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, SEPTEMBER 7, 1917
The Weather Bureau is predicting cloudy skies and rain today. The high will be near 73° with the low overnight around 57°. The city has proudly announced that over the summer 21 blocks equaling almost three miles were reconstructed and repaved with “noiseless” wooden blocks. The streets chosen were those which experience the heaviest vehicular traffic. The streets include Cherry Street from 13th to Broad; Fairmount Avenue from 2nd to 8th; 11th Street from Market to Arch; 13th from Market to Walnut; 15th from Chestnut to South Penn Square; Chestnut from 7th to 12th; Darien from Locust to Walnut; Filbert from 10th to 11th; Walnut from 12th to Broad and 11th from Chestnut to Walnut.
Trouble in the 5th Ward (the “bloody fifth”) is getting worse as the election for Ward leadership approaches. Today six policemen from the 3rd & De Lancey station was arraigned for participating in fights between Vare men and the McNichol faction and for conducting unlawful raids on shops as well as beating prisoners and threatening political opponents. The policemen were held over on a total of $15,000.00 bail. The charges against the police include conspiracy, aggregated assault and assault with intent to kill. The policemen are Lt. Bennett, Special Policeman Murphy and patrolmen Joseph Troyano, Louis Felman, Emanuel Uram and Edwin Goodfriend.
WAR NEWS
On the western front, in Flanders, Field Marshal Haig has admitted that British troops have retreated from the area north of Frezenberg as a result of fierce German counter-attacks. On the Alpine front the Italian army has gained a foothold on the summit of Mont San Gabriele, north of Gorizia.
In the air war, German aeroplanes have deliberately attacked an American hospital killing one American doctor and seriously injuring five members of the staff and at least 10 patients. The hospital was sent to France by Harvard University and was located on the coast. Military censors prohibit providing the exact location of the unit and the names of the dead and injured. A British military hospital was also attacked. The British believe that Germany is conducting a deliberate aerial offensive against Allied hospitals. Such barbarity has caused outrage in England.
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