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 – SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 1915
The forecast calls for overcast and cloudy skies with possible showers. The high will only reach 69° with the low tonight around 55°.
The first step in improving South Street was taken today with the laying of wood pavement blocks at 6th & South. The 1st wood block was put down by Harry Levy, president of the South Street Businessmen Association and attended by many businessmen and residents from the neighborhood. The Association has been fighting for 3 years to have the street paved from 2nd Street to the Schuylkill River. Other improvements to the street are also planned such as adding more electric lights, removing awnings and placing telephone lines underground.
The Bureau of Health released the weekly mortality report today showing 440 deaths during the last 7 days. Of those 131 were children under the age of 2. The total number is 5 less than last week. A carnival is being held at 51st & Lancaster Avenue to raise funds for the building of a parochial grade school for the Church of Our Lady of the Angels. This is a predominately Italian parish and Italians from all sections of the city are participating to make the carnival a success. The festivities will last until September 4.
In entertainment news, The Triangle Film Corporation which is comprised of D.W. Griffith, Mack Sennett and Thomas H. Ince has chosen the Chestnut Street Opera House, 11th & Chestnut Streets, as the exclusive exhibitor of their films in this city. Triangle employs many of the most notable stars of the cinema including Billy Burke, Douglas Fairbanks and Eddie Foy. The Opera House is undergoing a complete renovation including the addition of the most comfortable seats in the city.
In baseball today the Clifton Heights team will take on J.G. Brill at Brill Park, 67th & Woodland Avenue at 3:15pm. Admission is .25¢. In the major leagues the Athletics are in Chicago today where they have finally won a game after dropping 5 straight. The A’s beat the White Sox 4 to 2. The A’s are still in last place but with today’s victory are now only 41 ½ games out of first. The Phillies game here was called for rain.
WAR NEWS
On the western front, after weeks of quiet over the skies of Paris that city was attacked today by a fleet of German aeroplanes. The attack however was a complete failure, inflicting little damage and resulting in the destruction of 1 plane and the death of its 2 aviators. In Eastern Europe the Austro-German armies are now attempting to split the Russian armies retreating toward Vilna (Vilnius) in Lithuania. The Russian army which fled Brest Litovsk numbered almost 100,000 men.
GET YOUR COPY OF PHILADELPHIA: THE WORLD WAR I YEARS BY JUST CLICKING ON THE LINK BELOW OR STOP IN AT YOUR NEAREST BARNES & NOBLE OR OTHER BOOK STORES.