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Library and researcy services. Great resources for genealogy and local history researchers. Find links to data collections on deeds, newspapers, oral histories, photo archives, Library, obituaries, scrapbooks, artifacts, photo archive, and Reflections Newsletter articles. Library and Research Services OVER 50,000 DERRY TOWNSHIP & HERSHEY ARTIFACTS & RECORDS FOR YOUR RESEARCH A variety of resources are available to the public and researchers for genealogical and property documentation. These include church records, cemetery records, yearbooks, and general historical research related to Derry Township and Hershey. SELF-DIRECTED RESEARCH In our Library, independent research can be conducted by scheduling an appointment to visit. Please call 717-520-0748 during hours of operation or contact us by email at research@hersheyhistory.org so that a research assistant will be available to maximize the results of your research time. A dedicated laptop is available to use the HHC library. Basic computer skills will be necessary. There is no charge for visitors to use our Library or resources. Access depends on staff availability. Fee-based research : Sorry, this service is not currently available. Online research : Use the Research Resources listed below to view our collections. Want to view something in person? : Complete and submit a Retrieval Request Form for any artifacts you wish to look at in the museum. If you want to request more than three objects, please submit another form. Research Resources INSTRUCTIONS: Review the document Self-Guided Research to better understand the available research resources, how to search our collections, and the process for requesting further assistance with your research. PHOTO REQUESTS: To request a copy of a full size photo from the photo archive, or for assistance, send an email to photos@hersheyhistory.org . Please note that a charge will be applied for photos you order. Hershey History Center members receive a 25% discount on all orders. (Become a member .) TO VIEW ITEMS FROM THE COLLECTION: Hershey History Center does not have an on-site research assistant. We will require a little time to process your request. If you would like to view documents or objects in person, please submit a Retrieval Request Form. Somebody will be in touch to schedule an appointment. Thank you. Retrieval Request Form COLLECTIONS: Click a link on an image to view its "Listing". Deeds Maps Newspapers Oral History Family Files Obituaries Obituary images Scrapbooks HHC Library HHC Archives HHC Objects Photo Archive Reflections of the Past Index Reflections of the Past Articles Coming soon USEFUL GENEALOGY WEBSITES Cemetery Transcription Library Cyndi's List Ellis Island American Family Immigration History Center Family Search Dauphin County, Pennsylvania Genealogy FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service Gen-Home Genealogy.com Historical Society of Dauphin County National Archives Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission PA residents can access Ancestry.com PA -Pennsylvania specific records for free Public Record Resource RootsWeb Click the logo for MyHeritage Library Edition. Log in with a Hershey Public Library card. Or, visit your local library's website (in PA) and search for e-Resources or Power Library to use your library card. If you do not have a library card, you may use an eCard number. Click the logo for Power Library to access PA Photos and Documents. Explore thousands of digitized documents and photographs from unique collections in institutions across Pennsylvania. No log in required. Hours of operation

The Hershey Derry Township Historical Society is home to over 50,000 artifacts and photos. Browse through our museum and learn about the early settlers of Derry Township and the community of Hershey. Hershey Bears. Golf. Early education. Stone quarry industy. Hershey Estates. Italian American heritage. Trolleys. Police history. Early farming tools and techniques. History of Penn State Hershey Medical Center. EXHIBITS & COLLECTIONS DEDICATED TO PRESERVING HERSHEY'S HISTORY EXHIBITS & COLLECTIONS The Hershey Derry Township Historical Society is home to over 50,000 artifacts and photos. Browse through our museum and learn about the early settlers of Derry Township and the community of Hershey. New Exhibits A Town Called Hershey From House Call to Phone Call Permanent exhibits Before There Was Chocolate...There Was Stone Derry Before Hershey Reading, 'Riting, 'Rithmetic How the Work Was Done Major Winters Den: The Legacy of Major Dick Winters From B'ars to Bears: A History of the Hershey Bears Teeing Off - History of Golf in Hershey A Town Called Hershey (History of the Hershey Tran sit Company is part of the exhibit.) Then & Now A Munificent Gift From House Call to Phone Call The Presence of the Law Odyssey to America, Revisited - Celebrating Hershey's Italian American Heritage (Rotating exhibit) Temporary exhibit Return of the "Chocolate Town Special" Explore our museum exhibits, enjoy our rich history, and learn about the people who shaped this area. As a community History Center your experience and access to our history is part of our mission. Come visit us and explore our collection . FROM B'ARS TO BEARS Permanent Exhibit This exhibit presents a thorough history of the American Hockey League's most storied and successful franchise, featuring items from the Hershey History Center permanent collection and items on loan from former Bears as well