The Hershey Legacy
The story of Hershey’s Chocolate begins with Milton S. Hershey. Trained as a confectioner and owner of a successful caramel factory, Hershey became fascinated with chocolate-making at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. Hershey founded the Hershey Chocolate Company in 1894, and began construction on what would become the world's largest chocolate factory in 1903. At the same time he established the model industrial town of Hershey, Pennsylvania, where workers enjoyed comfortable homes, extensive recreational and cultural venues, inexpensive public transport, and quality public schools.
In 1909, Hershey and his wife, Catherine, established a school for orphan boys. Hershey eventually endowed the School’s trust fund with the bulk of his wealth, including his ownership of the Hershey Chocolate Company. Since its founding, the school has broadened its mission to include both boys and girls. For more than a century, Milton Hershey School has enriched the lives of countless children in need.
The town of Hershey, Pennsylvania has provided employment, recreation, and culture. The Hershey Company has brought smiles to people around the world.