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 – THURSDAY, MAY 24, 1917
There will be clear and fair skies over the city today with moderate winds from the southwest. The high will reach 66° with the low near 48°. Mayor Smith is in Washington D.C. today to extend an invitation to the Italian War Commission which is presently visiting America. The Mayor wishes to invite the emissaries to our city and provide them with a great Philadelphia welcome like that provided to Marshal Joffre and the French Commission earlier this month.
An outbreak of smallpox was discovered overnight and at dawn this morning city officials closed off the neighborhood and began vaccinating the residents. The disease was found in four people living at 702 South 15th Street. The infected victims are all negroes who had recently come here from Georgia. They were all taken to the Philadelphia Hospital for Contagious Diseases for treatment. Director Wilmer Krusen of the Department of Public Health and Charities ordered a quarantine of the area bounded by 15th & 16th streets and Kater and Catherine Streets. Over 150 policemen are enforcing the blockade while 50 physicians are at work. So far 3000 residents have been vaccinated.
In sports, the Phillies had won 6 in a row before today’s meeting with the Reds at National League Park but the winning streak came to an end this afternoon. And it ended badly. Erskine Mayer got the start on the mound and gave up 10 runs in just 2 innings. The Reds put on a hitting spectacular including a 3 run homer by Jim Thorpe. When it was finally over it was the Reds 19 and the Phillies 9. The Athletics fared better out in Detroit where they open a 3 game series with the Tigers. Win Noyes went all 9 innings and got his second victory of the season as the A’s outlasted the Tigers 3 to 2.
WAR NEWS
On the Alpine front, after a 10 hour artillery bombardment Italian forces broke through the Austrian lines and captured Jamiano taking 9000 prisoners. In the air war, 5 German Zeppelins bombed eastern England last night killing at least one civilian. On the seas, a flotilla of 9 Japanese warships has entered the Mediterranean Sea to help defend Allied merchant shipping.
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