The Homestead opens the new Hershey Room exhibit, a pictorial display chonicling the life of Milton Hershey and his town and school.
Hershey Public Library opens for business in its new facility on Cocoa Ave, next to the Hershey Recreation Center.
Vandals shoot out new Public Library windows.
New Hershey Public Library is dedicated with keynote speaker First Lady Michelle Ridge.
Libraryfest draws hundreds of people to library activities, a fund raising event for the Friends of the Library
Janet Maynard, circulation manager, retires from Library after 25 years of service. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in July 1997.]
Friends of the Library Booksale, held August 4-9, attracts over 2,100 at opening and earns $16,000 for Friends.
Hershey Public Library introduces a Coffee and Cookies service weekday mornings in the Periodical section.
Hershey Lodge Cinema shows its final film before closing permanently
Hershey Pasta Group reaches $200 million in annual sales
Hershey Pasta Group reaches $300 million in annual sales
Hershey Pasta Group reaches $400 million in annual sales
Hershey Pasta Group announces the start-up of new state of the art pasta manufacturing facility in Winchester, VA
Hershey Foods Corporation, and its subsidiary Hershey Pasta Group, announce the closing of a pasta manufacturing plant in Long Island City, New York.
Hershey Foods Corporation, and its subsidiary Hershey Pasta Group, announce the closing of a pasta manufacturing plant in Bedford Heights, Ohio.
Hershey Foods Corporation, and its subsidiary Hershey Pasta Group, announce the closing of a pasta manufacturing plant in Solon, Ohio.
Hershey Pasta Group and Hershey Grocery, the Hershey Foods Grocery products division announce their merger and are renamed Hershey Pasta and Grocery Group.
Geisinger and the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center of Penn State University announce their plan to merge. The new health system is dedicated to community-focused, not-for-profit, physician led health care, medical research and education, and service to rural areas. The Penn State Geisinger Health System will span 40 contiguous counties and provide access to more […]
Penn State Geisinger Health System breaks ground for a new health center located on Cherry Drive. The new center will house the Women’s Health Center, the general internal medicine practice, pediatrics practices, a blood donor center and the Harold and Melda Mohler Senior Center.
The Penn State Geisinger Health System merger is completed. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in July 1997.]
Penn State Geisinger employees celebrate the first employee appreciation day at Hersheypark. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in August 1997.]
For the first time at the Medical Center, three calves were living with totally electric, wireless, permanent artificial hearts. One of the hearts was about 3/4s as large as previous versions. This marks the first time Hershey researchers have succesfully tested a smaller version of the electric heart. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in […]
Health America and The Alliance4 Health NetSource announces the region’s first comprehensive strategic agreement between a managed care firm and a physician hospital integrated delivery network. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in June 1996.]
Milton S. Hershey Medical Center launches a new Bone Marrow Transplantation Program. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in November 1996.]
The Department of Family and Community Medicine, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, opens a new primary care practice site, PennState Family Health, in Lower Paxton Township at 121 Nyes Road. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in November 1996.]
Henry Hershey is born, the first of eight children, to Jacob and Nancy Hershey Hershey.
Veronica “Fanny” Snavely is born, the daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth Buckwalter Snavely.
Death of Fanny B. Hershey (Born September 4, 1835).
Hershey’s Hugs and Hershey’s Hugs with Almonds introduced nationally. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in August 1993.]
“The Star Pavilion” located in the north end of the Stadium opens for summer concert performances. It has a seating capacity of approx. 7,000
Hersheypark opens its new roller coaster, The Wildcat. It is named in memory of the Park’s first coaster given to the town by Milton Hershey in 1923.
HERCO announces that it has purchased an American Professional Soccer League (APSL) franchise that will begin play in Spring 1997. HERCO also announces that a “Name the Team” Contest is officially underway.
Hotel Hershey is featured on America’s Castles, an Arts & Entertainment (A&E) Network production
HERCO selects the name, “Wildcats,” for its new soccer team. Todd Smith is named General Manager of the expansion franchise.
