Milton S. Hershey Mansion facts for kids
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Milton S. Hershey Mansion
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Milton S. Hershey Mansion, November 2011
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | 100 Mansion Rd. E, Hershey, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | 26.75 acres (10.83 ha) |
| Built | 1908 |
| Architect | Henry N. Herr, Paul Oglesby |
| NRHP reference No. | 78002388 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | February 7, 1978 |
| Designated NHL | May 4, 1983 |
The Milton S. Hershey Mansion, also called High Point, is a famous old house in Hershey, Pennsylvania. It was built in 1908. This house was the home of Milton S. Hershey, who started the Hershey Chocolate company. He lived here from 1908 until he passed away in 1945. Milton Hershey made chocolate affordable for everyone. His company grew to be the biggest chocolate maker in the world! Because of its history, his house became a special National Historic Landmark in 1983. Today, the mansion is used as offices for the Hershey Trust Company. This company helps run the Milton Hershey School and owns a big part of Hershey Foods Corporation.
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Discovering the Hershey Mansion
The former Milton S. Hershey Mansion is found on the grounds of the Hershey Country Club. It sits on a small hill. From here, you can see the original Hershey factory in the distance.
What the Mansion Looks Like
The mansion is a large, two-and-a-half-story building. It is built from local limestone, just like the old factory. The style of the house is called Colonial Revival. It has a special roof shape and four stone chimneys. The front of the house has five wide sections. A two-story porch with tall columns covers the middle three sections. Smaller porches extend to both sides of the house. One side has a covered driveway for cars. The other side leads to a round, gazebo-like area.
The Story of the Mansion
Milton Hershey first made chocolate in a Lancaster factory. He mostly made caramel there. Back then, chocolate makers created many different shapes and styles. In 1901, Milton Hershey decided to try something new. He wanted to make a few simple chocolate products. His goal was to sell them cheaply to many more people.
To do this, he built a new factory. He also created the town of Hershey around it. This was a "company town," meaning the company built homes and facilities for its workers. After the factory was finished, Milton Hershey had this mansion built. An architect named Henry Herr designed it. Henry Herr also designed many of the town's first buildings.
The Mansion's Changing Roles
When the Hershey Country Club started in 1930, Milton Hershey gave the house to the club. It became their main building. However, he kept an apartment for himself inside. He lived there until he died in 1945.
In 1970, the Milton Hershey School bought the house. They used it to teach students about old building methods. Then, in 1977, Hershey Foods bought the mansion. They used it as their main office. Today, it serves as the offices for the Hershey Trust Company.
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A nearby schoolhouse, which Milton Hershey briefly attended when he was a child.
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