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 – SATURDAY, JULY 17, 1915
The heat and humidity continue today. Yesterday’s afternoon thunderstorm brought some temporary relief. So far 2 deaths have been reported as a result of the heat. The high today will reach 90° with the low tonight about 71°. The hottest July 17th on record was in 1900 when the temperature reached 98°.
The weather seems to have everyone heading for the seashore. For example, The John B. Stetson Company will provide its employees and their families with an excursion to Atlantic City today. The employees will ferry over to New Jersey at 7:30am and take a special train to the resort. As part of the fun, Stetson’s baseball team will meet the Pleasantville team this afternoon.
Further south along the coast, in Avalon the tennis courts are full from breakfast till the bathing hour when all the smart set heads to the beach. There has not been a drowning in Avalon for 21 years. Fishing is also very popular here with anglers catching drum fish, channel bass and king fish from the boardwalk. Further south in Wildwood, the Wildwood Ocean Pier has added a band for afternoon entertainment to the delight of bathers. In Wildwood Crest, the Crest Pier is open offering 5 tennis courts for enjoyment. And the Holly Beach Yacht Club is holding social events every day.
And for those of the fair sex taking to the waves, apparently ladies with dark hair pay more attention to their tresses than do blondes. It seems that salt water and sun will make golden and auburn hair lighter and do little harm. But the elements will make dark hair sticky. As for “chemical” blondes, they say salt water is as good as peroxide and many of these ladies drench their hair repeatedly and then let the rays of the sun do the drying.
On the sports beat, the Phillies opened a 4 game series with the Chicago Cubs today at National League Park in front of 17,000 fans (some of those in the bleachers are shown below). And Grover Cleveland Alexander did a most unusual thing. He lost. Old Pete gave up 4 runs on 8 hits in only his 4th loss of the season. The Phillies bats didn’t help as they could only muster 6 hits and Moran’s boys went down to defeat 4 to 0. In Detroit, the A’s lost to the Tigers, 2 to 1.
In rowing, Jack Kelly has been chosen to represent the Vesper Boat Club in the senior single shell event at the national races in August. Also in rowing, the Malta Boat Club is holding its annual outing at the Willows on the upper Schuylkill today. Along with the races there will be a baseball game.
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