By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week in 1908
May 12th, 2024
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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, 2024
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5280 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, 2024
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5466 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, 2024
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5386 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, 2024
1 Comment
6125 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, 2024
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6704 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, 2024
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4927 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...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week in 1908
Mar 24th, 2024
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6894 Views
How long ago was 1908? The first few years of the century the Cubs conducted spring training in Frank Chance’s home state of California (in Los Angeles and Santa Monica). During their first pennant season of 1906, they trained in Champaign, Illinois. The site of spring training before their fir...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week in 1908
Mar 17th, 2024
1 Comment
6958 Views
How long ago was 1908? One of the big issues being debated in Chicago is the influx of “undesirable” immigrant types. Chicago society is up in arms, and they aren’t afraid to say so publicly. Frances E. Hamilton is quoted in this week’s Chicago Tribune. He states the case of h...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week in 1908
Mar 10th, 2024
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6072 Views
How long ago was 1908? Chicago’s aldermen of 1908 make today’s look like alter boys. Meet “Bathhouse John” Coughlin. He is one of the aldermen from Chicago’s notorious First Ward. Along with his partner in crime (literally), Hinky Dink Kenna, Bathhouse protects Chicago&#...
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