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.
To share your family or neighborhood stories, please email PhillyWWIyears@gmail.com
TODAY IN PHILADELPHIA – WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5, 1916
The forecast calls for cloudy skies today with possible rain or even snow flurries overnight. The high will reach near 46° with the low around 17°.
Working mothers have a place to leave their young ones while they attend to their employment. The Young Women’s Union, 25th & Bainbridge, cares for 120 children every day (shown below). Most of the babies are left here at 5:30am so that the mothers can be at their work by 7:00am. The babies receive a bath while older children are readied for school. For younger children of intermediate age there is a kindergarten on the premises. The school age children are taken to school and returned at Noon for lunch after which they go back to school. There are 23 nurseries of this type in the city which care for over 1500 children each day.
The grip has claimed 4 lives from the same family in just 3 weeks. The Meloney family of 3635 North Sydenham Street is the tragic victim of the disease. The first victim was William, age 81 who died on December 14th. His daughter Mrs. Mary Maharg, 54 years old, died one week later. Just 5 days after that Mrs. Ellen Meloney, 81 years old, the wife of William was taken by the malady. Finally, Mrs. Meloney’s sister who had been staying at the house to help nurse the family through their sickness died today.
Doctors are advising certain steps to avoid the grip including first ingesting a cathartic. Then take a brief hot bath to warm the body and get the blood running freely. Next drink a bowl of hot lemonade and go to bed early. Cover yourself thoroughly and warmly including your head and neck. Get 9 hours sleep. If you must go out dress warmly and be sure to wrap your neck in a woolen cloth.
Businesses in the city are beginning to offer large rooms in their buildings and factories to the Board of Education to use as schoolrooms for the continuing education of the boys and girls who work for them. The latest to do so is the Philadelphia Tapestry Mills, Front Street & Allegheny Avenue. Several of the large department stores have made similar offers. The business owners believe that having children receive their required schooling on site is more efficient than sending them to school for half days.
On the sports beat, in Eastern League Basketball tonight Kensington’s Jasper Jewels travel to Camden to meet the Alphas at the Armory. A victory by Camden will put them into a tie for 3rd place. In the high school league yesterday Southern beat Central 19 to 18 and West Philadelphia defeated Northeast 33 to 32. Today’s games include St. Joseph’s College vs. Camden High and Brown Preparatory vs. Catholic High at Charlton Hall, 56th & Wyalusing Avenue.
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