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs Industriels et Modernes" was held in Paris, showcasing innovative, streamlined designs representing the modern world. The name "Art Deco" is derived from this design expo., Enclosed cars outsold open cars for the first time., Money matters , Average annual earnings: $1,236 , Teacher's salary: $970 , Trolley 5¢; bus 8¢ cash, 2 tokens for 15¢ , Postage stamp: 2¢ , Baby Ruth candy bar: 5¢ , Bayer aspirin tables: 98¢ , Coca-Cola, one bottle: 5¢ , Ivory soap (12 cakes): 54¢ , Wrigley's spearmint gum: 39¢ , Electric washing machine: $84.98 , Elgin bicycle, top of the line: $29.98 , Tinbottom box (one set): 63¢