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, OCTOBER 9, 1917
The city and vicinity will have cloudy skies today with winds from the northeast. Today’s high will be a cool 50° with the low tonight near 42°. In entertainment news, all Philadelphia theatres including stage play venues, vaudeville houses and motion picture theatres are organizing a plan to make all tickets ½ price for those wearing a military uniform of the United States.
In the ongoing court hearing against Mayor Smith and the other defendants testimony was heard today about plain clothes policemen raiding clubs frequented by supporters of Councilman James Carey. Also testifying was Assistant District Attorney John Maurer who was beaten and blackjacked while walking with Councilman Carey on election day. Mr. Maurer also identified Mascia as the man he saw shoot Officer George Eppley.
In other news at City Hall, enough dynamite to bring down the south side of the building including the tower topped by William Penn was found today by Nathaniel Rambo, the foreman of the cleaners. Twenty sticks of dynamite were placed 12 feet below street level against the south side wall of the structure. At first it was thought that the explosives were from the Broad Street subway construction and may have been stolen and then hidden for retrieval later. However, this explanation has now been discounted and an investigation is under way.
On the sports beat, there is baseball still being played around the country. The city series of St. Louis finished yesterday as the Cardinals beat the Browns 4 games to none. The Ohio championship is still in play as Cleveland beat the Reds today 8 to 0. The Reds have won 3 games in the series against the Indians one.
WAR NEWS
On the western front, in Belgium the British have gained more than a mile in their latest offensive. The British assault is now centered around a village called Passchendaele which is close to Ypres. Dispatches from Field Marshal Haig suggest that the only reason more ground was not taken was the heavy rains blanketing the area. On the eastern front rain has also caused a lull in the fighting. Also in Russia reports from Petrograd are that a new coalition cabinet has been formed by Premier Kerensky. Six of the new cabinet members are socialists while 3 are constitutional democrats.
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