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 – THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 1915
There will be cloudy and overcast skies over the city today with showers this afternoon and tonight. The high will reach about 59° and the low around 47°.
Mayor Blankenburg received an offer today to repair the crack in the Liberty Bell, free of charge. The proposal was made by Carl G. Fisher, president of Prest-o-Lyte Company of Indianapolis. Mr. Fisher promises that the bell’s broken edges can be completely and firmly joined by oy-acetylene welding so that it can be rung again. The Mayor said he would take the offer under advisement. The Liberty Bell is scheduled to leave for the Pacific Exposition in San Francisco on July 5th after the conclusion of this city’s Fourth of July Celebration.
Superintendent of Police Robinson announced today that the city has obtained another river launch, the Eunomia, which will join the Margaret on the Delaware River. The boats will be used to go after river pirates. The city’s Italian colony will be smaller next week when 2300 of its men sail off to Italy. The men are reservists in the Italian army and have been called home to serve.
On the sports beat, in golf, Mrs. Clarence H. Vanderbeck (shown below) of the Philadelphia Cricket Club won the Woman’s Eastern Golf Association championship at Haverford.
In baseball today the Phillies finally won a game up in Brooklyn beating the Dodgers 2 to 1. The A’s-Senators doubleheader at Shibe Park has been called due to rain. Also postponed due to the weather is the motorcycle racing events scheduled at the Point Breeze Park Motordrome tonight. The races will now be held Saturday night beginning at 8:30pm. Admission starts at .25¢.
WAR NEWS
Today the Republic of San Marino declared war on the Austro-Hungarian Empire. San Martino is the smallest republic in the world spanning about 23 square miles and is completely surrounded by Italy near the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It has a population of about 12,000. Its army consists of 950 men and 38 officers.
In the western theatre, the outer defensive forts surrounding the city of Trieste are under bombardment from Italian artillery. And reports from inside Trieste are that the civilian population, which is predominantly Italian, staged a mass demonstration and were fired upon by Austrian troops. In the east, Przemysl, the great stronghold of Galicia has been recaptured by the Austro-German armies and the Russian defenders have been routed. The Russians had captured the fortress from the Austrians in March. A severe shortage of ammunition is blamed for the Russian defeat. The Slavs could not hold out any longer against the massive Teuton assaults.