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 – WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 1915
There will be overcast skies through much of the day and showers are probable for later this afternoon and tonight. The high will reach 82° and the low tonight about 67°.
Four hundred and fifty young boys and girls left the headquarters of the Christian Volunteers at 903 Vine Street this morning and boarded special trolleys for Willow Grove Park and a day of fun in the fresh air. The children are some of the poorest from the Kensington section of the city. Once at the Park they will enjoy free milk and other goodies like cakes and candies. They will play tug-of-war and compete in 3 legged and potato sack races and of course enjoy the rides and other amusements. The children are chaperoned by Boy Scout Troop No. 1.
A reunion will take place tonight at Independence Hall starting at 8:00pm bringing together the remaining members of the old 72nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry better known to citizens of this city as Baxter’s Fire Zouaves. The Zouaves were comprised of volunteers from the various fire companies of this city in 1861. These brave old soldiers fought in many of the great battles of the Civil War including Antietam, Fredericksburg and Gettysburg.
In baseball, “Old Pete” Alexander had a rough outing today against the Boston Braves at National League Park. But the Phillies put together 10 hits including a home run by Fred Luderus and took the 1st game of this 4 game series, 8 to 5. A bit of drama occurred in the 5th inning when Gavvy Cravath smashed a ball sharply into left field. The ball took 1 bounce and struck Braves outfielder Joe Connolly so hard in the head that he was knocked unconscious. Connolly was immediately taken off the field and to the hospital.
Gavvy Cravath
Up in Boston at Fenway Park the A’s were crushed in both games of a doubleheader. In the 1st game Boston smacked 15 hits for 10 runs while the A’s could only get 5 across home plate. In the 2nd game the Red Sox again scored 10 runs with the A’s putting up 7.
WAR NEWS
In the Adriatic the largest city of Albania, Scutari, has been taken by Montenegrin troops. The city has a population of 35,000 and is 45 miles from the Austrian seaport of Cattaro. On the Austrian-Italian front in the Carnic Alps, unfavorable weather has halted infantry operations. However, artillery exchanges are ongoing. In the east, the German-Austrian forces continue driving the Russians back in Galicia and southern Poland. In fact reports are that almost all of Galicia is now free of Russian troops. The Germans are also advancing toward Lublin in Poland.