Chocolate Avenue

Last updated
Chocolate Avenue
U.S. Route 422
Hershey Pennsylvania 1976.jpg
Looking southwest down Chocolate Avenue, 1976.
East endPennsylvania Route 3017
West endHersheypark Drive
NorthHersheypark Drive
SouthEast Governor Road

Chocolate Avenue is a street in Hershey, Pennsylvania, that runs past the site of the original Hershey's Chocolate Factory, and is considered to be the main street of the town. [1] It runs northeasterly from Hersheypark Drive to the intersection of Pennsylvania Route 3017 (Lingle Avenue), at which point the road crosses into Lebanon County and continues as Main Street in Palmyra Borough. Most of Chocolate Avenue is a segment of U.S. Route 422.

Contents

Attractions on Chocolate Avenue

Today, Chocolate Avenue is a big tourist attraction for those visiting Pennsylvania. [2] ChocolateTown Park (48 W. Chocolate Ave.) is located across the street from The Hershey Story and is the site for several Downtown Hershey Association festivals and street fairs. This peaceful little green space offers visitors and locals a chance to rest on a park bench and enjoy the hustle and bustle of Chocolate Avenue. [3]

The Hershey Theatre, known as ‘The Most Impressive Theatre in Pennsylvania’ was built in the early twentieth century as part of Milton S. Hershey’s Great Building Campaign and provided job opportunities for hundreds of workers during the Great Depression. [4]

History

A wrapped Hershey's Kiss lamp post on Chocolate Avenue. KissLamp.jpg
A wrapped Hershey's Kiss lamp post on Chocolate Avenue.

Chocolate Avenue was one of the first two streets built in the town of Hershey by Milton Hershey when he built up the town for his chocolate empire; the other was Cocoa Avenue, which intersects Chocolate Avenue to form the town square. [5]

The name of the street was selected by Milton Hershey himself. He picked names for many streets in the town that related to chocolate. [6]

Chocolate Avenue is known for its street lamps that are shaped like Hershey's Kisses. [7] [8] These unique lamps were designed by engineers with the Line Material Company and manufactured using a process called aluminum metal spinning in 1963. [9] Some of the kisses are shown as being wrapped, and some as unwrapped, alternating between these two designs. [10] [11] [12] These lamps can also be found on Park Avenue. In 1990, the need to replace the wrappers for the lamps became noticeable. [13]

The street has been known for traffic congestion during the summer months due to tourists visiting Hersheypark and other local attractions. [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Hershey Company</span> American food company

The Hershey Company, often called just Hershey's, is an American multinational company and one of the largest chocolate manufacturers in the world. It also manufactures baked products, such as cookies and cakes, and sells beverages like milkshakes, as well as other products. Its headquarters are in Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States, which is also home to Hersheypark and Hershey's Chocolate World. It was founded by Milton S. Hershey in 1894 as the Hershey Chocolate Company, which was a subsidiary of his Lancaster Caramel Company. The Hershey Trust Company owns a minority stake but retains a majority of the voting power within the company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Milton S. Hershey</span> American chocolatier (1857–1945)

Milton Snavely Hershey was an American chocolatier, businessman, and philanthropist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Milton Hershey School</span> Private boarding school in Hershey, Pennsylvania

The Milton Hershey School, formerly the Hershey Industrial School, is a private boarding school in Hershey, Pennsylvania for K–12 students. The institution was founded in 1909 by chocolate industrialist Milton Hershey and his wife, Catherine Hershey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hershey, Pennsylvania</span> Census-designated place in Pennsylvania, United States

Hershey is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Derry Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is home to The Hershey Company, which was founded by candy magnate Milton S. Hershey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hummelstown, Pennsylvania</span> Borough in Pennsylvania, United States

Hummelstown is a borough in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,535 as of the 2020 census. It is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hersheypark</span> Theme park in Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States

Hersheypark is a family theme park in the eastern United States in Hershey, Pennsylvania, about fifteen miles (25 km) east of Harrisburg, and 95 miles (155 km) west of Philadelphia. The park was founded in 1906, by Milton S. Hershey as a leisure park for the employees of the Hershey Chocolate Company. It is wholly and privately owned by Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company. Hersheypark has won several awards, including the Applause Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hershey's Chocolate World</span> American visitor and indoor attraction center

Hershey's Chocolate World is the name of five visitor centers that started in Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States. Open year-round, Hershey's Chocolate World offers marketplace shops and restaurants, specializing in Hershey's chocolate products. Attractions include Hershey's Great Candy Expedition, the Hershey Trolley Works, Create Your Own Candy Bar, Hershey's Unwrapped: A Chocolate Tasting Journey, and a free Hershey’s Chocolate Tour ride.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company</span> American entertainment company

Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company is a privately held corporation based in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. Milton S. Hershey established HE&R in 1927 to distinguish and separate his chocolate manufacturing company from his other business ventures. All of his non-chocolate producing businesses were established as Hershey Estates, renamed HERCO, Inc. in 1976 and Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company in 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hersheypark Stadium</span> Stadium located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA

Hersheypark Stadium is a stadium located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, on the grounds of Hersheypark. It opened on May 18, 1939.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pennsylvania Route 39</span> State highway in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States

