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 1, 1915
There will be partly cloudy skies today with continued cool temperatures. Today’s high will be about 70° with a low of 53° tonight.
Today Congressman William Vare announced officially that he is withdrawing his candidacy for the office of Mayor and will support Thomas B. Smith as a harmony candidate for the Republican nomination. Readers may recall that we reported on August 20th that a secret deal had been made between the Penrose/McNichol faction and the Vare faction of the party to put Mr. Smith forward. Along with the Republicans, candidates will be fielded by the Democrats, Socialists, Prohibition, Washington and Keystone parties.
For those supporting women’s suffrage a number of open air meetings are planned today. At Noon time Miss Anna McCue will be speaking at Orinoka Mills, Ruth & Somerset Streets. This evening at 8:30PM at Marshall Street & Girard Avenue Miss Bertha Sapovits will speak and at 20th & South Streets Dr. Eleanor M.H. Moore will lead the speakers.
In scholastic news, the De Lancey School and Episcopal Academy have officially merged. The former home of De Lancey at 1420 Pine Street has been sold to the Peirce Business School. Peirce now boasts the most modern equipped business school building in the country. De Lancey and Episcopal Academy will hold classes at Episcopal’s building at Juniper and Locust Street. In Camden, Mr. E. E. Reed, president of the Board of Education announced today that military training will be provided to boys starting in the Fall term. Mr. Reed believes such training will instill patriotism in the hearts of the students and will be conducive to better discipline in the classroom.
On the sports beat, The Phillies visited the Polo Grounds in New York today to begin a series with the Giants. Although Moran’s boys took the early lead they couldn’t hold of the New Yorkers. The Giants received great help from Jim Thorpe who came into the game in the 3rd to take over center field. Thorpe contributed with a single in the 3rd and then stole second and in the 5th doubled off the left field wall. Here at Shibe Park Connie Mack’s Athletics were walloped by the Red Sox 6 to 0.
Jim Thorpe
WAR NEWS
In the eastern theatre, 8 Russian divisions comprising almost 144,000 men have escaped a trap set for them by Field Marshal von Mackensen and Prince Leopold of Bavaria. The Russians have now retreated and joined the army defending Grodno. Also, the German high command announced today that in the month of August in the eastern and southeastern theatres of Europe 271,839 Russian soldiers have been taken prisoner. Additionally it is reported that 2 million women, children and old men have poured into Russia from Poland, Galicia and the Baltic region in search of food and help.
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