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 often for new updates.
To share your family or neighborhood stories, please email PhillyWWIyears@gmail.com
TODAY IN PHILADELPHIA – SATURDAY, JULY 3, 1915
There will be cloudy, overcast skies over the city today with the possibility of thundershowers tonight and tomorrow. Today’s high will reach 86° with the low 66°.
Large stands were erected today at Independence Square draped in the city and national colors in preparation for the honored guests attending the 4th of July celebration. The Liberty Bell will be mounted near the speakers stand with an honor guard of marines and bluejackets from the Navy Yard. All through the city, in every neighborhood, red, white and blue decorations are going up on every home and building. The city intends this to be the biggest celebration of the 4th of July in history.
In Glen Cove, New York, J. P. Morgan (shown below), head of the banking firm J.P. Morgan & Co. was shot today at his summer home. The assailant was Frank Holt a former Cornell University professor. It is believed Holt has been driven insane by reports of the war in Europe. Mr. Morgan was shot twice with one bullet entering his leg and one his left side. The wounds are not considered life threatening. Holt was subdued by Mr. Morgan’s servants and once in police custody confessed stating that Mr. Morgan was responsible for the war and he was sent by God to kill him.
In Washington, D.C. a bomb exploded in the Senate reception room of the Capitol shortly before midnight. A letter received by the Washington Times before the explosion explained that the bomb was a “plea for peace”. The explosion shook the Capitol building and destroyed the Senate’s reception room. The Secret Service has advised that additional precautions will be taken to protect the President who is in Vermont on vacation. For the remainder of the President’s vacation one agent will always accompany him in his automobile and 3 of the 9 agents protecting the President will be in constant attendance.
A spectacular aerial performance is scheduled this afternoon at the Point Breeze Park Motordrome. Lieutenant Baronet von Figyelmessy and Harvey Wilbur Kays will be flying the latest Curtiss model aeroplanes. They will present an exhibition on how aeroplanes are used to drop bombs and attack a fort from above. Also planned is a realistic recreation of a battle like those being fought in Europe by the 2nd Regiment, National Guard of Pennsylvania.
In baseball today the Athletics were in Boston for a doubleheader. The A’s took the 1st game 7 to 3. But in the 2nd game the Red Sox clubbed the A’s 11 to 0. The Phillies also played 2 here today at National League Park before an almost sellout crowd. The Phillies took the 1st game 4 to 1 but dropped the second 5 to 3.