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, FEBRUARY 21, 1918

The Weather Bureau was correct with its prediction that the cold would return. Today’s high will only reach 24° with the overnight low a chilly 14°. The cold snap is the result of a high-pressure system from western Canada.

Miss Florence Kober (shown below) of 1708 Pine Street is a true “Jill of all Trades”. She is an expert metal worker, designs jewelry, is proficient with a hammer and is also a “crackerjack” plumber and electrician. And shortly she will be putting her skills to work in France as a chief mechanic with the Women’s Overseas Hospital of New York City. Miss Kober is a striking beauty. She is tall with dark brown eyes and hair and her carriage shows years of athletic training. Although she and her family are originally from Michigan, she asserts they are all true Philadelphians now having moved here some years ago.

Miss Kober hopes to make use of all her skills, even jewelry making, while in France. She said “I expect I shall come back a wiser girl, for there will not be all the conveniences of a big manufacturing city where I will be located”. The hospital she will be stationed at is presently just a building with 4 walls. So she will help make it livable and useful as a hospital by helping to install electricity, a sanitary plant, a generator and other necessities to care for the wounded. The Women’s Overseas Hospital will be staffed by women from all over the United States. There will be 80 women in all, including 12 doctors and 20 nurses.

In sports, West Philadelphia Boys High School opened its indoor track season at their gym this afternoon against the boys from South Philadelphia High. The Speedboys dominated the men from Southern 37 to 17. In basketball tonight at Traymore Hall, Franklin Street & Columbia Avenue, the Marines of League Island will take on the H.W. Butterworth and Sons Company of Kensington. The Butterworth team and its fans plan on marching from the company’s factory to Traymore Hall accompanied by a band playing patriotic songs. In baseball news there are currently 112 major league players in some branch of the national service. The number climbs to 275 when semi-professional players are included.

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