as other pieces culminating over 80 years of Hershey Bears history. BEYOND BAND OF BROTHERS Permanent Exhibit In 2012, the estate and family of Major Dick Winters donated the personal belongings to recreate Winter's personal office. Explore through Winter's artifacts, books, military memorabilia as it was during his leadership in World War II. BEFORE THERE WAS CHOCOLATE Permanent Exhibit Before There was Chocolate illustrates the early quarry industry that supplied brownstone to the entire east coast and as far west as St. Louis, and the local community of Waltonville that evolved to support the industry. OTHER COLLECTIONS PHOTO ARCHIVES Past Perfect Online Archive Visit and explore our online database Past Perfect. A digital archive of thousands of photographs in our collection To meet with our photo archivist to research our photo collection at the History Center, email us at info@hersheyhistory.org to make an appointment request. VIEW ARCHIVE RESEARCH LIBRARY & ARCHIVES Our research library and archives are available for members to research our records for genealogical and regional historical research. Send an email to request an appointment to meet with a staff member at info@hersheyhistory.org MAKE AN APPOINTMENT ROTATING EXHIBITS Our temporary exhibit space reveals a more detailed view into a featured theme from our collections and community. Visit us to learn more about the stories and the people that make our community unique. VISIT US LEARN MORE MANAGING COLLECTIONS View the History Center’s artifact collections storage and see how we care for and implement preservation for our collections. READ MORE We're very proud of our extensive collections that have been entrusted to us. Our diverse collections tell the fascinating story of Derry Township. - Susan Mittan, Volunteer Anchor 1

How HHC documents archival material and stores it in the Accessions room. Accessions Collection Video segment of Hershey History Center's Accession Program The Hershey History Center's Accession Room houses historical artifacts, documents, and photographs from the past. We document every detail of each object, size, condition, date of submission, the item then gets a catalog number, is entered into our database, it is given a location, then it is brought down to the Accessions Room for archival storage. Regionally Trolley Car Photograph, Hershey History Center Archive The Accessions process is time-consuming as it has to be done properly to ensure the preservation of the community’s historical artifacts. The reason for the thorough process is because there is a transfer of ownership from the artifact’s original owner to the Hershey History Center, and we want to make sure we get as much of the story as possible. “Our goal is to complete logging all the items we currently have in our collection” said volunteer and curator Susan Mittan. “It’s a very prodigious task, but our hope is that with community support, and some time to focus on processing all of these artifacts, we can finish this project. There are almost 35 years of accumulated items in the collection.” Many of the photographs that have been submitted are cataloged and are accessible through the Past Perfect archival database. This is free for anyone to access. https://hersheyhistory.pastperfectonline.com/ If you are interested in purchasing a photo from the Archive, please email to photos@hersheyhistory.org “Past Perfect is a very valuable asset because when people see photographs, they interact with us, tell us the invaluable stories behind these photographs and reveal how much they love this area, its history, and their part in it.” The Accessions Room is not open to members or the public, but you can visit the Hershey History Center's Library. To schedule an appointment, call 717-520-0748 or send an email to research@hersheyhistory.org Financial contributions are a really important factor in ensuring the continued preservation of our history and operations, such as the accessions archival process. You can make a contribution directly to the society to support the costs of maintaining The Hershey History Center’s collections. DONATE

Rent space to hold your special event. Accommodates up to 100 guests. Beautiful location. Reasonable rates. Great facility for weddings, showers, family gatherings, and graduation parties. Facility Rentals Host your event at the Hershey History Center The one-of-a-kind setting known as The Barnyard, at the History Center’s adapted barn and museum, provides the ideal location and access to local attractions for small group gatherings and events. (Reasonably accommodates 85-100 guests, depending on what you have planned.) Whether you’re planning a wedding, business meeting, baby shower, bridal shower, or special gathering, The Barnyard offers the backdrop for a uniquely curated event. Contact us today to book or discuss hosting your event at the Hershey History Center. Hershey History Center members receive a discount. Ample outdoor space for up to 125 persons Indoor meeting space for up to 100 persons Seating for up to 85 List of experienced caterers and musicians available Centrally located in Hershey Request Information Please note: Submitting this form does not guarantee a requested date is reserved. Our coordinator will reach out to provide information and confirm availability . Email Name Phone Date(s) Requested Type of event and number of attendees Submit Request PLEASE NOTE: The Hershey History Center's facility rental is open to the public. Membership is NOT required.

