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 – TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1915
There will be rain this morning but the skies will clear by the afternoon. Cooler temperatures are also expected with the high about 76° and the low 61°.
Even the morning rain did not suppress the turnout of voters for today’s primary election. An unusually heavy turnout is reported in all sections of the city. The leaders in the races for the mayoralty nominations appear at this moment to be for the Republicans, Thomas B. Smith, for the Washington Party, George D. Porter, for the Democratic Party, B. Gordon Bromley and for the Keystone Party, James E. Gorman. The nominations for candidates for City Councils are also on the ballot and 350 candidates are running for their party’s nomination.
The Chestnut Street Opera House, 11th & Chestnut Streets, has finally found its girl ushers. You may recall we reported on September 7th that the management had advertised for 6 positions and received over 400 applicants. But the girls that applied were just not pretty enough for the job. Some girls had lovely hair but a big nose; some were pretty of face but too fat. Finally the theatre’s manager, Mr. McSween, has found girls both pretty and with a pleasing enough personality to fill the positions. They were shown off today in front of the theatre to the appreciative eyes of passing businessmen.
On the sports beat, boxing fans are very excited about the card at the National A.C., 11th & Catherine Streets, tonight where Lew Tendler (shown below) meets Battling Reddy in the wind-up. And at the Douglas A.C., 11th & Spring Garden, there is a 5 bout card mostly made up of Southwark boys and Gray’s Ferry lads.
In baseball, the Phillies here at National League Park met the Cubs in a double header today. In game one, Pete Alexander did it again with some help from Gavvy Cravath who hit his 17th home run of the season giving Moran’s boys a 7 to 5 win. In game two, Al Demaree pitched the Phillies to a 3 to 2 win. The Phillies are now in 1st place and 1 game ahead of the Superbas. Over at Shibe Park the Detroit Tigers are in a battle for the American League pennant and proved they mean to win every possible game with their play against the A’s. Led by Ty Cobb who smacked 3 hits and stole 3 bases the Tigers won 7 to 5.
WAR NEWS
In the western European theatre, after more than a year the French have re-crossed the Marne Canal. The crossing was accomplished in the area of Berry-au-Sac. The Germans have held the Canal since the French retreat last year during the Battle of the Marne. In London, Prime Minister Asquith announced today in Parliament that not counting contingents from Canada, Australia and Asia there are presently 3,000,000 men in the British army. In Eastern Europe, the Russian army retreating from Vilna has escaped the enveloping movement of the Germans. Now Field Marshal von Hindenburg’s army has turned its attention to Dvina and has unleashed a massive bombardment on that city.
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.