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.
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TODAY IN PHILADELPHIA – MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1915
The forecast calls for a continuation of the hot weather under clear skies. The high will reach 90° with the humidity measured at 95%. The low tonight will be around 70°. Surprisingly with this present heat wave the city reports that only 186,377 people visited the public bath houses. That number is considerably less than the 500,000 reported for just one week in July.
Several hundred men crowded City Hall Plaza today looking for work on the new subway construction. At least 100 were hired by the Keystone State Construction Company which is handling the excavation. The work began in earnest today as the southern and western sections of the courtyard and the northwest corner of the Plaza were ripped open (shown below).
The Drexel Biddle Bible Camp has opened a recruiting headquarters at 1917 Mount Vernon Street. The recruits will receive instruction in military science. Mr. Anthony Drexel Biddle is the head of the bible class and is deciding on a location for the training camp which will begin later this month. Instructors will be detailed from the Pennsylvania National Guard. Mr. Biddle intends to raise a force of 3000 men.
In Mummers news, the Lobster New Year’s Association will hold a street carnival this week beginning tonight on Jackson Street between 6th & 8th to raise funds. The club’s captain, Joseph Dorn, said the money will be used to ensure the club remains the top fancy dress club in the city. Music will be provided every night for dancing.
On the sports scene, the Phillies are in Pittsburgh for a series with the Pirates at Forbes Field. A little under 300 fans “packed” the park. But those that did saw a hard fought game. It took 13 innings but the Phillies finally won it 4 to 2. Both Grover Cleveland Alexander and Wilbur Cooper for the Pirates went the distance. The Phillies are now 4 games ahead of 2nd place Brooklyn. The A’s are at home against the Browns of St. Louis and dropped their 6th in a row. Mercifully, the game was over in just 1 hour and 42 minutes.
WAR NEWS
On the western front, for 15 days now the greatest artillery battle in the history of the world has continued. Two million shells are estimated to have been hurled across the Franco-Flanders battle front. French and German batteries pour heavy fire back and forth in an almost unceasing cannonade. On the Italian-Austrian front, the Austrian are building new fortification and reinforcing older ones along the lower Isonzo River. Austrian reinforcements are also moving toward Tolmino. Emperor Francis Joseph has declared the Gorizia and Tolmino will be held at all cost.
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