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 – FRIDAY JULY 13, 1917

The rain has finally ended. There were still some leftover showers yesterday but they have finally moved on. Four days of rain have left the city waterlogged. Lakes, ponds, and creeks are overflowing. Today’s high will reach 85° with the low tonight 69°.  Unfortunately the weather bureau is predicting more showers tomorrow.

Philadelphia is fighting its own war. This war is against the tussock moth caterpillar. The caterpillars attack the over 150,000 trees in Philadelphia most of which are in Fairmount Park. The bugs cause great devastation leaving trees stripped bare. The Park commission’s personnel has been increased by 40 additional men who will be joining the battle today. The men will be out in force spraying and sprinkling the tree branches with arsenic lead. Originally city councils granted $20,000 for the fight but this year’s infestation has been so bad that more funds are needed. This is important because this crop of caterpillars is making cocoons from which the next generation will emerge in August.

The people of Roxborough are preparing for a grand street carnival tomorrow. The festivities will be at Pechin Street between Roxborough Avenue and Martin Street. Proceeds from the event will go to the Kensington Dispensary for the Treatment of Tuberculosis. Cakes, candies and ice cream will be plentiful and a full dinner will be served at 6:30pm. There will be attractive maidens from the German Lutheran Church selling homemade crafts and ornaments and of course, music to dance and sing alone to.

In baseball today the Phillies took on the Cubs in a doubleheader at National League Park. In the 1st contest old Pete Alexander had his stuff, holding the Chicago boys to 7 hits and pitching a shutout. The big hit belonged to Gavvy Cravath who smashed a 3 run home run in the 8th to give the Phillies the victory 7 to 0. The 2nd game was a true pitchers’ duel. Al Demaree, who last year wore the Phillies uniform, took the mound for the Cubs while Eppa Rixey twirled for Moran’s boys. For 9 innings the game was tied at 0 but in the top of the 10th Max Flack drove home the winning run for Chicago. Out in St. Louis the A’s dropped a close one to the Browns 2 to 1. Three errors by the infield gave the game to the Browns. Bullet Joe Bush took the loss.

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