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.
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TODAY IN PHILADELPHIA – THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1916
Winter returned to this city with a blast of snow yesterday and early this morning. Notwithstanding the early spring predicted by the local groundhog, 4” of snow covers the city today. The snow was preceded by a few hours of sleet making the roads treacherous for travel. The city has put 3,500 men to work shoveling the snow into hundreds of horse drawn wagons and motor trucks to clear the streets. Today’s high will only reach 28° with the low about 23°.
Today’s snow and cold did not stop the graduation festivities of the Philadelphia High School for Girls. One hundred thirteen young ladies received their diplomas this afternoon during ceremonies at the Academy of Music. The girls were arrayed in pure white dresses and carried American Beauty roses as they marched down the aisle to receive their certificates.
Another bomb exploded in Little Italy last night. The bomb was placed on the front steps of 749 South Warnock Street. There were no injuries but neighbors were knocked from their beds by the forced of the explosion. Windows broke for blocks around and the front door and steps of the Warnock street home were smashed. Lt. Noon of the 2nd & Christian Street police station said a concerted effort has been underway to stamp out these bombings but help is needed from the people of the neighborhood.
Two automobile manufactures of this city have joined Packard Motor Car Company in the movement to do away with the hyphenated American. Vim Motor Truck Company, Broad & Huntingdon Streets and Biddle Motor Car Company, Germantown & Allegheny Avenues both announced that only American citizens would be promoted to positions of responsibility. Harold Larzelere (shown below), vice president of Vim Motor Truck Company, stated that institutions in this country are being threatened by disloyalty and businessmen and other true Americans must work together to root it out. He stated that every day aliens that were welcomed here with hospitality sneer and mock our institutions and the ideals of the founders of our republic. Mr. Larzelere called aliens of that type vultures and parasites and said that they should be driven from the country.
Harold Larzelere
On the sports scene, officials at West Point and Annapolis will probably move the Army-Navy football game to New York City this year. The reason appears to be the lack of a stadium here which can seat 45,000 spectators. Franklin Field is only capable of accommodating 32,000 people while the Polo Grounds in New York can seat between 42,000 and 45,000. In boxing tonight there are 2 unofficial championships on the line. At the Broadway A.C., 15th & Washington Avenue, Darby Caspar meets Mickey Gallagher for the bragging rights of Smoky Hollow. At the Douglas A.C., 11th & Spring Garden, George Evans takes on K.O. Farrell for the title of the 17th Ward.
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