A HISTORY OF HERSHEY ESTATES A unique town exploded onto the rural landscape of central Pennsylvania in 1903, brought into existence from the visionary mind of Milton S. Hershey and his establishment of what would become the world's largest chocolate factory. A Town is Born The multiple entities Hershey established provided all things needed for a thriving community: jobs, places to live, commodities and supplies, utilities and services, education, cultural and recreational opportunities. Due to Milton Hershey's interest in the health and welfare of his townspeople, Hershey, Pennsylvania was like no other "company town." Everything a growing, thriving town needed, he provided... * a beautiful recreational park, large convention hall, dance pavilion, and swimming pool * a bank and a department store * a hospital and a first-of-its-kind consolidated school …to name just a few of the town's early amenities. Later, during one of our country's most depressed decades, he would subsidize the building of a world-class hotel, a community building with a magnificent theatre, a high school for his Hershey Industrial School orphans, a state-of-the-art chocolate factory office, an innovative sports arena, and a big-city stadium. “I am trying to build here a place where people can be happy and contented while they work and live." Success Magazine article 1927 Milton S. Hershey Hershey From the beginning, the town nurtured a multi-faceted experience for its residents – and continues to draw visitors to take in its many offerings. Milton S. Hershey "I am carrying out the terms of my own will while I am still living… If I should pass tomorrow everything would go on just as it is going on now… After all, what good is one's money unless one uses it for the good of the community and humanity in general?" A Town Grows and Thrives The industrialists who spawned America's infrastructure and commerce were nothing without their labor force. Some were paternalistic, creating communities that supported their employees to induce greater returns, some focused solely on their own capital gain. MS Hershey was not only paternalistic, but he was also focused on the people as much as on his product. He was unquestionably dedicated to ensuring his workers had first class amenities, guaranteeing certain rights for their benefit, and devising opportunities in which to spend their free time with their families. For manufacturing employees in some other places and other industries, a day off was not a guarantee, wages were much less than fair, standard housing was never a promise, and scrip was issued in place of cash — requiring workers to use company businesses. Lowell, Massachusetts, considered the first industrial company town in America, required female employees to attend church and wakened them to a daily factory bell in their dorm. In Pullman, Illinois, where railroad cars were the commodity, residents were not allowed to own their homes and even the books for the library were monitored. George Pullman responded to an economic depression by lowering wages but not rents or other costs, ultimately leading to one of the largest strikes in labor history, resulting in the creation of Labor Day. Unlike other manufacturing towns, created only to sustain production, Hershey looked and smelled like a sweet utopia. It rang out with the sounds of cheering crowds and Broadway shows, and hosted Henry Picard and Ben Hogan as golf pros. It produced or provided most household needs from food and soap to greenery and fashion, gas for cars and coal for the homes. Today, hockey goal buzzers still buzz, golfers still hit the greens, and the Gardens still flourish. As for other manufacturing communities which still exist, many do so as national parks or historic museums. But none have so successfully evolved, thrived, and yet retained the very foundation and economic base as Hershey has. All of this was envisioned at the inception of planning for a small manufacturing town; a unique town that promised a lot and provided even more. From the town's earliest days, Mr. Hershey created an infrastructure for the community that provided everything his citizens might need. In 1906, he established the Hershey Improvement Company (HIC) which provided electricity, telephone service, water, and a waste management—sewerage system. HIC also promoted the