By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week in 1908
Dec 8th, 2023
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4931 Views
How Long Ago Was 1908? The Union Stock Yard & Transit Co., or The Yards, is thriving despite Upton Sinclair’s expose from five years earlier, “The Jungle.” Chicago is known as “hog butcher for the world” and the center of the American meat packing industry. It will remain open until ...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week in 1908
Dec 1st, 2023
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4694 Views
How long ago was 1908? The Chicago Coliseum (photo) is the largest venue in Chicago. Earlier this year it hosted the Republican Convention, which turned into quite a party. Every December, however, it holds an even bigger party, the party event of the year in Chicago–the First Ward Ball. The Fi...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week in 1908
Nov 24th, 2023
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4525 Views
How Long Ago Was 1908? The King of Ragtime Scott Joplin turns 41 on Nov 24. Though he is from St. Louis and recently moved to New York, his music is the soundtrack for Chicago’s notorious Levee District, including “The Entertainer,” a song that would later be used as the soundtrack ...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week in 1908
Nov 17th, 2023
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5926 Views
How Long Ago Was 1908? Cubs outfielder Jimmy Sheckard celebrates his 30th birthday (Nov 23). Sheckard was one of the first players Frank Chance had acquired when he took over the Cubs in 1905/06. He gave up four players and $2000 (a high price) to Brooklyn to acquire him—but he knew that Brooklyn was...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week in 1908
Nov 10th, 2023
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5061 Views
How Long Ago Was 1908? The city of Chicago is abuzz with tons of new construction. The big shoulders are getting stronger and sturdier, especially downtown. City Hall is being built a few blocks away, but that project is dwarfed by the structure going up on the corner of Michigan Avenue and Balbo Str...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week in 1908
Nov 3rd, 2023
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6359 Views
How Long Ago was 1908? Republican William Howard Taft is elected President of the United States (Nov 3); winning all of the states in the North and losing every single state south of the Mason Dixon line. The electoral map of 1908 looks very similar to the electoral map of today, except that the part...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week in 1908
Oct 27th, 2023
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4548 Views
How long ago was 1908? Cubs utility player Solly Hofman turns 26 years old. He is finally celebrating his wedding and honeymoon, something that manager Frank Chance made him put off until the season ended. Hofman followed the boss’ orders without complaint: “I guess Miss Looker’s ju...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week in 1908
Oct 20th, 2023
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5059 Views
How long ago was 1908? Broadway superstar George M. Cohan (photo) takes the victorious World Series champs out to Rector’s restaurant in Chicago to celebrate their big victory. He and his Broadway troupe perform for Frank Chance, Joe Tinker, Harry Steinfeldt, Del Howard, Jimmy Sheckard and thei...
By Rick Kaempfer
In This Week in 1908
Oct 13th, 2023
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5550 Views
How long ago was 1908? The World Series begins in Detroit amid much fanfare, but not a great deal of excitement. The Tigers, led by Ty Cobb, are the prohibitive underdogs and the city of Detroit isn’t optimistic that they can win it all. Big Ed Reulbach, who has been on fire for the past [&hell...
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