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 often for new updates.
To share your family or neighborhood stories, please email PhillyWWIyears@gmail.com
TODAY IN PHILADELPHIA – MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 1915
The heat continued yesterday and does not appear to be leaving anytime soon. As of today, 13 deaths have been attributed to this heatwave. Yesterday’s high reached 96°. Today the high will again reach at least 96° with the low tonight about 74°. But it’s still the humidity, today measured at 83%, which is the bane of Philadelphians. There is a possibility of showers tonight which may cool things off a bit. Of course, boys being boys in this city, if there is a fire plug handy it’ll be used for cooling off (shown below).
Produce merchants in this city are giving away and some are even dumping into the river large quantities of vegetables including tomatoes, potatoes and cabbages which they are unable to sell because of the tremendous oversupply. Also, farmers both here and in New Jersey are letting crops rot in the fields because the low prices make them unprofitable. Climactic conditions made for exceedingly large harvests this year but that depressed prices. Of course lower prices are good news for consumers but farmers are suffering, for example some are only getting .03¢ a basket for tomatoes.
The new torpedoboat destroyer U.S.S. Ericsson was delivery to the United States Navy today from its builder, the New York Shipbuilding Company in Camden. The ship was sailed across the Delaware River by a crew from the company to the Navy Yard at League Island where it was formally turned over.
On the sports beat, in baseball out in Chicago the Phillies lost their 2nd in a row this afternoon to the Cubs 4 to 1. And the results were no better here at Shibe Park where the A’s went down to defeat to the Indians 4 to 3. And speaking of the Cleveland Indians there are rumors that the White Sox have offered $20,000 and several other players to purchase the services of slugging outfielder Joe Jackson. Jackson went 2 for 3 today against the A’s and currently has a batting average of .342.
In Warminster, Bucks County a massive sports complex is being proposed. It will be called the Philadelphia Motor Speedway and will have a motor track comparable to the one in Indianapolis. Also planned are a horse show ring and 1 mile race track, tennis courts, a golf course, aviation pylons for aerial races and a stadium capable of seating 60,000 spectators. Those supporting the project believe it will allow the facility to compete for the Army-Navy game and even the Olympics.
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