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 – THURSDAY, MAY 11, 1916
There will be bright and clear skies over the city today. The high will reach 78° with the overnight low near 59°. Miss Esther Cleveland (shown below), daughter of former President Grover Cleveland, is in this city studying the Braille system of alphabetical instruction at the Pennsylvania Institution for the Blind in Overbrook. After her studies are completed Miss Cleveland intends to go to France and teach soldiers who have lost their sight how to read braille.
Miss Esther Cleveland
The political fight between the forces of Mayor Smith and the Vare brothers on one side and the Penrose–McNichol faction on the other over the upcoming vote on the transit loan bill is growing fiercer. The Mayor and former transit director Taylor are appearing at various locations throughout the city making speeches to gather support for the measure. They are also accusing the opponents of the measure of the most disreputable and underhanded tactics to try and defeat the measure. Allies of Senator Penrose are planning on filing a Writ of Mandamus against the Mayor demanding he keep the police and all city employees out of politics. Senator Penrose claims the police force has been virtually turned over to the Vare brothers.
In El Paso, Texas at 10:00 am this morning a conference began between General Scott, the U.S. Army Chief of Staff and General Obregon, Mexico’s Minister of War. The purpose of the conference is to once and for all reach an agreement on the expedition to get Villa. General Obregon is expected to present a formal proposal from first chief Carranza. Reports from Washington are that President Wilson is out of patience with Carranza and is determined not to abandon the expedition.
This afternoon 2000 boys and girls, students of Germantown High School, will participate in field exercises at the Waterview Recreation Center, Haines Street & McMahon Avenue. The students will parade in line from the school at High Street & Germantown Avenue at 2:00pm to the recreation center. The first event will be an all-girl baseball game. That will be followed by various track events and a boys’ baseball game. The day will conclude with a mass dance by hundreds of the prettiest girls of the sophomore and junior classes.
On the sports scene, in baseball at Shibe Park the A’s finally won a game against the Tigers. Elmer Myers pitched a passable game for Mr. Mack giving up just 3 hits and 2 runs. Even the great Cobb could only get on base once as the result of one of the 10 walks Myers surrendered. The final score was 3 to 2 with the winning run driven home by Charlie Pick in the bottom of the 9th. Out in St. Louis the Phillies lost their 5th in a row to the Cardinals 4 to 3.
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