Chocolate Crossroads: Chocolate and Cocoa Avenues, Northwest Corner
Introduction
In early 2011 construction began a two year project to straighten the intersection of Cocoa and Chocolate Avenues and build a new bridge over the railroad tracks.
As much as we talk about how Hershey has changed since Milton Hershey’s death in 1945, changes to Hershey’s physical landscape were also part of the community during his lifetime. This was particularly true for the intersection of Chocolate and Cocoa Avenues.
Chocolate Avenue, Hershey’s main street, was the new name given to the Berks and Dauphin County Turnpike, a well established 19th century road that linked Lebanon and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The four corners created by the intersection of Chocolate and Cocoa Avenues formed the town center.
Northwest corner
Unlike the other corners of Chocolate and Cocoa Avenues, only one building has graced the northwest corner. However, that single building has had several tenants during its lifetime.
Hershey Trust Company needs a new home
In 1905 the Hershey Chocolate factory began operations. That same year Milton Hershey established the Hershey Trust Company to serve as the community’s bank. It opened for business on June 15, 1905 in offices located in the Cocoa House, on the northeast corner of Chocolate and Cocoa Avenues.
Business grew rapidly, and in 1912 ground was broken for a new bank building at the northwest corner of Cocoa and Chocolate Avenues.
Like other financial institutions of the time, the Trust Company building was designed to impress the public. It was designed by C. Emlen Urban, a noted Lancaster architect. Urban was responsible for all of Hershey’s major buildings designed before 1926, including the original factory and offices, the original Hershey Inn, the Hershey Press Building, the Community Building and High Point.
New tenants
While Trust operations were housed on the first floor, the second floor was occupied by various departments of Hershey’s non-chocolate businesses such as the billing and credit departments for the Hershey Improvement Company and the various Hershey utilities. In addition, Milton Hershey also maintained an office on the second floor. In 1927 these non-chocolate businesses were consolidated under the umbrella of Hershey Estates.
In 1925 the building received a new occupant. To free the Hershey Trust Company for its duties as Trustee of the Milton Hershey School Trust, Hershey National Bank, a nationally chartered institution, was established to handle the town’s banking needs. The Trust Company continued to maintain offices in the Bank/Trust building at the corner of Chocolate and Cocoa Avenues.
As the Hershey Bank grew, need for space increased. In 1967 two single story additions were constructed on either side of the building.
In 1986 Hershey Bank was sold to PNC Corporation. In 1991 Hershey Trust Company moved its operations to High Point Mansion.
Learn more about the other corners of the intersection:
Gallery
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