United Brethren Church constructs a parsonage addition. Construction began April 1935. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in October 1935.]
Spring Creek Church of the Brethren is remodelled. The exterior is encased with painted white brick and given an early colonial design. Construction began September 1935. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in April 1936.]
Hershey Industrial School Hospital, located on Rt.322 near The Homestead is completed. Construction began September 1931. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in August 1932.]
A new building for the Hershey Laundry is completed. The facility includes a dry cleaning department. Construction began September 1934. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in August 1935.]
A new building for the Hershey Abattoir is completed. The facility contains machinery necessary for meat curing, seven large refrigerators (0-40 degrees). Construction began January 1936. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in October 1936.]
Hershey Cemetery is established. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1917.]
Hershey Bears win their second Calder Cup Championship under the leadership of player-coach Frank Mathers. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in April 1958.]
Hershey Bears win their third Calder Cup Championship under the leadership of player-coach Frank Mathers. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in April 1959.]
The Board of Managers approve new names for the following buildings: New Senior High School Building: Senior Hall. New Gymnasium: The Spartan Center. New Middle School: Catherine Hall. Old Catherine Hall: Copenhaver Student Center. New Library: W. Allen Hammond Learning Resource Center. Former student residence Habana: The Berta Harm Enrollment Management & Family Relations Center. […]
Senior Hall, located on Pat’s Hill, is officially closed as a Junior/Senior High School.
Township of Derry Department of Parks and Recreation, Derry Township School District and Milton Hershey School announce plans to build Founders Park, a 41 acre recreational/athletic park. It will be located on the corner of Homestead Road and Rt. 322
Milton Hershey School’s new Senior Hall, located on the central campus opens.
Milton Hershey School opens its Art Museum in the Clyde Stacks Visual Arts Center.
Township of Derry Parks and Recreation adds six miles of trail to its network of bicycle and pedestrian trail, bringing the total to ten miles. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 2000.]
Hershey Foods Corporation completes purchase of Nabisco’s intense and breath freshener mints and gum businesses. Brands include: Ice Breakers, Breath Savers Cool Blasts, Care*free , Stick*free, Bubble Yum and Fruit Stripe gums. Also included is Nabisco’s gum-manufacturing plant in Las Piedras, Puerto Rico.
Children’s Miracle Network holds its first local telethon for the Penn State Children’s Hospital. Locally it raises $93,755. (May 31-June 1, 1985)
Children’s Miracle Network is established in Salt Lake City, Utah. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1983.]
Hotel Hershey hosts first annual fireworks party on front veranda (In its fourth consecutive year, 2000)
First Christmas with Dickens event at The Hotel Hershey, with Gerald Dickens performing "A Christmas Carol". (In its fourth consecutive year in 2000) [Specific date is unknown. Event occured in December 1997.]
1st Annual Teddy Bear Jubilee at The Hotel Hershey (2000 marked the 16th consecutive year for the event)
Hotel Hershey starts Phase II of all room renovations as well as constructing the Milton Hershey Suite balcony. Phase II room renovation includes rooms in the main building west wing and all West Tower rooms. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in January 1999.]
Hershey Lodge completes its renovation and expansion program
Governor Ridge’s Inaugural Festivities are held at the Hershey Lodge & Convention Center. For the first time, the Lodge held the Inaugural completely on property. On Monday, January 18, attendance in the Great American Hall reached over 3,000. Tuesday’s attendance for the ball was over 4,000 the single largest event the Lodge has ever […]
The 2nd Congressional Bipartisan Retreat is held at The Hershey Lodge & Convention Center (March 19-21).
HERSHEYPARK debuts The HERSHEYPARK Fair. The centerpiece of the Fair is the Hersheypark Fair Tent a 10,000 square foot festival and exhibition tent that will feature a wide array of events and entertainment.
Scott J. Newkam is elected to the position of President and Chief Executive Officer for Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company
Hotel Hershey breaks ground for the Spa and Fitness Center
HERSHEYPARK holds 1st annual Balloonfest. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in October 1989.]
Hotel Hershey adds new guest amenities including a bocce court, shuffleboard, horseshoe pits, playground and renovated tennis courts with added lighting. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in July 2000.]
The Hearth Restaurant re-opens as The Fireside Steakhouse in The Hershey Lodge, offering prime steaks, fresh seafood, and an extensive wine list. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in September 2000.]
Hersheypark receives the “Applause Award” at the International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions Convention in Atlanta, GA.