sale of real estate and assumed management of details typically taken care of by a municipal government. At this time, all the non-chocolate services still operated under the umbrella of the Chocolate Company. However, when Hershey stock was traded publicly on the NYSE in 1927, it became imperative to separate non-chocolate functions from the chocolate-making company. In that same year, Hershey Estates was created and assumed the responsibility of HIC and all non-chocolate businesses. Hershey Estates became part of the holdings for the benefit of the Milton Hershey's orphanage for boys. During the years of its existence, from 1927 to 1976, Hershey Estates oversaw 33 separate companies. They covered everything from A to Z—Abattoir to Zoo, birth to death—Hershey Hospital to Hershey Cemetery. Municipal government was not necessary – the Estates embodied the authority and tools to provide administrative oversight, services, and utilities required to manage a small but robust manufacturing community. They provided street lighting, repaired sidewalks, and roads, and made zoning decisions; they offered retail, service, and lodging opportunities; they operated an amusement park and a hockey team. Times change, and Hershey Estates had to change with them. Small privately owned utilities were a thing of the past. The Park was far from self-sustaining, and other divisions operating at a loss were a constant and increasing drain of the company’s funds—among them upkeep of local roads. In 1976, the Estates divested itself of everything except the local entertainment and resort entities. Hersheypark had been enclosed and re-created as a theme park. Attention was now focused on the promotion of Hotel Hershey, Hershey Motor Lodge, the Park, concerts, and hockey in the Sports Arena. A new name was warranted, and the company rebranded as HERCO, Inc. in 1998, then renamed Hershey Entertainment and Resorts (HE&R), which remains a privately held company for the benefit of the Milton Hershey School. A Town Lives From A-Z

The Hershey History Center, in partnership with the Central PA WWII Roundtable, is hosting a trolley tour of Hershey on April 25, 2026. This tour will share stories, make stops, display unique WWII artifacts, and bring history to life. Tours will depart from and return to the History Center at 40 Northeast Drive in Hershey. Please, save the date to join us for this iconic tour of Hershey history and architecture. World War II Trolley Tour of Hershey About the event The Hershey History Center, in partnership with the Central PA WWII Roundtable, is hosting a trolley tour on April 25, 2026. This tour will share stories, make stops, display unique WWII artifacts, and bring history to life. Tours will depart from and return to the History Center at 40 Northeast Drive in Hershey. Please, save the date to join us for this iconic tour of Hershey history and architecture. World War II Trolley Tour of Hershey Hershey was a diverse community during the 1940s. It was a tourist town even then. It had a large workforce dedicated to chocolate, was diverse culturally with a large Italian population, but still had a small-town feel. Business executives lived in the same neighborhoods as their workers. They worked, worshiped, and recreated together. World War II had a major impact, reshaping iconic town buildings and locations, and giving new relevance to some while driving innovation in others. How we remember the war, and those who fought it, is tied to tangible pieces from our past. These stories still exist after eighty years have passed. They are alive in the people and the places. We'll travel back in time, cruise around the town, see the sites and hear the stories that bring them to life. Join the History Center as we visit historic sites around Hershey, some prominent and others known only to the community, as we explore their connection to World War II History. Start off your tour by visiting Major Dick Winters office in the History Center, then learn where he lived and worked at his own business during our tour. Visit the historic Hotel Hershey and learn about Axis prisoners of war that resided there, and the role it played in securing the homefront during the early days of the war, when paranoia of German and Japanese attack on our homeland was a real fear. The current War Memorial sits in downtown