Hershey Laundry temporarily relocates one of its retail locations from 50 Linden Road (post office and former abattoir) to a space in 27 West Chocolate (Hershey Press Building).
Hershey’s Chocolate World introduces a new Chocolate Tasting Experience. Also new is the Amazing Candy Machine. Guests can customize a personal mix of Hershey’s candy from 15 selections.
Hershey’s Chocolate World introduces a new Chocolate Tasting Experience. Also new is the Amazing Candy Machine. Guests can customize a personal mix of Hershey’s candy from 15 selections.
Hershey’s Chocolate Covered Raisins introduced. (Discontinued December 1976)
The M.S. Hershey Foundation transfers ownership of ChocolateTown Square to Derry Township. [Specific date is unknown. Event occured in December 2014
Hershey hosts the 2012-2013 AHL Capital Blue Cross Outdoor Classic hockey game. An outdoor ice rink is set up in the Hersheypark Stadium. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins defeat the Hershey Bears 2-1. In addition to the AHL game, the rink is used for public skating and amateur hockey games through January 27.
Death of Harry Burnett Reese
A conservatory for High Point is built. It is located on the southwest side of the Mansion Road railroad underpass. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in the year 1909.]
Hotel Hershey constructs the Castilian Ballroom over part of the Circular Dining Room. It was initially called the Spanish Room. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in June 1935.]
Hotel Hershey Iberian Lounge is renovated to serve as the hotel’s cocktail lounge. [Exact date is unknown. Event occurred in 1968]
Hershey Chocolate introduces its second limited edition milk chocolate bar, a specially moulded bar wrapped in a vintage style wrapper. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in year 1993]
Hershey Chocolate introduces a limited edition milk chocolate bar for its centennial celebration, a specially moulded bar wrapped in a vintage style wrapper. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in the year 1994]
A group of community residents, business owners, township official and Hershey entity representatives holds an organizational meeting to establish the Downtown Hershey Association. The organization is established to enhance the beauty of the downtown, attract new businesses, and improve the quality of life for everyone with a walkable, bike-able, safe, welcoming, quaint and delightful downtown […]
Hershey Foods begins final implementation of its new ERP [Enterprise Resource Planning] system, an enterprise-wide information system to provide real time production and sales information. The system is developed by SAP AG. with companion modules from Manugistics and Siebel. Implementation is severely hampered by software failures.
Derry Township Social Ministry Committee is formed. The food bank is "officially launched"; in 1968, although food was being distributed to needy families years earlier. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in the year 1967.]
Derry Township Social Ministry is formally incorporated. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in the year 1997.]
Derry Township Social Ministry is renamed Hershey Food Bank and Community Outreach. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in the year 2010.]
The Hershey Company introduces Ice Breakers Duo mints in flavors raspberry and strawberry.
Hershey Food Bank holds an open house at its new location; a newly built facility on 120 E. Derry Road (at the intersection of Trinidad Avenue).
The Hershey Company announces the opening of its new Asia Innovation Center located in Shanghai, China. Located at the Jinqiao Golden Bridge Research Park in the Pudong District of Shanghai, the new research and development (R&D) hub will enable Hershey to quickly develop, test and launch new products customized to the tastes of consumers in […]
The Hershey Company introduces a new brand in China. In English the condensed milk candy is known as “Lancaster.” In China, it is called “Yo-man.” The product is launched in three Chinese cities: Wuhan, Hangzhou and Chengdu. The three flavors: Original Pure Nai Bei, Pure Nai Bei filled with Rich Nai Bei, and Pure Nai […]
Hershey India, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Hershey Company, becomes the first international market for the Jolly Rancher brand outside of North American. Jolly Rancher Lollipops in three flavors: Green Apple, Watermelon, and Mango are the first products available for purchase.
Lancaster Caramel Soft Cremes are available for sale in the United States. Flavors include: Caramel; Vanilla and Caramel; and Vanilla and Raspberry. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in January 2014.]
