I think it was Dan Rather of all people who said that before air conditioning, Washington DC shut down during the summer.
Ok, so it might be worth it.....
True. I’ve also heard that the main reason for the August recess was the heat and the biting Horse Flies that were/are legendary in the area. People kept their windows closed and wore neckerchiefs to keep the biting critters off of their bodies during the hottest days of summer.