Western civilization turned a corner in July 1914, with the start of the Great War.

Ann Arbor was a cozy college town of 15,000. “A hog which was being pursued by a dog ran into Miss Staebler, knocking her down so unfortunately that she broke one of her wrists,” reported the Ann Arbor News.

But modernity was arriving. A visitor named Fred Schaible, the News reported, also broke his wrist–“while trying to crank his automobile.” Though roads were being paved, the speed limit on Packard was 15 mph, reduced to 10 mph when “approaching a person walking, or animal being led or driven.”

The progressive moment was in full flower. Ann Arbor had an Anti-Tuberculosis Society, and the city government was working on “Adequate Food Inspection and Prosecution for Adulteration.” The Orpheum Theater was showing the film version of Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle: “A tremendous and daring story of the Beef Packing industry.” And the eight-hour workday was arriving; the News headlined its story “Fear Eight Hour Law Will Hurt Business.”

Suffragettes, “Suffs,” demonstrated for the right to vote; the temperance movement was influential; and the development of genetics was heading in a dangerous direction. The U-M Medical School hosted a lecture titled, “Appeal for Eugenics”: “How much can be done by sterilization, how much by interference in marriage is a question.”

Near the end of the month the mounting crisis in Europe played out in Ann Arbor News headlines:

July 24: Peace of Europe Now Threatened

July 25: Hope of Peace Waning Fast

July 27: Mediation May Prevent Big War

July 28: War is Declared Today

July 29: Europe Awaits Opening of Struggle

July 30: European War is Now Certain (Subheading: “War will help Mich. Farmers”)

July 31: State of War Proclaimed by Kaiser