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 – FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1915
There will be clear and bright skies over the city today. The cool temperatures continue with today’s high reaching around 73° and the low tonight about 60°.
When the public schools open next week the number of students attending will exceed 200,000. This is the largest number in history. Officials of the School Board fear overcrowding and some have suggested creating a schedule where students go to school in shifts. It is hoped that the opening of the new Germantown District High School on October 1st along with the Frankford District High School and the Southern High School for Girls will relieve some of the problem.
The parishioners of St. Veronica’s Roman Catholic Church, 6th & Tioga Streets, are having a block party beginning this evening and continuing tomorrow. The actual festivities will be held on Reese Street between Butler & Pike Streets. The block will be decorated with Japanese lanterns and pretty girls will be selling candy, ice cream and other refreshments. There will also be games, automobile rides and music for dancing.
A hydroaeroplane of the Curtiss type (like that shown below) arrived at League Island today along with material for the construction of a hanger. The arrival of the machine is the first step in the defense plans of the Pennsylvania Aero Club. The aeroplane is owned by Mr. Clarke Thompson of this city.
On the sports beat, a 134 nautical mile race began today from Bridesburg. The course runs down the Delaware River to the Delaware Bay to Overfalls Light, then up the Atlantic Coast past Wildwood, Avalon and Sea Isle City to finish at a stake-boat off Ocean City. In baseball, At Shibe Park today the Athletics were not just pounded but embarrassed by the Red Sox 10 to 2. Up in New York the Phillies could only manage 4 hits and were shutout by the Giants 2 to 0.
WAR NEWS
On the western front massive artillery duels are raging from Belgium to the Vosges Mountains. On the Italian-Austrian front the Italian army has occupied Rovereto. This city and its surrounding forts have blocked the Italian advance on Trent which is 13 miles away. As the Austrians retreated they destroyed historic Italian monuments and set fire to the homes of Italians in the area. On the eastern front, the German army under Field Marshal von Hindenburg has captured Grodno. Grodno lies in the Russian province of Lithuania and is 80 miles southwest of Vilna. Grodno was the last great fortress separating the Teutons armies from Petrograd.
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.