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 – MONDAY, JUNE 28, 1915
There will be clear and fair skies over the city today with gentle breezes. The high will reach 82° and the low tonight about 57°. The new vacation home for Jewish Working Girls formally opened today. The home is located at Limekiln Pike & Waverly Road near Glenside. The home will serve as a summer retreat for hundreds of factory girls.
A much anticipated social event of this season occurred this afternoon with the wedding of Miss Marie Louise Wanamaker to Mr. Gurnee Munn of New York. The ceremony took place at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 16th & Locust Street, at Noon. The former Miss Wanamaker is the daughter of Rodman Wanamaker and granddaughter of Mr. John Wanamaker. Guests from the most important families along the east coast filled the church. After the ceremony the bridal party and guests (some of whom are shown below including Mr. John Wanamaker in the foreground and the newlyweds in the insert) motored out to Lindenhurst, the country home of John Wanamaker in Jenkintown, for the reception.
In sports the Phillies and Athletics both went down to defeat today. At National League Park, Brooklyn beat Manager Moran’s boys 9 to 5. In Washington at Griffith Stadium, Walter Johnson pitched the Senators to a 2 to 0 shutout of the A’s. Tonight is a big night for boxing fans. At the Garden A.C., 3rd & Girard, Jack Toland faces off against Reddy Holt with 4 other fights also scheduled. At the Quaker City A.A., 26th & Dauphin Street, 6 fights are scheduled and at the Broadway A.C., 15th & Washington Avenue, 5 bouts are on the card.
In entertainment tonight, in motion pictures at The Stanley, 16th & Market, Mary Pickford stars in “Little Pal”. In vaudeville at the Trocadero, 10th & Arch Streets, Gladys Sears’ Tango Girls are on the stage. Also tonight the Municipal Band will perform at the Logan Playground, York Road & Wyoming Street and the Fairmount Park Band will be at George’s Hill. Both concerts are free.
WAR NEWS
Throughout Austria and Germany today there were commemorations of the 1 year anniversary of the assassination of the Archduke Francis Ferdinand and his wife in Sarajevo. Many Austrian newspapers eulogized the Archduke and credited him with improvements to the Austrian army which led to the recent victory at Lemberg. On the western front, the fighting along the Isonzo River between Austrian and Italian forces is brutal. The Austrians are using poisonous gas in the Carnic Alps. In the east, German troops have crossed the Dniester River and occupied Halicz in Galicia. The Russians are retreating along a 200 mile front from Kielce, Poland to Bursztyn, Galicia.