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 – SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1917
Today’s weather will start off quite pleasant. The skies will be bright but as the day progresses clouds will arrive giving the late afternoon a dreary look. There is the possibility of rain this evening and overnight. Today’s high will be near 40° with the low about 26°.
In local news, Dr. Wilmer Krusen, Director of the Department of Public Health and Charities, has ordered that raising pigs within the city limits will be prohibited as of March 15th. If the owners of the animals do not dispose of them by that date the city will confiscate the hogs and destroy the pens.
Dr. Wilmer Krusen
In other livestock news, a fire at the stable and garage of Mr. F. Stork, 600 Church Lane in Germantown, took the lives of two valuable cows this morning. Before firemen arrived the structure burned to the ground. Two limousines were also destroyed in the blaze.
In Harrisburg, legislators will be hearing from Mrs. Charles Frazier and her supporters on the plight of feeble-minded women. Mrs. Frazier has been working on the creation of a village at Laurelton in Union County for these unfortunates who are of child bearing age. Mrs. Frazier has organized delegates from every town and city in the state to lobby their representatives to approve funds to complete the village. She believes having these women live in a safe, secure and separate town of their own will prevent them from bringing defective children into the world and having them become a burden on the state.
Out in Chicago the school board has decreed that the city’s 375,000 schoolchildren will henceforth salute the flag in a weekly observance. The children will recite “I pledge allegiance to the American flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all”.
On the sports scene in the intercollegiate basketball league Penn and Yale meet tonight at Weightman Hall at 8:00pm. Yale is in a tie for 1st place with Princeton with Penn sitting in 3rd. Penn is looking for revenge as they were whipped up in New Haven Monday night 25 to 13. In the high school game, South Philadelphia is on the verge of clinching the title. The “South Phillies” as they are called beat Central High yesterday 44 to 21. South Philadelphia now leads Germantown High by 2 games in the standings. Central High is in 3rd, Northeast in 4th followed by West Philadelphia, the Trades School and Frankford bringing up the rear.
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