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BUSINESS MEMBERSHIP Business Member Basic ($100) benefits: ​ ​ ​ Free unlimited museum admission for you and up to five (5) employees Early invitations to special events and member programs Special access and/or discounts on all fee-based programs and ticket sales A link to your business webpage on HHC website Member discount rates for use of the Community Room and Barnyard event space 10% discount in museum store (consignment items excluded) Reduced travel fees on all motor-coach tours sponsored by society Use of research library, and photos and documents archive without charge ​ Business Elite Member ($250) benefits: Includes all of the benefits listed above ​ Business recognition and link on HHC website A one-time, no-fee use of the Community Room, a value of $300, subject to availability Monday through Thursday. ​ YOU MAY PAY BY CREDIT CARD OR PAYPAL. ​ Business Membership Business Elite Membership PLEASE SUPPORT OUR BUSINESS MEMBERSHIP PARTNERS BUSINESS ELITE ​ Animal Crime Institute LLC Brian Kreider Choco late Workers Local 4 64 David M. Edwards Insurance Diana M. Reed & Associates, PC Hershey Federal Credit Union Hershey Italian Lodge John Politsopolous NJC Investments Paula Hess Robert and Frieda Longenecker The Greenskeeper The M. S. Hershey Foundation BUSINESS ​ Allen Theatre Baker Door Company, Inc. Central PA Blood Bank Crossroads Antique Mall Elizabethtown Historical Society Herr Signal & Lighting Co, Inc. Hershey Area Art Association Hershey Trolley Works Hershey-Harrisburg Regional Visitors Bureau Historic Harrisburg Association Historical Society of Dauphin County Historical Society of East Pennsboro Township Houck Group, Inc. Hummelstown Area Historical Society Karns Quality Foods Lebanon County Historical Society Milton Hershey School O'Shea & Brubaker Home Renovations Co. PA Federation of Museums Pillar & Aught Pronio's Market Railways to Yesterday Inc Stay Apparel Co. Township of Derry Ty Eby Real Estate Appraisals Watkins Tax & Consulting LLC LIST UPDATED 8/26/24

HOLIDAY TRAIN SHOW All aboard for the 2024 Holiday Train Show. Friday, November 29 through Monday, December 30, 2024. This is an exciting display that's fun for the whole family. Volunteers set up, bring track, engines, junctions, scenery, rolling stock, and more. Access to the Holiday Train Show, and the Chocolate Town Special , is included with museum entrance . Extended opening hours: Friday, November 29 through Monday, December 30, 2024. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY: 10am to 4:00pm. Last train admission is at 3:45 pm and the display closes promptly at 4:00pm. ​ MUSEUM IS CLOSED: Tuesday, December 24 (Christmas Eve) Wednesday, December 25 (Christmas Day) Tuesday, December 31, 2024 (New Year's Eve) Wednesday, January 1, 2025. (New Year's Day. Support for the annual holiday train display is provided by Ned Zechman. ​ Now is a great time to become a member of the Hershey History Center or gift membership to somebody important in your life. There is so much to see, learn, and experience, and we are expanding all the time!