Groundbreaking ceremony for the Giant Center Arena.
Hershey’s Bites candies introduced in four flavors: Reese’s peanut butter, Hershey’s milk chocolate with almonds; Almond Joy and Hershey’s Cookies ‘n’ Creme. (Cookies ‘n’ Creme and Almond Joy discontinued October 2003. Milk chocolate with almonds discontinued June 2004. Reese’s peanut butter discontinued December 2006.) [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in December 1998.]
Jolly Rancher lollipops introduced in three flavors: cherry, apple and watermelon.
Hershey Foods Corporation completes the sale of its U.S. pasta business to New World Pasta. The sale includes the American Beauty, Ideal by San Giorgio, Light ‘n Fluffy, P&R, Mrs. Weiss, Ronzoni, San Giorgio and Skinner pasta brands and six manufacturing plants.
Hershey Foods Corporation launches Kissmobile II.
Grand opening of Hershey’s Chocolate World visitors center’s new retail area.
Hershey Foods Corporation purchases a 285,000 square-foot-manufacturing plant in Pennsburg, Pa. from Cherrydale Farms, Inc.
Hershey Foods Corporation completes the sale of the Savannah Manufacturing Company, producer of aseptic drink products, of Savannah, Ga., to Savannah Specialty Packaging Corporation.
Joseph P. Viviano retires as Vice Chairman of Hershey Foods Corporation.
Hershey’s Candy Bar Factory chocolate candy introduced.
Twizzlers Twist-n-Fill candy introduced in two flavors: Watermelon & Cherry and Red Raspberry & Tropical.
Kit Kat Big Kat wafer bar candy introduced. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in March 2000.]
Hershey Foods Corporation’s newly renovated, 405,000 square foot Southeast Distribution Center located in Kennesaw, Ga., opens. (Begin shipping product on May 15, 2000)
Hershey Foods Corporation announces agreement with Nabisco, Inc. to acquire Nabisco’s intense and breath freshener mints and gum businesses.
Hershey Foods Corporation holds a ribbon-cutting ceremony at its newly constructed 1.2 million-square-foot EDC III distribution facility in Palmyra, Pa.
Kit Kat Bites and Heath Bites candies introduced. (Discontinued December 2006.)
Dauphin County Orphans Court (presided by Judge Warren Morgan) denies Milton Hershey School’s Cy Pres petition to create the Catherine Hershey Institute for Learning and Development known as CHILD.
Hershey Public Library moves to the Hershey Store Company building on the southwest corner of Chocolate Ave. The Library hours are the same as the store.
Hershey Public Library moves to the first floor of the Hershey Central Theater Building (McKinley Building). [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in February 1915.]
Hershey Public Library moves to the second floor of the Post Office building on Chocolate Ave. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1928.]
Hershey Public Library moves to the lower level of the Community Building’s west wing. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1933.]
Derry Transit Company is formed to continue the taxi business formerly conducted by the Hershey Transit Company
Hershey Baking Company and Experimental Candy Kitchen opens in the basement of the Convention Hall (beneath Hershey Museum).
Hershey Creamery or "Model Dairy" building is completed and begins operations. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in May 1930
Hershey Lumber Department begins manufacturing furniture. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1933.]
Hershey Zoo begins charging admission. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1934.]
The Hotel Hershey completes the Phase II of all room renovations as well as the Milton Hershey Suite balcony. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in May 1999.]
Gift Shop and Lower Lobby of The Hotel Hershey is renovated. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in October 1999.]
The Hotel Hershey receives its fourth star from Mobil for the 2000 rating.
Completion of watercolor art collection in all of the guest rooms at The Hotel Hershey. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in February 2000.]
The Bears’ Den, a sports bar in The Hershey Lodge opens during Super Bowl Sunday.
Archbishop Desmond M. Tutu stays in the Milton Hershey Suite, Hotel Hershey.
The Hotel Hershey renovates the indoor pool . [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in April 2000.]
George W. Bush visits The Hotel Hershey supporting the Central PA Chapter of the Republican Party.
The Bols Tulip Festival at The Hotel Hershey with over 75,000 tulips in full bloom, reproduced art from Dutch Masters by local artists, and guest Chef Koos van Noort from the Kurhaus Hotel in The Hague. (4/28-4/30)
Hotel Hershey receives its AAA Four Diamond Award and so does the Circular Dining Room (for the 10th consecutive year). The Circular Dining Room also won the Wine Spectator’s “Award of Excellence” (for the 5th consecutive year).
