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, AUGUST 17, 1917
Starting around 6:00pm last night the rain began. The thunderstorm dropped over 2 inches last night and continued through this morning. The showers were over by early this afternoon. Today’s high will reach 86° with the low near 68°. The Belgium War Mission to the United States will visit Philadelphia next Monday. The mission will arrive at Broad Street Station at 12:55 in the afternoon. From there they will be escorted to the Bellevue-Stratford for a luncheon after which the will proceed to Independence Hall for a public reception.
A new company has been formed here for the production of big caliber artillery guns to batter German lines. The company will be called the Tacony Ordnance Company. The company is connected to Tacony Steel Company and J.B. Warren, secretary and general manager of Tacony Steel will serve as president. Construction of a plant and factory will begin immediately after a suitable location is found.
In international news, Russian Premier Kerensky declared in Moscow today that socialism in Russia has failed. Kerensky is himself a socialist but believes the party infighting has caused its failure. Russia’s cities are predominately socialist but the countryside is much more conservative. The farmers in the country have refused to sell food to the city dwellers causing great disruption in Petrograd and Moscow. Kerensky does not believe the monarchy will return but is convinced Russia will soon become a Republic like America.
In baseball today the Phillies did it again. For the second day in a row the Phillies took a doubleheader from the visiting Pirates. In the first game the old Indian himself, Chief Bender, recaptured his youth giving up just 3 hits and pitching a shutout which the Phillies won 3 to 0. There was more hitting in the second contest, with each team getting seven, but the Phillies scored the most runs. Gravvy Cravath knocked in 2 and Possum Whitted added 3 to give the home town team a 7 to 3 win.
The A’s opened a 3 game series out in Chicago today with a hitting parade. The White Sox knocked 17 while the A’s got 13 hits. It took 12 innings to decide the contest but the A’s came out the better 9 to 7. It was Ping Bodie’s day. The left fielder who the Sox discarded after the 1914 season proved their mistake. In the 10th his backward leaping catch of a long fly ball kept the game tied at 7. And in the 12th it was Ping that drove in the Phillies 9th run to seal the win. Take that Mr. Comiskey.
Ping Bodie
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