Join our Volunteers Our organization is operated almost entirely by our volunteer staff, and we are so appreciative and thankful! Their incredible dedication, time, and talents to preserve and promote the history of Derry Township and Hershey deserve our recognition. Interested in volunteering at the Hershey History Center (HHC)? Volunteers are a crucial and important part of HHC and we are always seeking individuals that are willing to work with the public, share their knowledge, their history, or put a skill to good use. ​ Please send an email to: volunteers@hersheyhistory.org or complete the Application Form below if you are interested in learning more about volunteering with us. Ways to Get Involved ​ Museum volunteers keep the museum open and running smoothly each week working on reception, in the office, providing computer support, cleaning exhibits, building and grounds maintenance and more . Admin Volunteers: As HHC grows, so do our administrative needs. Admin Volunteers: We have a variety of admin projects and positions, from a couple of hours a month to a couple of days a week. Good organization and basic computer skills are all you need! Training provided. Project volunteers work on specific short and long term projects, usually at the museum but some can be done remotely from home. Scanning photographs, inventorying archives materials, database entry, oral history interviews and historical res earch are some examples. Event volunteers work seasonally on in-house and external events such as our annual train show or Hershey Artfest. Volunteers help set up and clean up, greet visitors, register participants, direct traffic, stuff goody bags, make signs, to name a few. ​ Internships ​ History, museum studies, education, business, marketing, digital communications, information technology, graphic design, photography, engineering and more. We are looking for motivated interns for mutually beneficial projects. Students will have opportunities to develop career readiness, apply their subject knowledge in a professional setting and make meaningful contributions to our nonprofit organization. Email the Volunteer Coordinator describing your subject area and what you hope to gain through an internship at the Hershey History Center. Archives Assistant Interns (in-person) Collections Inventory Interns (in-person) ​ Shippensburg intern, Alex Torchio, conducting a condition assessment prior to digitizing a scapbook that documents the creation of St. Joan of Arc Church. Volunteer Application Form Give us a hand & start making a difference First Name Last Name Email Phone Address A few words about you Next

To PRESERVE , Promote, and Interpret The mission of the Hershey History Center is to preserve, promote, and interpret the history of our town. According to the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office, Hershey is unlike most traditional communities, as it was designed as a company town. ​ In the early 20th century, with company employees and their families in mind, the Corporation and subsidiary developers devised a village core designed to accommodate automobiles right from the start with access to the downtown. Other similar towns from that era were concentrated along streetcar corridors, miles away from the town center. The juxtaposition of 20th century housing stock, embodying the diverse architectural designs of the time period, just blocks from the historic corporate headquarters and downtown business district, defines our distinct character. ​ In America, many small towns are facing a crisis by losing their historical building presence and context. It is through the historic buildings and homes of a town that we witness and pay tribute to its cultural heritage. In Hershey, the demolition of buildings and homes has become a familiar practice. ​ The Hershey History Center endeavors to support Derry Township in preserving and protecting the architectural and cultural integrity of our town. We want to work with the community and the Township to define the boundaries of the downtown village core and develop a Preservation Review Committee. The intention is to avert rapid demolition and facilitate review and recommendations to sustain our town’s architectural heritage. ​ This is not a proposal to mandate certain use of materials or regulate paint colors and design elements for properties, as you find in a historic district. This is a proposal to prevent demolition and broad-scale rebuilds that do not reflect the historical character of the community, and that presently require no review. The intent is to raise awareness that the character of our downtown neighborhoods need to be preserved and that doing so protects the value of all properties. ​ The preservation of old buildings and homes is a one-way street; there is no chance to renovate or save a historic structure once it is gone. The process of improving historic preservation in Hershey, thereby protecting our town’s character, is a complex process that requires the work of many dedicated individuals acting in unity. ​ Join us by lending your support to further the dialogue and halt the rapid alterations to our community’s streetscapes, and help us to preserve the future of our history. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Sign Our Petition First Name Last Name Email Initials Sign Petition Thank you for helping to preserve the future of our history!