The Hershey Company introduces Hershey’s Spreads in three varieties: Chocolate; Chocolate with Almond; and Chocolate with Hazelnut.
Hershey introduces a new packaging design for Hershey’s Miniatures. The new wrappers will save 271,800 pounds of paper annually. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in April 2014.]
USA Track & Field (USATF) and The Hershey Company launch a national youth activity initiative as part of a new, seven-year partnership that features “Run Jump Throw,” an educational and learning program developed by USATF and Hershey. Hershey’s Track & Field Games,a youth track and field program launched in the 1970s, will transition to the […]
Krackel is once again available as a full size bar in three sizes: “standard” 1.55-oz. bars, a 4-ounce “XL” bar, and 6.5-ounce “Giant” bars. Since 1997, Krackel had only been available in a miniature size.
Hershey Trust Company sells the two-story, limestone post office building and surrounding vacant parcels along Chocolate Avenue to 169 Chocolate Group, LLC.
The Hershey Company introduces a new corporate logo. The new logo includes an image of an unwrapped Hershey’s Kiss with a silver plume. The new image also uses updated typography and removes the apostrophe “s” at the end of “Hershey’s” and is instead “Hershey”.
The Hershey Company introduces Reese’s Spreads.
Plans to form the International Quality Products Corporation collapse in the aftermath of the stock market crash. It was to be a $125,000,000 merger with Kraft Phenix Cheese Corporation and Colgate Palmolive Peet Corporation.
Cuba confers upon Milton Hershey The Order of Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, the highest award of the Cuban government. It is the highest award Cuba can give to someone not a citizen of Cuba.
Hershey Industrial School Deed of Trust is modified to increase the age for admission oto 14 years of age. It also broadens the definition of orphan to include the death of a mother as well as a father.
Norman Vincent Peale is the featured speaker at the second Milton Hershey Day observance held in the Hershey Arena.
Dauphin County Convention & Parade is hosted by the Hershey Volunteer Fire Department. The parade takes place on Chocolate Avenue. The parade is part of the fire company’s centennial celebration.
Eight cars of a 76-car Norfolk Southern train derail just east of the Derry Road crossing. Hershey Volunteer Fire crews are on scene for three days while railroad officials and hazardous materials crews clean up the wreckage of a Chlorine tanker and seven other train cars. Derry Presbyterian Church, Hershey Trust Company, and Zoo America […]
Hershey Volunteer Fire Company hosts the first annual Chocolatetown Firemen’s Parade. This event continues for 12 years. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in May 1980]
Hershey Industrial School publishes first issue of the "Boy Industrialist." In 1935, the magazine is renamed "School Industrialist." [Specific date is not known. Event occurred in October]
First scout cabin is built at Camp Milton for Hershey Industrial School boys. This cabin will be replaced by a larger cabin in 1952. [Exact date is not known. Event occurred in 1940]
W. Allen Hammond, Milton Hershey School High School principal, retires. He served as high school principal since 1934.
Earle Markley, Milton Hershey School Director of Vocational Education, retires. He served as director since 1934.
Milton Hershey School modifies its admissions policy to admit non-white students.
The Pennsylvania Attorney General concurs with Milton Hershey School’s petition to modify its admission policy to admit non-white boys to the school.
Milton Hershey School relocates the Walter Hancock bronze stature of Milton Hershey and the boy from Senior Hall to Founders Hall
Dr. Frances O’Connor is installed as the first woman president of Milton Hershey School. She becomes the school’s fourth president.
Milton Hershey School breaks ground for the school’s Town Center Complex.
"60 Minutes," a CBS televsion news program, airs a 30-minute segment on Milton Hershey School.
