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 – WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 1916

There will be mostly clear skies over the city today with plenty of sun. Scattered clouds may roll through the area but there is little chance of rain. Today’s high will be around 62° with the low tonight near 41°. It is “Bird Day” in the public schools today. As part of the curriculum teachers will instruct children on the proper care and feeding of their avian pets.

It has finally arrived, baseball season beings today for the Phillies and the Athletics. The Phillies (shown below) meet the New York Giants at National League Park, Broad & Huntingdon Streets this afternoon. Grover Cleveland Alexander, known throughout the baseball world as “Alex the Great”, will take the mound for the Phillies. Ralph “Sailor” Stroud will be twirling for John McGraw’s Giants. The first pitch will be thrown at 3:00pm sharp. A band concert will start the festivities at 1:00pm. Tickets start at .25¢. The A’s are up in Boston to take on the Red Sox. Manager Mack will send Bullet Joe Bush to the mound to open the season for his “White Elephants”. Facing the A’s bats for the Red Sox will be 21 year old George Herman Ruth who begins his third season with Boston.

Contracts for work on the College for Orphan Girls at Chestnut Hill were let today. The funding for the school was provided by the will of Robert N. Carson. Mr. Carson wished to establish an institution similar to Girard College but for “poor, white, healthy girls, both of whose parents shall be deceased”. The specifications call for grounds that will form a true fairyland for the students and be different than any other similar institution in the country. The property will be surrounded by trees which will serve not just as a screen and windbreak but also for their educational and botanical value. More than a score of buildings are planned as well as walkways and a maze for relaxation and reflection.

WAR NEWS

On the western front, German infantry attacks have resumed near Verdun west of the Meuse River. The Germans are using liquid fire in their assaults. A violent bombardment is also ongoing on the Douaumont-Vaux front. The French report that all such attacks have been repulsed with German causalities near 30,000 thus far. In the Middle East, the British continue to suffer devastating defeats in their attempts to break out of their encirclement at Kut-el-Amara by the Turks and their Arab allies. Kut-el-Amara lies 100 miles south of Bagdad. Of the 8000 British and Indian troops, the Turks claim 3000 have been killed.

GET YOUR COPY OF PHILADELPHIA: THE WORLD WAR I YEARS BY CLICKING ON THE LINK BELOW.