LA FESTA ITALIANA FEAST OF THE SEVEN FISHES Celebrating the families, businesses, and places that represent the rich history of Hershey’s Italian community. La Festa Italiana is HHC’s annual heritage festival. Each year focuses on a specific theme which reflects a narrative of food, music, and culture. This year’s theme will celebrate a culinary holiday tradition, Feast of the Seven Fishes. About the Event Saturday, December 7 | 5pm to 9pm BUY TICKETS History of the Feast of the Seven Fishes The Feast is a cherished Italian-American Christmas Eve tradition, deeply rooted in Southern Italian culture where it's known as “La Vigilia” (meaning “Eve” in Italian). This grand seven-course meal, abundant in seafood, symbolizes the observance of the traditional abstention from meat until Christmas Day. ​ The Event La Festa Italiana: The Feast of the Seven Fishes is a fundraiser for the Hershey History Center that will be both heart-warming and elegant. We hope you will gather friends and family to celebrate this fun-filled evening with us. By supporting this event, you help the museum continue its mission to preserve local history; one which values our treasured Italian American heritage. The feast begins with a variety of delicious hors d'oeuvres, served between 5pm and 6pm, as you enjoy bidding on various silent auction items. Live music will be played throughout the evening, provided by Joe Caliva and Erin Echo Austin, guitar and vocals. At 6pm, the feast of seven scrumptious seafood courses will be served. The experience includes an aperitivo and digestivo . Everything will be home made with the finest ingredients. Please BYOB. The event will be held on both levels of the Hershey History Center. Seating is limited at this small and intimate event, so please purchase your tickets early to avoid disappointment. ​ Dietary note Seafood and shellfish will be served. Sorry, no gluten-free available. ​ Preservation Awards will be presented. ​ Thank you to the event sponsors.

BEFORE THERE WAS CHOCOLATE, THERE WAS STONE To begin the virtual audio tour for this exhibit, please click the Play button. Before There Was Chocolate (2) 00:00 / 01:12

HOW THE WORK WAS DONE To begin the virtual audio tour for this exhibit, please click the Play button. How the Work Was Done 00:00 / 00:32

FRIENDS OF THE HERSHEY TROLLEY abouT us The Friends of the Hershey Trolley (FOHT) is a committee of the Hershey History Center. MISSION & HISTORY Friends of the Hershey Trolley's mission is the education and preservation of the Hershey Transit trolley system that ran from 1904 to 1946. The committee is comprised of community members and volunteers, including Hershey History Center, HE&R, Hershey Museum, Milton Hershey School, and the MS Hershey Foundation. ​ On December 21, 1946 , at midnight, Cars No. 17, No. 21, and No. 23 rolled out of the square in Hershey on their last run, ending the almost half-century era of Milton Hershey’s trolley line. Regardless of inclement weather, "Hersheyites" rode the cars for the last time, carrying receipts showing a thirty-five percent increase on that day. As the chocolate company took off, Milton Hershey saw a need for transportation, not only to bring milk from the fields on surrounding farms, but also to bring his workers into Hershey. 1903 saw the formation of the Hummelstown & Campbellstown Street Railway, sponsored by Mr. Hershey, to operate an electric railway from Hummelstown through Derry Church to Palmyra to Palmyra and Campbelltown. Three Brill trolley cars were ordered, one straight passenger and the other two combination freight and passenger. On October 15, 1904, the first trolley left Hummelstown for Derry Church. 1907 saw additional cars and companies added to accommodate the increased number of passengers and freight. Additional trolley lines sprung up; Deodate & Hershey Street Railway, Elizabethtown & Deodate Street Railway, Conestoga Traction Co. and the Lebanon and Campbelltown Street Railway were formed, extending service and adjoining existing service to outlying communities. On December 13, 1913, the Hershey Transit Company was formed, merging all the surrounding trolley lines and subsidiaries. Hershey officials kept their trolleys and the 35 miles of line in first-class condition. Cars were clean and brightly painted in deep green with yellow trim. The Hershey Transit car roster numbered 1 through 30, although with some of the cars being replaced through the years, the total number of cars that ran during the company’s 42 year history is 34. ​ STEERING COMMITTEE: Neil Fasnacht, Brad Ginder, Lisa Ginder, MattLoser, Lisa Maloy, and Todd Pagliarulo. EXHIBITIONS & COLLECTIONS Currently our restoration projects are only open to the public for select events in a private facility. Please visit our museum displays at the Hershey History Center. For information on the No. 7 and No. 3 trolleys, and on the Hershey Electric Railway, please visit the links below. HERSHEY TRANSIT NO. 7 Click for information HERSHEY TRANSIT NO. 3 Click for information THE HERSHEY ELECTRIC RAILWAY Click for information CAR BARNS Read about Hershey Transit Car Barns HERSHEY HISTORY CENTER'S PHOTO ARCHIVE Hershey Transit Trolleys Car Barns Explore the general collection PURCHASE AT THE GIFT SHOP Wood collectible block of the West Car Barn ​ Produced by Hometown Designs, approximately 10″ x 2.5″, all proceeds go to Friends of the Hershey Trolley. The West Car Barn was the last standing car barn in Hershey that housed the street cars for the Hershey Transit Company. Depicted here, with No. 3 and No. 7 at the east end of the barn. One of three interurban cars built by the Cincinnati Car Company in 1913, No. 7 ran on the Hershey line between 1930 and 1946. Originally part of the Ephrata and Lebanon Street Railway Co., No. 7 was a full passenger car and one of the more ornate streetcars on the transit system. It was a popular car used to transport patrons to the Hotel Hershey and Milton Hershey School’s Senior Hall. Buy it today and help us restore Trolley No7. Available at the Hershey History Center's gift shop for $5.00. (Sorry, no shipping available. ) "Hershey Transit: Images of Rail" by Friends of the Hershey Trolley When Milton S. Hershey broke ground to construct his new chocolate factory in 1903, many questioned the wisdom of building in the middle of a cornfield. With his factory wedged between the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad tracks and the Berks & Dauphin Turnpike, Hershey set out to create a first-rate street railway system. The Hershey Transit Company existed many years after the trolley industry declined in most areas of the United States. It was the chief mode of travel for the chocolate factory workers, vital to dairy farmers for transport of fresh milk to the factory, and essential to students of the Hershey Industrial School housed in surrounding farms. On the weekends, the transit system brought people from outlying areas into Hershey, Pennsylvania, to enjoy the theater or the famous Hershey Park for employee picnics, family outings, or special occasions. Hershey Transit documents one of the best-known and well-kept streetcar systems, started by Milton S. Hershey and operated from 1904 to 1946. ​ But it today. Available at the Hershey History Center's gift shop for $21.99. (Sorry, no shipping available.) SUPPORT THE FRIENDS OF THE HERSHEY TROLLEY Please donate to the Friends of the Hershey Trolley (FOHT) at the "Donate" button. Your contributions help to restore the No. 7 trolley. Follow the FOHT on Facebook for the latest news. f you would like to be a FOHT volunteer, we would love to hear from you. Please contact us by email at trollies@hersheyhistory.org

