Beauty Even in the Simple Things: Hershey Creamery Tile Work

The Hershey Creamery began operations in May 1930. The facility served two purposes. It was a “model dairy” processing milk and producing a variety of milk products including butter, cottage cheese, milk, cream and ice cream.

The building also operated a soda fountain counter where patrons could purchase drinks and ice cream based treats. This public portion of the building featured beautiful tile work and a special mural designed and installed by noted tile maker Franklin Pottery, located in Lansdale, Pennsylvania.

The mural incorporated images of cocoa bean harvesting, grazing dairy cows and the Hershey Chocolate factory in the background. It was placed on the wall behind the soda fountain counter.

The Creamery was a popular destination for visitors enjoying Hershey Park, the Ballroom and even the Park Swimming Pool. Brent Hancock in his oral history interview remembered:

We used to go swimming at the Park Pool. You could go swimming and you could lay over there until 10:30 at night, and listen to the orchestra at the Ballroom. Boy, that was beautiful. The women wore their frocks, and with all the lights, it was out of this world, really. Beautiful. The music coming out and all the lights.  At the break, you could go over to the Creamery. The Creamery would be open. They’d take the women over there. It was very, very nice.

Hershey Creamery closed in June 1971. When the building was razed in 1986, the mural was saved and it was eventually transferred to the Hershey Museum. Today it is on display in The Hershey Story’s gift shop.