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Hershey Chronology
The Chronology is an ever-growing list of key events in Hershey’s history. Staff works to keep the Chronology as up-to-date and accurate as possible.
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SaveDerry Township dedicates the Court of Honor at ChocolateTown Square Park. This new court honors all six branches of the U.S. Armed Forces and includes stars for all Derry Township individuals and Milton Hershey School students who gave their lives in service to their country. Additional names will be assigned to stars as the township is made aware of their sacrifice. The original 1943 Court of Honor plaques were displayed at the Hershey Community Center–and then moved to Cocoa Avenue Plaza–honor all who served in the military as “Derry Township’s Defenders of America.”
Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning (CHS), a subsidiary of Milton Hershey School (MHS), celebrated the opening of its first Early Childhood Education Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania. CHS Hershey, serving 150 local children, will operate as a year-round non-residential facility. Located at the corner of Governor and Homestead Roads, groundbreaking took place November 10, 2021.
Hershey Bears win their 12th Calder Cup Championship under the leadership of coach Todd Nelson. Goaltender Hunter Shepard was awarded the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as the most valuable player of the 2023 Calder Cup Playoffs. The Bears now hold the AHL record for most Calder Cups won (12), and the most times in the playoffs (24 Finals appearances and 70 postseason appearances).
The Hershey Lodge opened a new restaurant called “Stacks.” It uses the former Hershey plant smoke stacks in its logo. It replaces the Hershey Grill.
Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company closes the Cocoa Beanery at Hershey’s West End (formerly 1215 Research Boulevard). The property is owned by Hershey Trust Company, and was the former Milton Hershey School Student Home Englewood. HE&R established the Cocoa Beanery at this location in 2008. New owners, Loto Station, LLC, currently operate the former MHS Englewood barn as a live music venue, restaurant and brewery. Renovations will begin in May, with plans to reopen in Summer 2023.
The Hershey Company announces that it has donated the historic Hershey Theatre to The M.S. Hershey Foundation. The building has been condominiumized and Hershey Trust Company (on behalf of Milton Hershey School) has purchased the Community Building portion at 14 East Chocolate Avenue from The Hershey Company for $6.5 million.
Milton Hershey School (MHS) announces that Hershey Trust Company has purchased 14 East Chocolate Avenue from The Hershey Company for $6.5 million. The former Community Building will provide offices and meeting spaces for both MHS and Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning (CHS). In the future, it is anticipated that the Hershey and MHS Archives will be moved to the same building, and there will be opportunities for community uses such as events and meetings.
The Hershey Company unveils the new 800,000-square-foot fulfillment center in Annville. The Annville Fulfillment Center is located on 457 Killinger Road. The center is the first fully digitally-enabled facility, with real-time reporting, a digital production map, and sophisticated digital inspection and scanning capabilities to scale production.
September 30, 2021
High Point Rose Garden is removed from Hershey Gardens. The growth of trees in the area provided too much shade for the roses to thrive. It is replaced with a new Native Plant Garden made possible by donations from the family of Marcus Sanford. With the removal of the High Point Rose Garden, the total count of rose bushes is taken down to 3,000 with 115 cultivars (from a previous count of 3,500). [Event began in September 2021.]