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 – MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1915
Cloudy overcast skies are in store for the city today with the possibility of showers tonight and tomorrow morning. There is good news from the local weather bureau. The city’s forecaster Mr. Bliss has declared the heat wave is over. The high today will only reach 80° and the low tonight 62°.
The primary election campaign closes tonight with the voting tomorrow. The Republican organization is doing all it can to impede the independents of the party from gaining any ground, especially in the larger wards. Also, a Democratic registrar in Senator Penrose’s home ward, the 8th, has been arrested. Andrew O’Rourke, 133 South 10th Street, was charged with aiding false registration and held on $1,000.00 bail. And reports from South Philadelphia are that there is a plan by ward and division leaders to influence Jewish voters and “help” them in filling out their ballots. The Committee of 70 has announced they will have a private detective at ever polling station to keep watch on the process and report on violations.
The Atlantic Refining Company today announced a rise in the price of gasoline. Automobilist will now have to pay .16¢ per gallon or leave their motor vehicle in the garage. The rise in prices is caused by the increasing number of automobiles and farm equipment using gasoline.
The new women’s fall fashions are arriving and Miss M.Y. Kondle, head of the women’s department at Wanamaker & Brown, 6th & Market Street, says all shades of brown and large checks will predominate in women’s dresses. But women will also be seeing a new color, field mouse gray, in many frocks and blouses. Fur trimming will also be quite in vogue.
On the sports beat, the Phillies are out in St. Louis for a series with the Cardinals but today’s game was rained out. The teams will play a doubleheader tomorrow. The Athletics are at Shibe Park and played their 3rd doubleheader in 4 days against the Cleveland Indians. The A’s took the opener 5 to 4 but lost the 2nd game 5 to 3. In boxing tonight at the Olympia A.A., Broad & Bainbridge Streets, 5 bouts are on the card including Johnny Mealy of Southwark vs. Patsey Haley and Johnny Duffy of Kensington against Young Jack O’Brian of West Philadelphia.
WAR NEWS
On the western front German artillery bombarded the town of St. Menehoulde, 26 miles west of Verdun. Many civilians including the assistant Mayor were killed. German artillery is also shelling near Arras, Fontenoy, Hereleville and Tracy-le-Val. In Eastern Europe, the Germans have captured Vilna (“Vilnius”) in the Russian province of Lithuania and have defeated the Russians southwest of Dvinsk. The armies of General von Hindenburg and Prince Leopold of Bavaria are attempting to encircle and capture the entire Russian army now retreating to the east of Vilna.
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.