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 10, 1915
Philadelphians will see clear and bright skies today. But the heat remains with the high reaching 92° and the low tonight only 76°. Thankfully, there has been a 14 point drop in the humidity from 85% to 71% which has provided some relief.
The Pennsylvania Railroad will inaugurate electric train service between Broad Street Station and Paoli on the Main Line tomorrow. The first train will leave Paoli at 5:55am and arrive in Philadelphia at 6:45am. The first west bound train will leave Broad Street at 7:45am. The Railroad’s plan is to gradually change from steam to electric train service over the coming months.
Three battleships will arrive at the Navy Yard at League Island today where their crews will rest and the ships will receive any needed repairs. They are the “U.S.S. Missouri”, the “U.S.S. Wisconsin” and the “U.S.S. Ohio”. The ships have been on a tour which included two passages through the Panama Canal and a visit to the Pan-Pacific Exposition in San Francisco.
In national news, Secretary of State Lansing has formally declared the Ambassador of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Konstantin Dumba (shown below), persona non grata. Secretary Lansing took this step after a full review of the incident surrounding the Ambassador’s proposal in a letter to Austria’s Foreign Minister that Austrian and German nationals living in America and working in the munitions industry be encouraged to engage in strikes and commit acts of sabotage in the hope of crippling America’s industry and stopping the supply of military material going to the Allies. Secretary Lansing has demanded that the Austro-Hungarian Empire recall Ambassador Dumba as he is no longer acceptable or welcome in the United States.
The sporting world has lost a giant, Albert Goodwill Spalding has died. Mr. Spalding (shown below) was one of the most successful pitchers in baseball history. He was also one of the founders of the National League. And after he left the game made a fortune in the manufacture of sporting goods. Mr. Spalding’s best year was when he pitched for the old Boston Red Stockings in 1875 where he appeared in 72 games and achieved a record of 54 wins and only 5 losses. That year he won 24 games in a row. Mr. Spalding was 66 years old.
Today in baseball the Phillies whipped the Giants in the last game of their series here at Philadelphia Ball Park, 7 to 3. The big blow came in the 8th when Gavvy Craveth slammed a deep drive over the center field wall with the bases loaded. It was Gavvy’s 21st home run of the season. Up in Boston the Mackmen lost again. Red Sox pitcher “Babe” Ruth held the A’s to 5 hits in Boston’s 7 to 2 win.
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