On this page we will look back at life in the city during the war years. Here we will provide the visitor with the stories making the news, what was happening in sports and entertainment, city politics, the social scene and the prominent people at the time. We will also recount the events occurring in the war on that day. So, check back each day for new editions.
To share your family or neighborhood stories, please email PhillyWWIyears@gmail.com
TODAY IN PHILADELPHIA – SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 1915
There will be clear and fair skies over the city today with gentle winds from the southwest. The high will reach 81° with the low overnight about 62°. The 56th annual Scottish Games of the Caledonian Club begin today at Point Breeze Park. The festivities will include all manner of Scotch games include races and soccer matches. Also included will be a bagpipe playing contest, Scotch dancing and wonderful food prepared by cooks trained in Edinburgh and Glasgow. The day began with kilted club members parading on Broad Street to the Park (shown below). Thousands of Scots and non Scots are expected to attend.
In business news, the Rowe Motor Company of Downingtown has shipped a preliminary order of trucks for Russia. The trucks will first go to New York where representatives of the Czar’s government will inspect them. If they are satisfied with the vehicles additional trucks will be ordered which may be enough to keep the plant fully occupied for several months.
At the seashore the big news is the opening of the grand new casino in Avalon at 17th and the Boardwalk today. The structure includes a theatre which seats 2500 people and a large ballroom for dances. On the 2nd floor one large room will be used for religious services on Sundays. Concerts featuring sacred music will also be held on Sunday evenings. There are also 2 rooftop gardens.
It was a horrible day for Philadelphia baseball fans. Both the Phillies and the Athletics played doubleheaders and not a win could be had in the 4 games. The Phillies were shut out in both games at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh dropping the 1st game 9 to 0 and the 2nd 6 to 0. The A’s played the Tigers at Shibe Park and did at least score a few runs. They lost the 1st game 4 to 1 and the 2nd game 3 to 2.
WAR NEWS
On the eastern front the Russian army is in retreat along a 500 mile line from the Baltic Sea to Galicia. In an attempt to stop the Austro-German advance the Czar is sending 600,000 additional men to bolster the army commanded by his cousin Grand Duke Nicholas. In the Caucasus near Bitlin in Turkish Armenia there are reports of a massacre. It is said that the Turks killed all the men of the area and then assembled about 9000 women and children and drove them to the banks of the Tigris River where they were shot and their bodies dumped into the water. All the victims were Christians.
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