Hershey, but did you know this is its third location or that a second honor roll existed in Derry Township during the war? See sites like the original Chocolate factory in downtown Hershey, where residents worked while their loved ones served. See sites in the Italian Enclave of Swatara Station. These sites will come to life as we traverse the main streets of town, and travel back to the 1940s. Tours depart from and return to the Hershey History Center. The museum will be open and feature a unique exhibit of WWII memorabilia for the event. The tour will be led by Professor Ted Herman. Trolley Tour Times: 10am-12pm, 1pm-3pm, 3:30pm-5:30pm Members and Veterans: $35 Nonmembers: $40 Please note: Times may not run exactly two hours and may vary based on traffic and weather. There will be several stops with light walking and stairs will be required if you wish to debark from the bus. Purchase Tickets Here

We the Italians “The Enclave that Helped Save the World” By: Lou Paioletti Located in south central Pennsylvania and incorporated in 1729, Derry Township is quite unique. It is often referred to as Hershey, PA, the unincorporated community founded within the township in 1903 by chocolate magnate and philanthropist Milton S. Hershey. An older unincorporated community also within the township, walking distance and next to Hershey, is Swatara Station, which was once an enclave of German, Scots Irish and, later, primarily Italian families, inhabited mainly by the proletariat who worked in the nearby quarries and factory and whose families were instrumental in building the famous company town. The Swatara Station community housed Pasquini’s Store, the local grocery store which is now a private residence. The Swatara Hotel, now an apartment building, still stands alone on the north side of the train tracks adjacent to the hauntingly abandoned and water-filled limestone quarries. The small and historic train station, the community’s namesake built in 1921 to replace the original station, remains quietly tucked away in a corner. While no longer active, it has been impeccably restored inside and out. Curry and Sons Mill has been totally restored and repurposed as a restaurant. The old station and mill have received preservation awards from the Hershey History Center, further solidifying their historical significance. There is also another prominent reminder of history — a war memorial, which is as beautiful and modest as the community it represents. During WW2, while the details of its origin are unclear, a wooden war memorial, named the Swatara Station WW2 Honor Roll, was erected in a vacant lot in the enclave. The last known photo of the structure contained the names of 84 men from 55 Swatara Station families, mostly from Italy, who served in WW2 as of1943. It is unknown exactly when the structure was removed and no photos exist with the 1944 - 1945 inductees’ names. Then, as reported on June 6, 1957, in the Hershey News, following the township’s Memorial Day ceremony in 1957, held at the Court of Honor which was located at the beautiful and iconic Hershey Community Building, residents attended the unveiling of a new war memorial, dedicated by The Men’s New Independent Italian Mutual Benefit Society of Swatara Station. Commonly known as the Hershey Italian Lodge, the Society was founded in 1920 and is still in operation today as the first and only ethnic club in the township. The new memorial was appropriately placed on very visible ground in Swatara Station, from which so many served in WW2, and is comprised of a Carrara marble statue of a soldier and rests on a limestone base containing the inscription, “IN COMMEMORATION OF THOSE WHO SERVED OUR COUNTRY.” Participating in the dedication ceremony were a concert band, American Legion, VFW, officials, a local radio personality and a more. Guest of honor was Major Thomas F. Martin, who was a military veteran and retired superintendent of the Pennsylvania State Police Training School located in the township. Master of ceremonies was Pete Camacci, president of the Hershey Italian Lodge. A former Swatara Station resident, Korean War veteran and five-time president of the Lodge during his 40 years on the board, Pete told the following story during my interview with him some years ago: “My dad was a member and an officer of the Hershey Italian Lodge for 43 