HERCO Board of Directors approves the largest investment of capital ever into the expansion and renovation of the Hershey Lodge & Convention Center: $28 million. The expansion will double the amount of meeting space to 100,000 square feet and add additional 230 guest rooms
Hershey Lodge & Convention Center hosts the first Congressional Bipartisan Retreat. It is attended by more than 200 House of Representatives members and their families
The Wildcats play their first game at Hersheypark Stadium, hosting the Under-20 U.S. National team. Game ends with a 1-1 tie
WITF premieres the video, “Hersheypark: Sweet Memories” on Channel 33-WITF
Hershey Bears win their 8th Calder Cup Championship under the leadership of coach Bob Hartley. Mike McHugh is named Most Valuable Player of the Playoffs.
Hershey Lodge & Convention Center breaks ground for new expansion/renovation project
Under the direction of Hershey Bears head coach, Bob Hartley, the first ever Hershey Bears High Intensity Camp is held at Hersheypark Arena. The resident and day camp lasts one week and booked 152 youth aged 6-16. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in July 1997.]
Hersheypark announce plans to construct the $13 million “Great Bear,” the first steel inverted looping roller coaster (scheduled to open Summer 1998)
Wildcats Soccer head coach Bob Lilley is named A-League Coach of the Year. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in September 1997.]
Wildcats General Manager Todd Smith is named A-League Executive of the Year. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in October 1997.]
Hotel Hershey hosts the annual conference of Historic Hotels of America
The Bears retire Jersey Number 9 prior to their game. Arnie Kullman and Tim Tookey, who both wore Number 9, are honored before the game
Gerald Charles Dickens, the grest-great-grandson of the author Charles Dickens, performs "A Christmas Carol" during "Dinner with Dickens" in the Circular Dining Room at the Hotel Hershey for the first time.
The Hotel Hershey begins Phase I of a complete renovation of its 238 guest rooms. Phase I includes refurbishing 91 guest rooms, suites and corridors, new elevators and other infrastructure improvements.
A gourmet coffee shop opens in Tudor Square. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1993.]
Hersheypark, in conjunction with the Hershey Medical Center, develops a scenic 2-mile cardiovascular workout, the LifeWalk. It begins in Rhineland and has 8 checkpoints. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in May 1991.]
ZooAmerica adds a zoo infirmary to better care for the zoo?s occupants. The infirmary is staffed by veterinarians from the Hershey Medical Center. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1994.]
NASCAR fans are able to meet Kyle Petty, champion race car driver, at Hersheypark.
40 members of The Roller Coaster Club of Great Britain visit Hersheypark and ride the 4 roller coasters. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1993.]
Hersheypark adds misters, sprinkler systems that spray cool, thin mists of water into the air. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in July 1993.]
Hersheypark incorporates new ride height restriction signs tied to Hershey Foods confectionary products. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1993.]
Hersheypark and Hersheys Chocolate World Visitor Center hold their first parade, the Sweetest Parade on Earth. It consists of a 15-piece band called The Great All-American Hersheypark Marching Band, jugglers and clowns, a baton twirler, and 13 Hersheys product characters.
Clowns from Ringling Bros., Barnum & Bailey Circus, who are appearing at the Hersheypark Arena, are invited to the opening of the Tidal Force and are among the first to ride it. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1994.]
The Hersheypark Amphitheatre, which has expanded to 2,000 seats, is enhanced with an open-air roof. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1994.]
Jerry van Dyke, who played "Luther" on the ABC television series "Coach," becomes Hersheypark’s first spokesperson. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1995.]
The Tiny Tracks train, a kiddie ride, opens in Hersheypark. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1995.]
The Rotor closes and the Tilt-A-Whirl is moved to its former location in Hersheypark Comet Hollow. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1995.]
Two new coaster cars are added to the Comet, and one of the old cars is given to the American Coaster Enthusiasts, the largest roller coaster club in the world, and the other is given to the Derry Township Historical Society. The color of the cars is changed from green to white. [Specific date is […]
Creatures of the Night, Hersheypark and ZooAmerica’s educational Halloween alternative, is expanded to nine days. (10/13,-10/5, 10/20-10/22, 10/27-10/29)
Construction for the new Wildcat Roller Coaster starts. Clair Hain, Jr., president of Great Coasters International, is the builder. Mike Boodley, Hain’s partner and company vice president, designs the new coaster. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in August 1995.]