Hershey Trust Company Board of Managers elects a new board. The new board includes: Raymond L. Gover, Richard H. Lenny, Velma A. Redmond Esq., Leroy S. Zimmerman Esq. Continuing to serve are Robert F. Cavanaugh (MHS class of 1977), Dr. Anthony J. Colistra, (MHS class of 1959), Dr. Joan S. Lipsitz, Hillary C. Pennington, Joseph […]
Milton Hershey completes acquisition of the Danner Collection, a large collection of Pennsylvania German artifacts, from the trustees of the Danner Estate, with a final payment
Hershey Chocolate introduces its first limited edition milk chocolate bar, a specially moulded bar wrapped in a vintage style wrapper. {Specific date in unknown. Event occurred in year 1991]
Three new Kiddie Rides open at Hersheypark: Cocoa Cruiser, Tea Cup Ride, and Sweet Swing. Tiny Timbers is removed.
Krackel bar is modified by substituting toasted peanuts for chopped almonds in response to consumer feedback. (Date is approximate. Exact date is unknown).
Krackel bar is discontinued as part of Hershey Chocolate line consolidation due to World War II restrictions.
Krackel bar is reintroduced to the Hershey Chocolate product line. The product contains only milk chocolate and crisped rice. (Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1949).
Hershey’s Chocolate World opens at the New York-New York Hotel Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Anthony Colistra, a 1959 graduate of Milton Hershey School, begins his tenure as the school’s 9th president.
Anthony Colistra retires from his position as president of Milton Hershey School. John Estey is appointed interim president.
Peter G. Gurt, a 1985 graduate of Milton Hershey School, is appointed the school’s 10th president.
Hershey Lodge Cinema holds its grand opening. The first feature is "Executive Action," a conspiracy film about the assination of President Kennedy.
Park Boulevard reopens after the Hersheypark Pool is demolished and the road is realigned, bypassing the old Park Boulevard / Derry Road intersection.
Hershey Trust Company announces the sale of Hershey Square Shopping Center in Derry Township to a joint venture partnership for $28.5 million. The partnership of Heidenberg Properties Group, Norse Realty and Strategic Real Estate Partners purchased the 218,290-square-foot supermarket anchored center, which includes 30,600 square feet of in-line retail space and has six outlots, including […]
Fanny B. Hershey Memorial Hall School, the elementary school for Hershey Industrial School (now Milton Hershey School) is completed.
Hershey Industrial School (now Milton Hershey School) dedicates the Fanny B. Hershey Memorial Hall School. Pennsylvania Governor John Fisher is the featured speaker. It is considered to be a state of the art school and the first elementary school building in the nation to have an indoor swimming pool. The building cost $500,000 to construct.
Sistine Chapel Choir of Rome, Italy, performs in the Hershey Convention Hall during its first American tour.
Noted American opera singer, Marion Talley, performs in the Hershey Convention Hall.
John Philip Sousa and his band begin their touring season with a two-day engagement in the Hershey Convention Hall.
Milton Hershey purchases the old Homestead farm from Levi Gingrich for $10,310.69 at public auction. The deed is not recorded until April 1, 1897, due to Levi Gingrich’s financial entanglements. The farm includes 65.568 acres.
The Round Barn is built at the foot of Pat’s Hill (now the parking lot on the south side of Hersheypark Drive) by James K. Putt, head carpenter, and his crew.It is used as a show place and demonstration farm. It also has a creamery and sells milk to the public. [Specific date is unknown. […]
Hershey Industrial School opens a small, 6-8 bed hospital in a house just east of the school’s current health center on Rt. 322. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1920.]
Death of William Henry "Lebbie" Lebkicher.
Hershey Grill at Hershey Lodge reopens after a two and half-month renovation.
The Circular, formerly known as the Circular Dining Room, opens at The Hotel Hershey.
Hershey’s Great Chocolate Factory Mystery in 4D opens at Hershey’s Chocolate World. The attraction replaces Hershey’s Really Big 3D Show.
Derry Township expands its original 4 mile biking/walking trail to 13 miles with a section of trail that runs from Waltonville Road (near Shank Park down Bullfrog Valley Road, around the Medical Center , ending at Harley Road and Fishburn Road. The trail is named "Jonathan Eshenour Memorial Trail" in memory of a young boy […]
Derry Township expands the 13 mile Jonathan Eshenour Memorial biking/walking trail to 20 miles with a section of trail that runs from Bullfrog Valley pond along Wood Road to Waltonville Road, along Waltonville Road , crossing Waltonville Road and heading toward the Indian Run development. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in year 2008.]
