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, OCTOBER 23, 1915
There will be clear skies today with cooler temperatures. There is even a chance for some overnight frost in the far northern areas. Here in the city the high will reach 61° with a low about 42°. Alumni and students celebrated the 25th anniversary of the opening of Northeast High School today. The school was formerly known as Northeast Manual Training School. The student body and visitors met on the athletic field, 29th and Cambria streets where they witnessed a great athletic demonstration by the school’s various teams. This evening a banquet will be given by the Alumni Association at the Scottish Rite Hall.
The Bureau of Health released its weekly mortality report today and there was some good news. It seems typhoid fever is finally on the decline in the city. Only 35 new cases were reported this week which is 13 less than last week and 60 less than the preceding week. There were 410 deaths reported this week 7 of which were from typhoid. The leading cause of death was Bright’s disease which claimed 50 victims followed by tuberculosis which killed 43 and diarrhea which took 27.
In national news, The Congress of American Indians meeting in Lawrence, Kansas have adopted a resolution to petition President Wilson and the Congress to honor the first inhabitants of this continent with their own day. The 1300 delegates suggested that May 2 be so designated. The Indians expressed confidence that the request would be quickly granted.
In college football today, “Pop” Warner brought his Pittsburgh 11 to Franklin Field and beat Penn 14 to 7. But the Penn team can hold its head high after giving the powerhouse from the Western part of the state a hard fought game (shown below). It was expected that Pitt would roll over the Quakers but the Penn men would have none of that and put up a spirited fight.
In other games of interest Cornell beat Harvard 10 to 0 giving the crimson team its first loss in 3 years. Washington & Jefferson defeated Yale 16 to 7, Army 10 Georgetown 0, Navy 20 Virginia P.I. 0, Catholic University 10 Villanova 6, Haverford 10 Holy Cross 0, Lafayette 46 Albright 0, Lehigh 20 Muhlenberg 0, Penn State 28 West Virginia Wesleyan 0 and Carlisle and Bucknell played to a 0-0 tie. Finally for those still in need of a bit more baseball, the Phillies will meet the Victrix Catholic Club team at Victrix Ball Park, 58th & Haverford Avenue at 3:00pm today. Admission is .25¢.
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