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 7, 1915

There will be partly cloudy skies over the area today with the high reaching 87° and the low overnight about 68°. Ground has been broken at Hunting Park & Schuyler Street for the construction of the most modern police and fire station in the country. The building will include a soundproof revolver range, a game room, a public waiting room, bedrooms on the 2nd floor for policemen and firemen and indoor bathrooms. The cells will be of white enameled steel and be adequately ventilated. The building will cost $125,000.00.

The flag of Germany flies over this city’s Central Park today, 4400 North 5th Street, as part of the 42nd Cannstatter Volkfest. Patriotic emblems of the Fatherland abound as well as small memorials to those fallen in battle.  Ten thousand people are expected to attend the festival today and tomorrow. The events include among other things a costumed band playing 17th century German music, sheep races, fat men’s races and a 7-ton fruit column (shown below). In the inserts are the president of the Volkfest Mr. J. Preisendanz and Volkfest Queen Miss Margot Egelhaaf.

image_681x688_from_0,1559_to_5051,6667

The management of the Chestnut Street Opera House is having difficulty filling 6 advertised positions for pretty girl ushers. As of today 300 girls have applied but none of them met the requirements. The Opera House requires the girls to be pretty of face and have a pleasing figure capable of wearing the uniform which will include silk pants or knickerbockers. The Theatre’s manager, Mr. McSween, said many of the girls who applied were intelligent and personable enough for the job but just not attractive. Mr. McSween will continue the search.

The sausage maker to the King of Spain is shopping in our city. He is Senor Alejandro Perello, head of the Herederos de Juan Dorra Company of Barcelona and he is here to buy 45 tons of sausage casings for King Alfonso. Senor Perello is staying at the Adelphia Hotel.

WAR NEWS

The Prince of Wales proclaimed today that he would never marry a German princess. The young Prince declared “I intend to marry a daughter of the English peerage” [Editor’s note: The future and for a short time Edward VIII would marry an American divorcee named Wallis Simpson after he abdicated the throne in 1936]. In Europe, The Emperor Nicholas has taken personal command of all the Russian armies. It is unclear whether this will result in the complete removal of his cousin, Grand Duke Nicholas, from all positions of command.

On the eastern front a huge battle is raging 65 miles southeast of Grono between the retreating Russian army and the Germans. The center of the battle is at Wolkowysk an important railway town. German warships have entered the Gulf of Riga forcing Russian ships to retreat. The Russians have also evacuated the island of Dago in the Gulf of Finland. However, official reports from Vienna confirm that Russian forces continue to put up a stiff resistance in Galicia and Volhynia.

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.

Posted