The Star Pavilion is officially opened at Hersheypark Stadium.
A Ferris Wheel opens in Hersheypark. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1997.]
A re-creation of the park’s original Whip ride opens in Hersheypark. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1997.]
WITF-TV Channel 33, the public television station in Harrisburg, PA, begins production of a historical documentary chronicling the history of Hersheypark. The hour-long special tells how the park grew from a small picnic grove to a world-class amusement park. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1995.]
Hersheypark converts Cinema Vision into a Magic Room called the Frontier Meeting House. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1986.]
Hersheypark Children’s area, Kid Stuff, is renovated and becomes Kaptain Kid’s Kove. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1985.]
Hersheypark Arena celebrates its 50th anniversary with a special show featuring George Burns, Patti Page, and Mary Hart.
Hersheypark opens the Snowball Express, a kiddie ride, in the Carrousel Circle section of the park. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1987.]
One of the rafts on the Canyon River Rapids ride flips and injures its 6 passengers. The park rebuilds a section of the waterway, and the ride reopens 13 days after the accident.
Hersheypark opens the Frontier Chute-Out, the park’s second water ride. It consists of two tunnels (Slidewinder I & II) and two open slides (Pistol Pete’s Plunge I & II). [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in April 1988.]
Hersheypark’s Christmas Candylane adds 3 acres of attractions. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1989.]
Hersheypark purchases the operation of all games and machines from its former lessee, Recreational Amusement Incorporated. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1988.]
Hersheypark opens Minetown, a coal-mining town theme area.
Hersheypark opens the Flying Falcon ride. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in May 1990.]
Hersheypark renames the Fest Haus restaurant the Melting Pot. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1990.]
The site of old arcade building is replaced with a new building containing Minetown Vittles and a games arcade. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1990.]
The Coal Shaker (old Cuddle Up) ride is removed from Hersheypark. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1990.]
The Himalaya ride is removed from Hersheypark. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1990.]
The Red Baron, a kiddie plane ride, is opened near the Flying Falcon. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1990.]
The Convoy, a kiddie truck ride, is opened in Hersheypark. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1990.]
Dinosaur-Go-Round, a kiddie ride, is opened in the Minetown area of Hersheypark. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1990.]
Hersheypark’s Trailblazer Theater is renamed the Sarsaparilla Saloon. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1990.]
The Board of Managers of Milton Hershey School appoints a Search Committee for President, to be named by end of December, 1990. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in July 1990.]
Hersheypark removes the Sky Ride at the end of the season after 18 years of service. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1992.]
Balloon Flite, a kiddie ride, is added to Hersheypark. It replaces the Flying Bobs. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1982.]
Hersheypark opens Cinema Vision, a geodesic-domed theater showing panoramic films on a 180-degree, floor-to-ceiling screen. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1982.]
Hamilton Watch Company donates a big clock that is used as the official time. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1982.]
The Flying Bobs ride closes. It is replaced by the Balloon Flite. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1982.]
Hersheypark opens the Tilt-A-Whirl ride. It replaces the Monster Ride. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1983.]
Two of the trains on the Hersheypark Comet roller coaster are named Mork’s Comet and Halley’s Comet. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1983.]
The restaurant in Hersheypark Tudor Square is renamed the Tudor Rose Tavern. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1983.]
Hersheypark closed the Monster Ride at the end of the season. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1983.]
HERCO adds 75 rooms and public space to its Pocono Hershey Resort. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1983.]
Jack Silar becomes General Manager of Hersheypark. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1983.]
A 65-foot lighted Christmas tree is erected atop the Hersheypark Kissing Tower for the holiday season. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1983.]
Hersheypark introduces its first annual Christmas celebration called Christmas Candylane. The name Candylane is taken because the maintenance crew is replacing the piping that makes the ice surface in the arena. They cut the pipes and paint them to resemble candy canes. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in November 1983.]