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 – MONDAY JUNE 25, 1917
There will be clear and bright skies over Philadelphia today. The high will reach 80° with the low near 64°. There are more graduations occurring this week including the boys and girls of Germantown High School, Germantown Avenue & High Street, which awarded 107 diplomas this morning. Tonight at Frankford High School, 21 young men will receive diplomas in the school auditorium which is 6 more graduates than last year. And in South Philadelphia at Horace Howard Furness grammar school, 3rd & Mifflin Streets, 129 students will receive diplomas. Furness has one of the largest 8th grade graduating classes in the city.
The 1st Regiment Band of the Pennsylvania Infantry performed outside the Union League Club this afternoon, Broad & Sansom Streets, as part of the two week recruitment drive of the National Guard. The drive began today in accord with Secretary of War Baker’s call for 70,000 recruits nationwide. As part of the event a squadron of areoplanes from Essington soared above City Hall and around center city dropping leaflets with the President’s recruiting proclamation. A Parade is planned for tomorrow on Broad Street as part of the drive. The First Regiment Band will perform each afternoon outside the Union League and give a concert every evening beginning at 7:00pm at City Hall Plaza.
The Red Cross drive is ending today at 7:00pm and the city is $600,000.00 short of its goal of $3,000,000.00. But contributions are still coming in. Today all the members of the Philadelphia Stock Exchange pledged 50% of their net profits from last week to the cause. Businesses large and small have also pledged a percentage of their profits. The city’s Roman Catholic and Protestant churches have promised all contributions collected at their services yesterday would be given to the Red Cross. A full report of the funds received has not as yet been calculated. And today throughout the city white clad Red Cross workers will be out appealing for donations and reminding Philadelphians to help the Red Cross help your boys.
In baseball today the A’s are at the Polo Grounds against the Yankees were they played their second doubleheader in 3 days. Unfortunately today’s results were the same as Saturday’s with the A’s losing both games. Here at National League Park the Phillies beat the Giants 2 to 0 in the second of a 5 game series. Eppa Rixey got his 10th win of the season.
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