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 – WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 1917
There will be fair skies over Philadelphia with the high temperature a pleasant 51°. The low tonight will be near 37°. Today a recruiting station for the Navy was opened in Independence Hall. This is only the 5th time in history the Hall has been used for such service. The other occasions were the Revolutionary War, the Mexican War, the Civil War and the Spanish-American War. Mayor Smith offered the Hall to Commandant Russell of the Navy Yard last week and the offer was immediately accepted.
Other recruiting stations have also opened throughout the city. The Army has stations at 1229 Arch, Frankford & Orthodox, Chelten & Germantown, 8th & Christian and at 2nd, 16th, and 32nd & Market Streets. Navy stations are at the Navy Yard, 1310 Arch and 1408 Arch. Marine stations are located at Broad & Filbert and at 13th and 14th and Arch. There are also stations for all the services in City Hall and the main Post Office.
The largest hat store in the world opened today at 1307 Market Street. Truly Warner Hats is not just large but also unique. The interior of the store is designed as a quaint English village of the Tudor period. The floor is red sandstone just like an old English street and on either side of the street above the cases of hats, Tudor style English houses appear with old fashion windows, stucco walls, gables and real slate roofs with stone chimneys. Even the ceiling has been painted a soft sky blue with white clouds floating by. The shopping experience is like taking a step back to Shakespeare’s time.
In sports, tonight at the Camden Armory the championship of the Eastern League of Basketball will be decided when the Jasper Jewels and the Greystock Greys meet at 9:00pm. In the amateur game, Starr Garden won the championship of the Playground League beating Chestnut Street Pier in 2 games of a 3 game series, 64 to 29 and 40 to 12. And Saturday evening prominent suffragists of this city will meet on the basketball court displaying their skills at the Phillips Brooke School, 4222 Baltimore Avenue.
On stage this afternoon the 300 members of the St. Joseph’s College Dramatic Association will present their version of the “Passion Play” at the Metropolitan Opera House, 1108 Chestnut Street. Tickets start at 50¢ and the performances will continue throughout the week.
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