Derry Township expands the 20 mile Jonathan Eshenour Memorial biking/walking trail to 22 miles. The new section connects the Deer Run, Southpoint Commons, Southpoint Meadows, Hershey Heights and Southpoint Meadows II developments to the southwest end of the trail. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in year 2012.]
Hershey Highmeadow Campground is renamed Hersheypark Camping Resort. Matlack Road is renamed Sweet Street.
The Hershey Company dedicates the expanded West Hershey chocolate manufacturing plant. The new plant reflects $300 million investment in latest manufacturing technology. The new addition phased in operations over a several month period beginning with the deposited Kiss Line 7 on December 5, 2011.
The original Hershey Chocolate factory ceases production and shuts down. The last line to shut down is syrup line 5 on 1st shift.
Creatures of the Night entrance is moved to Hersheypark’s main entrance. The event is held for six nights (10/24-10/26, 10/31-11/2).
Hershey’s Halloween event is renamed Hersheypark in the Dark featuring Creatures of the Night at ZooAmerica. It is held for six nights (10/23-10/25, 10/30-11/1)
Milk Chocolate Fudge, a topping for ice cream and desserts, is introduced.
The Hershey Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Hershey Netherlands, acquires 80 percent equity in Shanghai Golden Monkey Food Join Stock Co., Ltd. (SGM) based in Shanghai, China.
Hershey Foods Corporation introduces Reese’s Peanut Butter Chips. [Specific date is unknown. Event occured in the year 1991.]
Hershey Foods Corporation introduces Reese’s Caramel and Peanuts Cups.
Hershey’s Goodnight Hugs and Kisses Hot Cocoa is introduced.[Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in the year 1996.]
Hershey’s Jelly Beans are introduced. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in March 1996.]
Hershey Chocolate introduces TasteTations. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in April 1996.]
The Lower Dauphin Joint School District is established, drawing students from Hummelstown Borough and Conewago, East Hanover, Londonderry and South Hanover Townships. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in 1956.]
Lower Dauphin School District finishes construction of its first high school. Students from Hummelstown Borough and Conewago, East Hanover, Londonderry and South Hanover Townships are transferred from Hershey High School to attend the new high school. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in September 1960.]
Hershey Gardens adds twelve pathway lights in the western section of the Gardens, extending from the Perennial Garden to The Children’s Garden. Doris Wertz, a long-time member from Reading, Pennsylvania, generously donated part of her estate to the Gardens, providing funding for the project.
Hershey Chocolate Corporation constructs Building #45, a warehouse on the corner of East Derry Road and Trinidad Avenue. It is the former location of the Hershey Greenhouses. [Specific date is unknown. Event occurred in July 1961]
Derry Township Parks and Recreation department holds its first community egg hunt. The event is held on Cocoa Avenue Plaza grounds. It also includes a petting zoo.
Hershey Gardens restablishes a community Easter sunrise service. The service had not been held since 1985.
Hersheypark debuts its 12th roller coaster, Skyrush, a mega/hyper coaster with winged seating. Built on the site of the former Sunken Gardens, the area had been closed to the public since 1972.
The Hershey Company introduces Hershey’s Simple Pleasures chocolates in flavors: Milk Chocolate with Chocolate Creme, Dark Chocolate with Chocolate Creme, and Milk Chocolate with Vanilla Creme.
The Hershey Company acquires Brookside Foods Ltd., a privately held confectionery company based in Abbotsford, British Columbia.
The Hershey Company introduces Jolly Rancher Crunch ‘N Chew candy.
The Hershey Company introduces Jolly Rancher Crunch ‘N Chew candy.
A small fire breaks out in the roof of the Hersheypark Arena. The Arena opens later that evening. There is no permanent damage to the building.