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, AUGUST 11, 1915
There will be cloudy skies over the city today with showers late this afternoon and tonight. The high will reach 81° with the low overnight around 61°.
The “Pride of the Northeast” is 12 year old Anna Swift of 1722 Blair Street. Anna is a renowned athlete who enjoys baseball, bike riding, swimming and even boxing. And many will agree she is as good or better than most boys her age at all of the above including boxing. Anna is the great-granddaughter of William Rose Swift, a Sioux Indian chief that fought Custer at the Little Big Horn. She and her family are very proud of their Indian heritage and trophies from that battle adorn the family’s home.
Anna is not one to stay at home and learn the things little girls normally learn like cooking, sewing and cleaning. She would rather spend time at the Front & Master Streets police station. And the policemen are happy to have her join them in a game of pinochle (shown below), darts and target shooting with her revolver. And nothing makes Anna happier than riding the station’s horse “Apache Joe”. Anna plays on the Almond baseball team and is the only girl pitcher in the city. She is so highly regarded that her fellow teammates bought her a uniform but her mother wouldn’t let her wear it because it was “boys clothing”. Anna wishes she could wear boys’ clothes because “A girl don’t have half a chance with skirts to hinder her”. When she isn’t playing baseball for her own team she acts as the mascot for the police station’s team.
In national news, the Wilson Administration is hoping to create a model republic when the new government of Haiti is established. The new government will be established with the aid of Rear Admiral Caperton and his marines and sailors. The former Haitian army is being disbanded. Wandering gangs of robbers and their leaders are being wiped out and jailed. The present political parties and factions have pledged to Admiral Caperton that they will abide by the choice of the Haitian Congress when it selects a new president. The Congress will hold that election once Admiral Caperton advises them the country is secure.
In crime news, 6 more young men have been arrested in Fairmount Park for annoying women. The men made inappropriate or flirtatious comments to women and will serve either 5 days in jail or pay a fine of $7.50. The men are: Bernard Hark, 22 years old of 3128 Wilt Street; Joseph Leon, 20 of 2939 Arizona Street; Jacob Stern, 21 of 3026 York Street; Harry Whitman, 25 of 2566 North 28th Street; Morris Rubenstein, 19 of 2209 Douglas Street and James Phillips, 19 of 2747 North Hemberger Street.
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