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, APRIL 25, 1917

There will be increasingly cloudy skies over the area today with probable rain overnight and tomorrow morning. The high will reach 59° with the low tonight about 40°. The Honorable Harry Bacharach, Mayor of Atlantic City, wants to dispel rumors that Atlantic City has been ordered to go dark. The Mayor wants it to be clear to visitors that the War Department has not ordered the lights turned off after dark in Atlantic City or any other shore resort. Mr. Bacharach wants tourists to be assured the lights are on, especially on the boardwalk.

Delaware will not abide “loafers”, so said Governor John Gillis Townsend today at the State House in Dover. The Governor declared “Every man in Delaware will have to work or fight”. Governor Townsend has ordered all state sheriffs and detectives to report any slackers to him and he will turn the names over for entry into military service or farm work.

A special engagement takes place tonight at the Academy of Music. Sir Ernest Shackleton will present an illustrated lecture on his adventures in Antarctica. The lecture begins at 8:30pm with tickets starting at 50¢. Mr. Shackleton will discuss his last expedition to Antarctica and the harrowing experiences he and his crew underwent when their ship became trapped in the ice and was slowly crushed. The party was forced to camp on the ice until they could make their way by lifeboat to South Georgia Island.

In baseball today the A’s met the Yankees up in New York at the Polo Grounds and came away with the win. The Mackmen went into the 9^th trailing 2 to 1 but a home run by catcher Wally Schang with 2 men on gave the A’s the win. Unfortunately for the Phillies the circumstances were almost the direct opposite. Grover Cleveland Alexander and the Phillies had an 8 to 5 lead going into the 8^th here at National League Park. But Alex seemed to weaken and lose his touch and the New Yorkers scored 3 runs on five hits to tie the game. Erskine Mayer was brought in to relieve “Old Pete” but gave up another run putting the Giants in the lead to stay, 9 to 8.

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