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 – FRIDAY JUNE 2, 1916
The weather forecast calls for partly cloudy skies today and tonight with a possible shower tomorrow. The high today will reach 80° with the low near 53°. South Philadelphia leads the country in the production of cigars and cheroots. The Internal Revenue released a report today showing that in the last 10 months 658,348,410 cigars and cheroots were produced there which is 41,698,290 more than last year.
There is a house at 315 South 15th Street that has become a home for more than 120 elderly Jews (some shown below). These old men have endured much in life, persecution, loss, poverty and even the rejection of themselves and their traditions by their Americanized sons and daughters. But in the confines of the Jewish Sheltering Home they can find a bit of comfort and peace at the end of their days.
Mr. Joseph E. Widener of this city has purchased the Dolfus Crucifixion, a tapestry of woven gold and silk created in 1525. The tapestry was purchased for the sum of $200,000.00 from the J. Pierpont Morgan collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Previously Mr. Widener had purchased the Mazarin tapestry for $600,000.00 from the Morgan collection. Mr. Widener’s holdings are considered the finest art collection in America.
More area schools held their commencement exercises today. Lower Merion High School will graduate the largest class in its history when 55 students receive diplomas in the school’s auditorium in Ardmore today. Lower Merion is a co-educational school and the numbers of boy and girl graduates are almost evenly divided. Episcopal Academy will also hold its graduation this evening at the school at Juniper & Locust Streets.
In other scholastic news, Philadelphia may become the medical center of America if a proposed merger of three institutions occurs. The proposal involves the University of Pennsylvania department of medicine, the Medico-Chirurgical College and the Jefferson Medical College. A report that the Polyclinic hospital was also involved was denied. Although details of the merger are not finalized there is belief in medical circles that the merger will take place.
Darby dog owners take heed; the Commissioners of Delaware County have ordered Constable James Martin to begin killing every dog in Darby for which the county tax has not been paid.
WAR NEWS
The Battle of Jutland is over. It ended in the darkness of the early morning on Thursday. Some reports hold the battle ended essentially in a draw. The British acknowledge losing 14 ships including the Battle Cruisers Queen Mary, Indefatigable and Invincible. The Germans have reportedly lost 11 ships. However, the Germans have retreated to their home ports while the British fleet has remained in the area leading other naval experts to opine that the battle went to the British.
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