First round of the CONCACAF* Women’s Soccer Gold Cup is played in Hersheypark Stadium. Group A playing in Hershey consists of the teams from theUnited States, Brazil, Costa Rica and Trinidad & Tobago. (June 23-27)
Hershey Union Local 464 votes to ratify Union contract. Contract requires all Hershey Chocolate workers to become members of the Local 464 as a condition of employment.
First State Police Rodeo is held. Last Rodeo held in 1974. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1934.]
Hershey Estates closes the Hershey Lumber Company and the Hershey Home and Garden Store
Hershey Foods completes construction of the Hershey Foods Technical Center. It has 114,000 square feet of office and laboratory space. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in November 1979.]
Hershey Foods Technical Center expands, adding 50,000 square feet of space. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1985.]
Hershey Foods Technical Center expands, adding 5,000 square feet of space. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1990.]
Hershey Foods Technical Center completes its third addition, adding 81,900 square feet of space. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1990.]
St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church opens a parochial school for grades 1-8.
Stoverdale United Methodist Church dedicates its new church building.
Hershey Industrial School opens Ivanhoe, a new building containing classrooms, a domitory for 55 boys, trade workshops and an apartment for the housemother. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1920.]
Harrisburg Chamber of Commerce holds testimonial dinner in honor of Milton Hershey. Function is held at the Penn-Harris Hotel. 400 men attend.
Hershey Foods Corporation acquires the North American assets of Huhtamaki comprised of Leaf, Inc. Leaf confectionery products include: Jolly Rancher, Whoppers, Milk Duds, Good & Plenty, Pay Day, Heath, Rainblo and Super Bubble. As part of the transaction, Huhtamaki acquires Gubor and Sperlari.
The Ladies Auxiliary of the Hershey Volunteer Fire Company is formed.
Hershey Volunteer Fire Company place two-way radios into service. They are the first in use by any fire department in Dauphin County. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in October 1952.]
Hershey Volunteer Fire Company builds a two bay addition to the east side of the Firehouse. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in February 1956.]
Hershey Volunteer Fire Company is host to the 45th annual Dauphin County Firemen’s Parade and Convention. The company also hosted this event in 1932 and 1949. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in June 1963.]
Hershey Volunteer Fire Company hosts an Invitational Rescue Competition. The event is held annually for three years. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in May 1977.]
The first Annual Chocolatetown Firemen’s Parade is held. The event continues for 12 years. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in May 1980.]
Hershey Volunteer Fire Company acquires its first Chief’s car (1979 Chevy Malibu formerly used by the Derry Township Police). [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in September 1981.]
Hershey Volunteer Fire Company hosts the first annual rescue competition. It is cohosted by Hess Ford. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in August 1995.]
Library experiences busiest February in library’s history: 33,242 items checked out. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in February 1998.]
Hershey Public Library ranks 1st among similarly sized communities in library circulation, circulation per capita and colleciton per capitita. The Library circulated 17.4 items in 1997, national average is 6.4 items. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in April 1998.]
Hershey Public Library receives a surprise $250,000 bequest from the estate of Clyde and Mary Spitler. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in August 1998.]
Pennsylvania Citizens for Better Libraries selects Friends of the Hershey Public Library as 1998 "Friends Group of the Year." [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in November 1998.]
Hershey Public Library Capital Campaign concludes. 100% of all 3-year pledges fulfilled. Campaign raised $601,526 dollars, surpassing its $500,000 goal. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in December 1998.]
Pennsylvania Library Association Annual Conference held at Hershey Lodge. Conference reception held at Hershey Public Library. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in November 1998.]
Poser’s Department Store leases the first floor of the Hershey Press/Hershey Department Store Building. (Poser’s closes ca1990). [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1981.]
Ninth and last invitational Golf Tournament in Hershey (Hershey Open), with a $5,000 purse. (Held August 28-31, 1941).
Hotel Hershey renovates main building adding individual climate control to guest rooms, replacing all windows and carpeting and refurbishing all furnishings [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred ca. 1978-1982.]
Hershey Bears win their first Calder Cup Championship under the leadership of Coach Don Penniston. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in April 1947.]
Hershey Community Archives begins operating in the basement of One Chocolate Avenue. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in February 1985.]
Fishburn United Brethren Church (now United Methodist) dedicates its first church building