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 – TUESDAY APRIL 9, 1918
The rain which started last night continues today and could, this evening, even bring some snow. Today’s high will be near 53° with tonight’s low about 37°. This was Movie Day in Philadelphia as the greatest stars of motion pictures came here to promote the 3rd Liberty Loan. Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford and Charlie Chaplin arrived this morning and will address the public at events throughout the day. The stars were greeted by enthusiastic crowds when they arrived at Broad Street Station from New York. After thanking the crowd for the welcome, Mr. Chaplin and Mr. Fairbanks broke into speeches about the importance of Liberty Loans. Then they were off to tour the city.
Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford and Charlie Chaplin
Depending on the weather the trio is scheduled to hold a rally at 12:30pm at the Liberty Statue at South Penn Square. Afterwards they will have lunch at the Bellevue-Stratford. Then at 3:00pm they will attend a mass meeting at the Academy of Music. Dinner for the visitors will be at the home of Mr. and Mrs. E.T. Stotesbury, 1925 Walnut Street at 5:30pm. And at 8:30 this evening they will appear and speak at another mass meeting at the 2nd Regiment Armory, Broad & Susquehanna Avenue.
Veterans of the Grand Army of the Republic will be meeting at their posts today to remember fallen friends and commemorate the end of the Civil War. It was 53 years ago today that General Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia to General Grant at Appomattox Court House in Virginia. Although three other southern Generals did not surrender their armies for a few additional weeks, Lee’s capitulation is considered to mark the end of the war.
In sports, our local oil companies will once again field an organize baseball league. There was some concern that the loss of employee players to the service might preclude the companies from fielding teams. But that has not happened and the Petroleum League will feature eight teams including, Atlantic, Crew-Levick, Gulf, Pure Oil, Sun, Texaco, Union Petroleum and Vacuum.
WAR NEWS
The long range cannons which have been bombarding Paris have been located. They are in the small town of Crepy-en-Laonnois, 75 miles from the capitol. Now French artillery and aviators are carrying out continuous attacks on the site to silence the guns. German artillery continued to shell British positions in Picardy. The most intensive bombardment was from the La Bassee Canal south to Armentieres. Further south, the French have fallen back another 2 miles south of the Oise River.
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