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, SEPTEMBER 8, 1915
There will be cloudy skies over the city today and tonight with the possibility of rain. The high will again reach about 87° with the low around 67°. In political news, Thomas B. Smith, Republican “Harmony” candidate for mayor resigned his position with the Public Service Commission yesterday. Mr. Smith was sworn in to the Commission on August 12. He will receive a salary of $833.33 for his one month service during which time he did nothing.
In other city news, the Water Bureau reports that water meters are being installed in homes with indoor water at the rate of 100 per day. Three thousand five hundred has been installed so far. Also, 67,000 boys and girls reported to the 93 Catholic schools of our city to begin their school year today. And today the students and faculty of Roman Catholic High School celebrate the school’s 25th anniversary.
At sunset today Jews of the world will welcome the year 5676. Rosh Hashana or Jewish New Year is the oldest festival celebrated in the civilized world. For Jews this is a day of prayer and contemplation. Jews review their actions in the past year and plan on how to improve their conduct in the coming year.
On the southern border near Brownsville, Texas the United States Army now numbers almost 5,000 men. Troops of the 6th cavalry and the 4th & 26th infantry regiments have been ordered to the area in the event of more cross border violence. Also, the majority of the men on Brownsville are armed in the event of any attack by Mexican soldiers or bandits.
In the Caribbean in Haiti, the city of Port-au-Prince has been placed under martial law by Admiral Caperton. The move was necessitated because the Haitian government has been unable to enforce even the most basic laws in that city. The Admiral said that the Haitian government and congress will be permitted to continue with its constitutional duties otherwise.
In baseball today, at Philadelphia Ball Park the Phillies’ bats came alive and crushed the Giants 9 to 2. Dode Paskert (shown below) smacked the first pitch to him over the left field wall for a 2 run homer in the 2nd. Luderus, Cravath and Niehoff contributed with doubles and Possum Whitted with a triple in the winning effort. In their 3rd consecutive doubleheader in 3 straight days the A’s spilt with the Red Sox up at Fenway. The A’s took the 1st game 1 to 0 behind the pitching of Tom Sheehan. But in the 2nd game the A’s were crushed 13 to 2. Cap Crowell took the loss going 8 innings and giving up 11 hits.
WAR NEWS
Air warfare was carried out on a huge scale along the Franco-Flanders battlefield today. French and British aviators dropped bombs on German infantry positions and aviation camps at St. Medard, Dieuze and Ostend. German planes bombed Nancy behind the French lines. On the eastern front, the battle of Wolkowysk reported on yesterday is over and the Germans are victorious again. Berlin announced today that the city has been taken and the railroad lines are now under German command.
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.