Milton S. Hershey

Milton Snavely Hershey (September 13, 1857 – October 13, 1945) was an American chocolatier, businessman, and philanthropist. He learned how to make candies and became famous for creating caramel using fresh milk. Hershey first started the Lancaster Caramel Company, which became very successful and was sold to help him begin a new business.

In 1900, Hershey sold the very first Hershey bars, and they were so loved that he built a whole town called Hershey, Pennsylvania just for his company. Hershey also cared deeply about helping others. He created a boarding school for children who did not have homes, and it still helps thousands of students today.

During World War II, his company made a special kind of chocolate bar that did not melt, which was sent to soldiers far away. Today, The Hershey Company remains one of the largest makers of treats like candies in the world.

Early life

Milton Hershey was born on September 13, 1857, to Henry and Veronica "Fanny" (née Snavely) Hershey. He grew up in a Mennonite family in Pennsylvania and spoke Pennsylvania Dutch.

Hershey did not go to school much and left after the 4th grade. At age 14, he began working with a candy maker named Joseph Royer in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Later, he traveled to places like Denver, New Orleans, and Chicago to learn more about making candy. He eventually moved to New York City in 1883 to start his own candy business, but it closed in 1886 after three years.

Lancaster Caramel Company

Milton Hershey returned to Lancaster in 1883 and started the Lancaster Caramel Company, which became very successful. By the early 1890s, the company had over 1,300 workers in two factories. After visiting Chicago for the World's Columbian Exposition, Hershey decided to try making chocolate. He sold the caramel company for $1 million to start the Hershey Chocolate Company.

The Hershey Chocolate Company

Milton Hershey used money from selling his caramel company to buy land near his hometown. There, he made his first chocolate bar in 1900. Later, he created other popular treats like Hershey’s Kisses and a chocolate bar with almonds.

With Hershey’s help, the area around his factory grew. New homes, shops, and churches appeared, and it became a special place called Hershey, Pennsylvania.

Philanthropy

Milton Hershey and his wife created the Hershey Industrial School in 1909 to help children. In 1918, Hershey gave most of his company to the Milton Hershey School Trust, which still helps run the school today.

The trust also controls Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company, which includes places like the Hotel Hershey and Hersheypark. Hershey also built Hershey Cemetery and started the M.S. Hershey Foundation in 1935. This foundation supports education and culture in Hershey, Pennsylvania, helping with the Hershey Museum, Hershey Gardens, and the Hershey Theatre.

In 1963, the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center was created. It was a gift to the people of Pennsylvania, with a large amount of money to build and run the hospital, which is located in Hershey.

Close call of the Titanic

In 1912, Milton and his wife were planning to travel on the first trip of the ship RMS Titanic. However, they changed their plans because Milton needed to take care of his business. They decided to travel on another ship called SS Amerika instead. Many people thought Milton’s wife couldn’t travel because she was unwell, but she had been unwell for years already. There was even a check showing Milton paid for a room on the Titanic, which is now kept in a museum about Hershey’s story.

World War II

During World War II, Hershey Chocolate provided special chocolate bars for the U.S. Armed Forces. These included Ration D Bars and Tropical Chocolate Bars. The Ration D Bars were made to be very durable and not melt easily, even in hot weather. Later, Hershey made Tropical Chocolate Bars that tasted better but were still durable for tropical climates. Over three billion of these bars were made and given to soldiers around the world between 1940 and 1945. The Hershey factory worked very hard, making millions of bars each week. For their excellent work, the Hershey Chocolate Company received special awards from the Army and Navy.

Personal life

Milton Hershey married Catherine Elizabeth "Kitty" Sweeney in 1898. Kitty was from Jamestown, New York, and they did not have any children. Sadly, Catherine passed away in 1915. Later, Hershey moved her remains to Hershey Cemetery. Over the years, he also moved the remains of his mother and father to the same cemetery.

Hershey passed away from pneumonia in 1945 at the age of 88. He is buried in the Hershey Cemetery that he built himself, in Hershey, Pennsylvania, next to his wife.

Legacy

There is a bronze statue of Milton Hershey at the Hershey School, showing him holding an orphan boy. Words below the statue say, "His deeds are his monument. His life is our inspiration."

Hershey's birthday, September 13, is celebrated as International Chocolate Day. In 1995, the United States Postal Service honored him with a stamp as part of the Great Americans series. The stamp was designed by an artist from Norwalk, Connecticut.