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. So, check back often for new editions. To share your family or neighborhood stories, please email PhillyWWIyears@gmail.com

TODAY IN PHILADELPHIA – TUESDAY, AUGUST 7, 1917

There will be clear, sunny skies over the city today with gentle winds from the northwest. Today will be a hot one with the high reaching 87° and the overnight low only near 72°. The city reported today that last week 397,229 people patronized the city’s baths. The majority were boys totaling 221,025. Next came men at 91,528, then girls at 46,831 and finally 37,845 women.

In other city news, more demolition is taking place along the Parkway. Today the razing of the Medico-Chirurgical Hospital buildings begins. The Jump House Wrecking Company has paid the city $1,575.00 to do the job of bringing down the buildings. Under the contract they will be entitled to retain all materials from the destruction. Also to be brought down are houses at 120-126 on the west side of 17th Street south of Cherry Street. This will clear all buildings on the route from Broad Street to Logan Square.

The War Department has ordered the First City Troop of the First Pennsylvania Cavalry to prepare to go to Augusta, Georgia for training prior to shipping out to France. Also the War Department has ordered that the Pennsylvania National Guard will henceforth be known as the Twenty-eighth Division of the United States Army. The name change will not affect the make up or individuality of the Division.

American troops want tobacco and the Red Cross has promised to get it to them. Today the organization shipped to France 1 million cigarettes, 20,000 bags of tobacco and 10,000 cuts of plug. The Red Cross intends to start a drive to have 10,000 tons of tobacco donated as quickly as possible for our boys to enjoy.

In baseball today, the Phillies were rained out in Chicago and will now travel to Pittsburgh for a 4 game series. Here at Shibe Park, the A’s knocked out 19 hits to beat the White Sox 8 to 1. Prior to the game 3 members of the visiting team who had their numbers picked in the draft reported for physical examinations to the 12th & Pine Street police station. The players are “Chick” Gandil, “Happy” Felsch and “Buck” Weaver (shown below). They asked to be examined here because the team does not return to Chicago for 10 days. All the men passed but each has asked for an exemption on the basis of marriage.

George “Buck” Weaver

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