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 often for new updates.
To share your family or neighborhood stories, please email PhillyWWIyears@gmail.com
TODAY IN PHILADELPHIA – WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 1915
There will be clear, blue and beautiful skies over the city today. The high will be an unseasonably cool 70° with the low tonight about 54°.
William Potter, president of the Thomas Potter & Sons oil cloth works, where two firemen lost their lives yesterday, delivered today to Director Porter 2 checks in the amount of $250.00 each for the families of the fallen men. Mr. Potter said of the men that they represented the” most noble type of American manhood, bravely sacrificing their lives in the performance of their duty”. Reports from Samaritan, Episcopal and St. Luke’s hospitals where the 12 injured firemen were taken are that the men are recovering satisfactorily.
Today at the Drexel Institute, 32nd & Chestnut Streets, an experiment was conducted which could have important implications in the development of submarines. The experiment was conducted by William Bond, a chemist. Mr. Bond was submerged under water in an air tight compartment for 7 hours, breathing the same air continuously. Mr. Bond has developed a device which circulates air through it, removes the carbon dioxide and replaces it with oxygen.
In business news, the A.H. Fox Gun Company, 4600 North 18th Street has been contracted to manufacture about 1500 rifle barrels a day for the Allies. C.A. Godshalk, president of the company said slight improvements and augmentations had to be made to the plant in order to fill the order. The company employs 250 men.
In baseball today, The Phillies beat the Giants in 11 innings, 2 to 1 at the Polo Grounds. Yesterday’s game ended in a 1-1 tie after 9 innings when it was called due to darkness. At Shibe Park the A’s dropped both games of a doubleheader against the Yankees. Minot Joy “Cap” Crowell (shown below), Mr. Mack’s new pitching recruit from Brown University, went 10 strong innings but took the loss in the 1st game 3 to 2. The 2nd game was less well played by the Mackmen. Bruno Haas, another free agent acquisition and a friend of Mr. Mack’s son Roy, pitched all 9 innings but also walked 16 batters (Editor’s Note: This is still a major league record). The A’s lost 15 to 7.
WAR NEWS
On the eastern front, Lemberg has fallen. The capital and great railroad center of Galicia which was taken by the Russians 9 months ago is again in the hands of Austria. The Russian forces in the area are in full retreat. It appears the Russians withdrew their heavy guns and supplies a few days ago in anticipation of this event. Reports are that Vienna is in jubilation and a public holiday has been proclaimed. In the west, Austrian naval destroyers successfully raided points on Italy’s Adriatic Coast today. The ships swept along a 200 mile stretch of Italy’s coast shelling towns, ports and railway stations.