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 – SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1915
There will be fair skies over the city today with slightly cooler temperatures. Today’s high will be 66° with the low tonight near 48°. In Halloween festivities the North Philadelphia Merchants Association will hold a parade and carnival tonight. The parade begins at 7:30pm at Broad & Wingohocking Streets and proceeds to 18th & Germantown Avenue where the carnival will be held.
Thirty blind girls from the Pennsylvania Institute for the Instruction of the Blind, 6333 Malvern Avenue, in Overbrook were given a “sightseeing” tour today of the Navy Yard and one of the battleships in dock. The girls used their fingers and hands to “see” the guns, the lockers and hammocks of the seamen, an officer’s sword and they visited the kitchen. When it was over the girls declared that the battleship was just like a huge floating house.
Peabody, Massachusetts is in mourning today. Flags fly at half mast, businesses and government offices are closed. There is a palpable sadness and grief in the air. The funerals of 17 of the 21 little girls killed in a fire at their school on Thursday were held at St. John’s Church. After the Catholic Mass the 17 white caskets were placed upon hearses and borne through the city’s streets, which were lined with thousands of weeping men, women and children, to their final resting place. The remaining 4 girls will be buried tomorrow.
Here the Bureau of Health issued its mortality report today and noted 399 deaths this week. However, the Bureau also reported an unexpected upturn in the incidence of tuberculosis and typhoid. One hundred thirty-three new cases of tuberculosis and 40 new cases of typhoid were reported.
In college football today the pride of Easton, Pa. came to Franklin Field as Lafayette and Penn clashed on the gridiron. The stands were filled with over 1000 Lafayette students and fans from Easton along with 3000 Boy Scouts and thousands of Penn’s faithful. The Scouts were there for the 3rd year acting as ushers but also as guests of the University which provided them with their own section. Unfortunately for the fans of the red and blue the day went to Lafayette as they defeated Penn 17 to 0. In other games of local interest Harvard beat Penn State 13 to 0, Princeton over Williams 27 to 0, Villanova 16 Army 13, Lehigh 29 Gettysburg 0, West Virginia Wesleyan 14 Carlisle 0 and Catholic University 40 Delaware College 0.
WAR NEWS
On the continent, King George V of Great Britain was injured yesterday while visiting his troops at the front in France. Reports are the King was thrown from his horse when the animal became startled by the sound of gunfire. Although not life threatening the injuries are considered serious. The Prince of Wales has been summoned home to London from his duty station.
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