VISIT COLOMBIA February 1-9, 2025 Experience charming Colombia. This is an incredible nine-day trip connecting you with local culture, colonial architecture, gourmet cuisine, and stunning nature. The UNESCO World Heritage sites will inspire you, and you’ll have personal experiences with Colombians that the big companies can’t offer. Come Travel with us! Hershey History Center in collaboration with Vive Mas Tours provides a unique cultural experience on a nine-day tour of Colombia. In Hershey, chocolate is such an important element of life and heritage. Colombia is one of five Latin American countries who export it to the Hershey company. YOU will get to spend time in a cocao grove and how they are grown, harvested, and dried for shipping. Experience charming Colombia as you get a taste of Cartagena and its 16th-century architecture, wander among the world’s tallest palm trees in Salento, sip the famous coffee of Armenia, and witness Colombia’s re-invention in Medellín. The best of city life and quiet country walks await you in Colombia. Learn about how cocoa and coffee are grown in the country that is one of the top producers in the world for both. Experience Cartagena, listed by Travel & Leisure as one of the best places to visit in 2024! This is a once-in-a-lifetime trip that will surprise and delight you. Click HERE to find out what's included in the tour. ​ Cost: $4,195 (market value $6,495). A $500 deposit secures your space. Get the Early Bird savings of $200 off when you register 6+ months before departure! Single rooms are available for $500. ​ Click for dates on information Zoom sessions.