years. The reason why the club is so special is because my dad fell off the scaffolding at the Hershey Ice Arena [Hershey Sports Arena], and every Saturday the club had a basket of food on our porch to help us out. This gesture got me thinking, so when I returned from the Navy, I joined the club. The first thing I did was in 1956 with the creation of the war memorial statue. Thanks to Major Martin from the Pennsylvania State Police who got us the land. In 1957 the statue came from Italy, and it cost less than $2,000, which we raised via community donations from local businesses. It’s been 60 years since it’s been in place, and thanks to Angelo Cialone and his son, John, for maintaining the grounds.” Angelo, who passed away in 2009, lived adjacent to the memorial and was its caretaker. His son John, a former US Marine, has selflessly taken on the responsibility to this day. 2025 marked the 68th anniversary of the war memorial, where the Hershey Italian Lodge has held a short and solemn Memorial Day ceremony each year since 1957. For decades, Divo DiClemente coordinated the ceremony, always preceded by a processional from the Lodge to the memorial. The “old guard,” now gone, would lead the two-block walk — Joe English, who still had mortar shrapnel in his leg from France, Dino Niccolini, who was nearly blinded by a landmine in Germany, and Donald DiClemente, the younger of the crew who served during the Occupation of Japan at the war’s end. Tom Memmi began assisting with the ceremony in the early 1990s. Divo, who passed away in 2012, made Memmi promise to keep the ceremony going each year and he has done so ever since, perfectly coordinating everything with local police, fire crew, Knights of Columbus, VFW, Legion, clergy, a bugler, and more. The 15-minute ceremony is simple: Presentation of Colors, invocation, remarks by the Lodge president, presentation of wreaths, Taps and benediction. Three wreaths are presented: One is for the local Italian Americans who gave their lives for their country, often presented by family of Pete Luciani of Swatara Station who was killed in 1942 when his destroyer was torpedoed and sunk in Guadalcanal. John Cialone has also assisted with the presentation of this wreath in recent years, with his mother Josephine, now 93, proudly watching from her front porch only a few hundred feet away. The second wreath is presented by family of Frank Wise of Swatara Station who was killed in 1943 when his plane crashed and exploded in Papua New Guinea. The third is for all township residents who gave their lives, presented by the American Legion and VFW. And in 2020, a special wreath was presented by Italian American Derry Township police officers in honor of Bronze Star recipient Bertero Bechini, who lived just blocks away. Serving in the US Army 10th Mountain Division, Bechini died 75 years prior on April 25, 1945, of wounds suffered in northern Italy and is buried in the Florence American Cemetery, just two hours from his ancestral village of Pitigliano. When I asked Pete Camacci, who passed away in 2024, what the annual Hershey Italian Lodge Memorial Day ceremony means to him, he replied without hesitation, “It’s my heart and soul.” In May of 2022, with the permission of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the support of Derry Township, the Hershey Italian Lodge erected a new flagpole at the war memorial for the Italian flag, nicely flanking the memorial with the American flag. Notably, this is the only public land in the township on which another nation’s flag is flown, further emphasizing the history, heritage and contributions of that small but consequential neighborhood. The article was originally published by We the Italians on October 30, 2025, and is republished here with permission. War memorial with American and Italian flags at half staff, Memorial Day, 2022. Memorial Day ceremony, 2022. Phil Fratti, Sr., Hershey VFW Post 3502, and Ralph Zerbe, Hershey American Legion Post 386, presenting wreath at Memorial Day ceremony, circa early 1990s. Derry Township Memorial Day ceremony at Hershey Community Building, 1957. From the Hershey News, June 6, 1957. Two ladies, identity unknown, looking at the Swatara Station WWll Honor Roll. Date unknown. Swatara Station WWII Honor Roll with the names of 64 men from 55 families who served as of 1943. Photo circa 1943.

