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, FEBRUARY 28, 1917
Today’s forecast calls for cloudy, overcast skies with the possibility of rain or snow overnight. The high will reach 48° with the low about 32°. In business news, the Standard Roller Bearing Company, located at 15th & Lancaster Avenue, has been sold to the Marlin Arms Company of New Haven, Connecticut. Standard is the largest manufacturer of roller and ball bearings in the United States.
The Civic Club has announced a campaign to teach city residents about health problems directly related to dirty streets. The campaign will begin during the first week of May. A moving picture has been made to help spread the message and will be shown in neighborhood motion picture theatres stressing the importance of keeping the streets clean. The city government has endorsed the project with Director of Public Health and Charities Wilmer Krusen pledging his support and Director of Public Safety Wilson promising that the police will enforce all ordinances having to do with keeping the streets clean.
In national news, the Democratic National Committee announced today that the reelection campaign of President Wilson cost the party $2,500,000. The committee admitted it went into debt for $600,000.00 but almost $450,000.00 has since been collected. Also in Washington D.C. the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives agreed today to much of what the President asked for in his speech on Monday.
On the sports beat out in St. Louis it has been announced that Mrs. Helene Hathaway Robinson Britton is in negotiations to sell the St. Louis Cardinals to a syndicate which includes the present manager Miller Huggins. Mrs. Britton has owned the team since 1911 when she inherited the franchise on the death of her father and uncle. She is the first woman to own a major league baseball team. During her first appearance at an ownership meeting in 1911 the other owners pressured her to sell the team to a man. She refused, believing she was as qualified as any man to run the club.
Mrs. Helene Britton
WAR NEWS
On the western front, British troops are now within 2 miles of Bapaume, southeast of Arras, on the Somme front. The German retreat in the Somme has appeared to slow and fierce fighting is occurring. Fighting is also ongoing north of Serre. In Mesopotamia, British troops are in hot pursuit of the retreating Turks from Kut-el-Amara. The British are attacking the Turks on 3 sides and preventing them from reforming their lines.
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