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 – MONDAY, MAY 29, 1916
The humidity remains over the city today. There will be unsettled weather with partly cloudy skies and the possibility of showers this evening. The high will be about 84° with the low around 66°. The City’s Bureau of Health has released the weekly mortality report. The report lists 480 deaths last week. As usual the leading cause of death was heart disease which took 69 lives. Tuberculosis claimed 54, pneumonia 50, acute nephritis and Bright’s disease 47, suicide 6 and homicide 4.
Riverton, New Jersey, a small town located just across the Delaware River has a true hero. His name is Ogden Nevin. Mr Nevin is 25 years old and has just returned from France where he served with the American ambulance corps. For Mr. Nevin’s service at Dunkirk and more recently at Verdun he has been awarded France’s Legion of Honor, 3rd Class for bravery and gallantry.
Mr. Ogden Nevin
Residents of the Italian Colony in South Philadelphia do not seemed concerned about the Austrian advances against the Italian army and the occupation of a part of the land of Julius Caesar and Garibaldi. There is astonishment over the defeats suffered by King Victor Emmanuel’s forces but the people here firmly believe that the conquest of Italy is impossible. Italians here will remind outsides that barbarians from the north have invaded Italy before. Some have even reached Rome but in the end those invaders were all very glad to leave. It is the older generation that will most adamantly debate the war. The younger ones are more interested in the battles being waged by the Phillies and Athletics on the ball field. After all, they are Americans.
Thousands of residents of Polish heritage attended festivities in Central Park today, 4400 North 5th Street, commemorating the 125th anniversary of the Polish Constitution. The celebration began with a parade in which 300 Polish societies were represented. Many people marched in traditional Polish costumes. There were also sporting events, dancing and singing and of course delicious Polish food to enjoy. Leaders of the Polish community also spoke on the theme of “America: First, Last and All the Time.”
In baseball, Saturday was a terrible day for the fans of this city as both the Phillies and the Athletics lost doubleheaders. The Phillies lost to Brooklyn here 8 to 3 and 6 to 0. The Phillies are now 1.5 games back of the 1st place Robins. In the Nation’s Capital at Griffith Park, the A’s went down to the 1st place Senators 5 to 3 in the first game and 3 to 1 in the second. This afternoon the Phillies finish their series with Brooklyn here and the A’s close out their trip to Washington.
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