THE BEST THING I DID FOR KITTY Carole Hite Welch served as librarian for the Hershey Derry Township Historical Society from 2007 to 2020. The following article was her last written for the organization and was based on her unique connection to the Hersheys through her great grandmother. My great grandmother, Luise Zinner, wife of Franz Zinner who came to Hershey in 1910 to build the Zoo, lived with us until her death in 1949, at which time I was 14 years old. The stories she shared with me supplement the following account drawn primarily from the publications of Charles Castner in Milton Snavely Hershey: One of a Kind and Debra Wescott’s master thesis and biography of Kitty Hershey. Milton Hershey married Catherine Sweeney in 1898. Early into the marriage, Kitty Hershey demonstrated some physical weakness, allergies, hay fever, and asthma. Milton took her to multiple specialists in the United States and Europe—“…the best medical men of London, Berlin, Paris, and Vienna”—who told them that she was “showing evidence of a congenital nervous disorder.” In 1908, a doctor in Vienna told them that Kitty’s gross motor skills would continue to deteriorate and eventually her fine motor skills as well. He recommended that Milton hire a companion for her who could assist her as her mobility decreased, and recommended a woman by the name of Bertha Condoni. Bertha was a widow who lived in Vienna and worked with other women of similar circumstances in caring for people who could not live without assistance, also including some occasional work with young children. Bertha agreed to serve as Kitty’s “traveling companion,” an arrangement which Milton claimed later as “the best thing I ever did for Kitty.” Thereafter she traveled back and forth to Europe, packing and unpacking steamer trunks and hand luggage, as well as keeping them aware of special activities being celebrated throughout their travels because she was fluent in several languages – Austrian, Bavarian dialects from German, as well as French, Italian, and English. Later she accompanied them to Hot Springs in Arkansas, to the Colorado Rockies, and also to the New Hampshire highlands – places where Catherine could breathe more easily. On these travels within the United States, they also had a nurse/physical therapist with them. When the Hersheys returned to reside in Hershey, Bertha agreed to continue with them, and added Housekeeper of the Highpoint Mansion to her responsibilities. Subsequent to the founding of the Hershey Industrial School orphanage, Bertha also participated in periodic meetings with Kitty and Prudence Copenhaver, wife of the Headmaster of the orphanage, to discuss the educational and residential programs for the boys. Her suggestions were useful because of both her experience in Vienna with placements of young children and her Bavarian roots, as Bavaria fostered the Kindergarten movement. In 1910, Mr. Hershey brought Franz Zinner to Hershey to build the zoo, and Bertha became very close friends with his wife Luise, since they came from the same area in Europe. When the Hersheys were home, Luise was at the Mansion nearly every day, initially to visit with Bertha, but her activities increased to assisting when the Hersheys entertained, finding people in the community who could use various items of furniture, clothing, etc., being disposed of when new were bought, helping Bertha pack and unpack clothes and personal items, and eventually assisting Bertha in her care of Kitty as her physical condition deteriorated. Though initially Kitty was able to get out of bed by herself, later she needed assistance from Bertha, and ultimately, it took both Bertha and Luise to get her up and dressed. When the Hersheys entertained for dinner, before serving plates of food, Luise would cut items on Kitty’s dinner plate into pieces which were easy for her to manage with her decreasing motor skills. Kitty’s death in 1915 made living at the Mansion difficult for Milton, so he, Bertha, and Nora Stohler, who assisted Bertha in caring for the properties, moved to 246 East Caracas Avenue. In the 1920 Census, the occupants at 246 East Caracas were Milton S. Hershey, Bertha Condoni and Nora Stohler. Mr. Hershey had built the house for his mother, but she chose not to live there, preferring a more modest home across from the chocolate factory, leaving the “Green Gables” house vacant. Milton picked out items from the Mansion that he wanted – furniture, china, rugs, silver, and more – that were taken to the Green Gables. The three of them would go to the Mansion each day, have breakfast, after which Milton went to his office to work while Bertha and Nora did various housekeeping activities, returning to Caracas Avenue at lunch time. When Milton went to the office, he would take his dog Prince along in the car and the chauffeur would bring him back home to Bertha. Gradually Milton began spending more time at the Mansion, but Bertha remained in the Green Gables house. After Kitty’s death, Bertha had joined Holy Trinity Lutheran Church and participated in community events such as the Big Fair described in The Hershey Press of May 4, 1916, where she was an unnamed waitress in