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, JANUARY 19, 1916
The forecast is for another cold day with clear skies for our area. The high will be about 21° with the low around 11°. Skating is permitted today on the Wissahickon Creek from the lower dam to Rittenhouse Street and on Concourse Lake (shown below), Gustine Lake, Hunting Park Lake and Woodside Park Lakes.
The strike of women garment workers organized by the International Ladies Garment Workers Union is over. The announcement was made this afternoon by Union president Benjamin Schlesinger. The workers will be back at their place of employment tomorrow morning. All but 1 of the workers’ demands were met. The one rejected by the employers was full recognition of the Union. Five strikers were arrested this morning for harassment prior to word reaching the streets that the strike was over.
The two day National Conference on Immigration and Americanization opens here today. The conference and its participants are dedicated to molding the various types of immigrants in this country into Americans. The National Americanization Committee is composed of business leaders, economists, sociologists, immigration workers, educators and government officials. The attendees will discuss ways to assimilate the millions of immigrants into American society. The conference will open with an exhibition of art by immigrants and their children at Memorial Hall which shows the contribution of the immigrant races to American art. This will be followed by a lavish dinner hosted by Mr. and Mrs. E.T. Stotesbury.
Tomorrow the conferees will meet at the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel where speeches, meetings and discussions will be held to shape concrete policies. The highlight of the conference will take place tomorrow evening when former President Theodore Roosevelt will address a mass-meeting at the Metropolitan Opera House, Broad & Poplar Streets. The meeting is open to the public.
The Pierce School will celebrate its 50th anniversary along with its graduation ceremonies for 183 students tonight at the Academy of Music. The school was founded by Thomas May Pierce to educate former Union soldiers for work in business. The school is located at 1420 Pine Street. Also today, the Philadelphia Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy will celebrate the birthday of Robert E. Lee this evening with a banquet and entertainment at the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel. General Lee was born on this date in 1807.
On the high school sports scene yesterday in basketball Catholic High defeated Villanova Prep, LaSalle beat Camden High 26 to 18, Central 39 West Philadelphia 27, Northeast 22 Southern 16. In today’s games St. Joseph’s meets Pennsylvania Military College at Chester, Temple Prep against Girard College and Swarthmore High verses Ambler High.
GET YOUR COPY OF PHILADELPHIA: THE WORLD WAR I YEARS BY CLICKING ON THE LINK BELOW.