By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week in 1908
Jun 2nd, 2023
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5395 Views
How long ago was 1908? One of the biggest stories in Chicago is the “epidemic of white slavery.” White immigrant girls and innocent White American farm girls are being lured from all over the country to come to Chicago under false pretenses. They think they have received marriage proposal...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week in 1908
May 26th, 2023
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How long ago was 1908? The Chicago Cubs were all set to play a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at West Side Grounds. Cubs outfielder Jimmy Sheckard, a known prankster, began teasing Cubs backup infielder Heinie Zimmerman about his terrible fielding. The players had to be separated on the field. A...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week in 1908
May 19th, 2023
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6851 Views
This week (May 19 – May 25) in 1908 How long ago was 1908? The 1907 Championship flag is raised amid great fanfare at West Side Grounds in front of sold out crowd. Cubs owner Charles Murphy thinks it’s a bad omen when the flag gets stuck halfway up the flagpole. A who’s who of [&hel...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week in 1908
May 12th, 2023
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3656 Views
How Long Ago was 1908? The vast majority of games are umpired by only one man. This leads to what we would consider to be widespread cheating. Cubs third baseman Harry Steinfeldt is notorious for “accidentally tripping” players approaching third base while the umpire is watching the actio...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week in 1908
May 5th, 2023
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4822 Views
How long ago was 1908? The first modern day Mother’s Day in America was celebrated this week in 1908. The first attempt to make Mother’s Day a holiday had come in 1870, when social activist Julia Ward Howe tried to create a holiday to unite women against war. She was inspired by Ann Jarvi...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week in 1908
Apr 28th, 2023
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4859 Views
How long ago was 1908? In nearby Portage Indiana, a notorious murder starts to make the news. It starts with the discovery of three children and a headless woman after a fire in Portage. Upon investigation, however, details begin to emerge. It turns out the woman who owned the farm, Belle Gunness, ha...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week in 1908
Apr 21st, 2023
1 Comment
4794 Views
How long ago was 1908? Opening day is a huge day in Chicago for the defending champs. The Cubs have their home opener at the newly refurbished West Side Grounds (April 22). Owner Charles Murphy has turned the ballpark into a shrine for his players. There are two big sculptures outside the park, one o...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week in 1908
Apr 14th, 2023
1 Comment
5536 Views
How long ago was 1908? The Cubs open the 1908 season as the defending champions. They play in Cincinnati against the Reds, one of the worst teams in the National League. Stud pitcher Orval Overall has a shaky first inning, but settles down after that and the Cubs win the game in the ninth. Pinch [&he...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week in 1908
Apr 7th, 2023
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6287 Views
How long ago was 1908? Newspaper readers in Chicago have no fewer than twelve daily newspapers to choose from. Newspaper boys sell them at every corner. Chicagoans can choose from The Chicago American (an afternoon paper owned by William Randolph Hearst), The Chicago Defender (the newspaper for the b...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week in 1908
Mar 31st, 2023
0 Comments
4421 Views
How long ago was 1908? A Republican is the Mayor of Chicago. That’s right, a Republican. The Honorable Fred Busse(photo) was voted into office last year by reform minded Chicagoans. Unfortunately for the reformers, they don’t know Busse likes going down to the Levee. They don’t know he li...
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