the “German Kitchen.” When Nora married and moved away, day workers assisted in the care of the two locations but did not live in the Caracas Avenue house. Milton, forever grateful for Bertha’s devotion to Kitty, allowed her to continue to live at Green Gables, and provided a young girl to assist her as she grew older. In 1934, the house became the permanent residence of W. Allen Hammond (Industrial School principal), his wife and two children. This arrangement allowed for Bertha and her assistant, Julia, to live on the third floor for about a year and a half. Mrs. Condoni was hospitalized several times during that period. Eventually, Bertha went to live her final two years with a niece in California, but she always kept in touch with Luise Zinner and what was happening in Hershey. Milton provided a fund to cover her expenses until her death. In an oral history by one of the first four Hershey Industrial School students, Nelson Wagner answered the question, “Were you to breakfast at Mr. Hershey’s home?” Nelson related, “Yes, we were at his home for breakfast and when he left we used to have the run of the Mansion. I always thought the carpet bounced when you walked on it. …We’d run all around the Mansion. He had a lady there that took charge of the Mansion and she saw that we didn’t get in trouble. I always enjoyed that.” That lady was Bertha Condoni. *****End Notes Milton Snavely Hershey: One of a Kind by Charles Schuyler Castner (1983, Derry Literary Guild). The Inspiration of Sweet Success: A Portrait of Catherine S. Hershey, Wife of Milton S. Hershey, masters thesis of Debra Wescott, graduate student at Penn State (May 1998). It Was Kitty’s Idea by Joseph A. Brechbill, (2004).

History of the Hershey-Derry Township Historical Society, and the Pinehurst Barn. History of the Hershey History Center Our organizational history has deep roots, and over the course of 30 years, we have grown significantly, embracing change and welcoming greater opportunities to share our mission and collective history with more audiences. In 1991, the Derry Township Historical Society was established, at the request of municipal leaders and community members who had an interest in formally documenting and collecting our local heritage. Over the course of the next 30 years, we evolved from an all-volunteer operation with provisional locations offering limited storage and exhibition space, to a substantial community history center with permanent staff. In 2003, the DTHS made a significant acquisition, purchasing our building, an adapted-reuse barn known as Pinehurst No. 35. In 2007, Derry Township Historical Society’s name was altered to include Hershey, better signifying its location and relevance to the community. Through the next decade, our facility underwent extensive renovations, our programs and offerings expanded, and a new, outdoor, multi-use event space was created. All of this led to a more refined and dynamic organization for those who contributed through the years. Organizational growth prompted yet another change: a new brand name which represents the diversity and evolution of the Historical Society, while still providing insight into our shared heritage and community narrative. Adopted in 2020, the brand Hershey History Center celebrates our achievements, focuses on our mission, and defines our relevance and sustainability. As we continue to increase access for research and demonstrate our role in preservation, our museum, educational programs, and events illustrate the value of our collections. With pride, we remain the legal entity of the Hershey-Derry Township Historical Society for the benefit of our community. History of the Pinehurst Barn Early references indicate that a dairy farm was established on this location in 1820, substantiated by landowner maps which notate J. Hershey as the property owner. John was Milton S. Hershey’s great uncle, and had two sons, Martin and Menno, who inherited this property. In 1861, the property was deeded solely to Martin by his brother Menno. Historical records also indicate that the barn burned and was completely rebuilt in 1916. At the time of Martin’s death, Milton S. Hershey purchased the farm property and rebuilt the farmhouse, intending to expand his dairy program for Hershey Industrial School (H.I.S.). In 1931, H.I.S. student home Pinehurst #35 was officially opened, one of 44 new farm homes to house the growing number of orphan boys enrolled in the School. All students in grades 6-12 were placed in farm homes, like Pinehurst, where they performed daily dairy chores. In the 1950s, H.I.S. graduates who were continuing their education at the Hershey Junior College lived in the home and performed dairy chores as part of their college scholarship arrangement. In 1965, the dairy was closed and students in other vocational programs were assigned to the home. As programs in the School adapted to contemporary needs and primary activities moved to the south side of the Hershey community, the decision was made to close the home as a student residence. 1980 was the last year students from Milton Hershey School (formerly the Hershey Industrial School) were housed at Pinehurst.