Pennsylvania Route 39 (PA 39) is a 17.83-mile-long (28.69 km) state highway located in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States. PA 39 runs from North Front Street near Harrisburg east to U.S. Route 322 (US 322) and US 422 near Hummelstown and Hershey. The route passes through the northern and eastern suburbs of Harrisburg and passes by Hersheypark, Giant Center, as well as the primary production factory for The Hershey Company. Between Harrisburg and Manada Hill, it is known as Linglestown Road, from Manada Hill to Hershey as Hershey Road and from Hershey to near Hummelstown and Hershey as Hersheypark Drive. Prior to the establishment of PA 39 in 1937, PA 39, had previously been designated as a route in northeastern Pennsylvania during the 1920s. That designation was deleted when it was renumbered US 11. As a result, PA 39 is one of a few routes which has a set of child routes which are no where near the primary route.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hershey Gardens</span>

Hershey Gardens is a 23-acre (9.3 ha) botanical garden and arboretum located at 170 Hotel Road, Hershey, near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. They are set atop a hill overlooking Hersheypark. It was built as a gift from chocolate magnate Milton S. Hershey for his community and to honor his wife, Catherine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Hershey Story</span> Museum of the Hershey Company

The Hershey Story, The Museum on Chocolate Avenue is devoted to the history and legacy of Milton S. Hershey and the chocolate candy confections he invented. It is located at 63 West Chocolate Avenue in downtown Hershey, Pennsylvania, and opened in January 2009.

The Wild Cat, originally named The Joy Ride, was a wooden roller coaster located at Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The roller coaster was constructed in 1923 by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company (PTC). Under an agreement between Hersheypark and PTC, Hersheypark leased the land the coaster occupied, while PTC owned and operated the coaster. The agreement was for 15 years, at which point they had the option to extend the contract. The contract was ultimately extended to 1945. The roller coaster operated from June 16, 1923, through September 1945. PTC and Hershey Park elected to close The Wild Cat and construct a new roller coaster in 1946.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frederick J. Osterling</span> American architect

Frederick John Osterling was an American architect, practicing in Pittsburgh from 1888.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pennsylvania Route 743</span> State highway in Pennsylvania, US

Pennsylvania Route 743 is a north–south state route located in central Pennsylvania. The southern terminus is at PA 441 in Marietta. The northern terminus is at U.S. Route 22 near the East Hanover Township hamlet of Grantville though some signage has it continue north past Interstate 81 (I-81) to PA 443. The route runs north through Lancaster County, passing through Maytown before reaching Elizabethtown. Here, the route has concurrencies with PA 230 and PA 241 and comes to an interchange with the PA 283 freeway. PA 743 continues into Dauphin County and crosses PA 341 before reaching Hershey. In Hershey, the route follows Cocoa Avenue between US 322 and US 422, the latter which is known as Chocolate Avenue. PA 743 follows Park Avenue north past Hersheypark and Hersheypark Drive east before heading north on Laudermilch Road from Hershey to Grantville.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Hersheypark</span>

The history of Hersheypark begins with the founding of the town of Hershey in 1903. Milton Hershey, The owner of the Hershey Chocolate Company surveyed a nearby area of land, which was to become a leisure park for the employees of his chocolate company. People began visiting the grounds of the future park in 1904 and 1905, while the park's first pavilion was built in the fall of 1905. The park was formally opened on May 30, 1906, when it opened as Hershey Park. The park slowly added rides until 1923, when the first roller coaster, the Wild Cat, was built. From then on, rides were regularly added, except during World War II. The park was redeveloped into Hersheypark in 1970, through a multi-phase project. Since then, it has added ten roller coasters, expanded to over 110 acres, and features many other attractions including shows with sea lions, well-known acts including Weird Al Yankovic and Duff Goldman from Charm City Cakes in the Hersheypark Amphitheater, and a short-lived laser light show.

The Miniature Railroad was a ride at Hersheypark from 1910 until 1971. The train ran a course along Park Boulevard, near the intersection with Park Avenue, around Spring Creek into Comet Hollow. It was the second ride Milton S. Hershey purchased for his park, after buying a carousel. While the railroad is no longer in operation, the train has been undergoing restoration since 2007, and was first publicly displayed in 2011.

Hershey, Pennsylvania witnessed a six-day sit-down strike of workers at the Hershey Chocolate Corporation in 1937. The strike ended in violence, as dairy workers and loyal Hershey employees stormed the factory to force out strikers. Eventually, the company signed an agreement with the American Federation of Labor through the Bakery and Confectionery International Union, becoming one of the first American candy companies to unionize.

References

  1. ↑ Reichblum, Charles (2004). Dr. Knowledge Presents Strange & Fascinating Facts About Famous Brands. Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers. p. 1833. ISBN   978-1-57912-356-7 . Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  2. ↑ "Pennsylvania Family Vacation Destination | Hershey, PA". www.hersheypa.com. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  3. ↑ "The Hershey Area". www.chocolateworld.com. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  4. ↑ "25+ Things to Do on Chocolate Ave". www.visithersheyharrisburg.org. 2019-08-26. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  5. ↑ Larson, Gale K. (1999). Shaw and History. Penn State Press. p. 49. ISBN   978-0-271-01918-5 . Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  6. ↑ Sutcliffe, Jane (2003). Milton Hershey. Lerner Publications. p. 30. ISBN   978-0-8225-0247-0 . Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  7. ↑ Denenberg, Dennis; Roscoe, Lorraine (2001). 50 American Heroes Every Kid Should Meet . Millbrook Press. p.  54. ISBN   978-0-7613-1612-1 . Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  8. ↑ Shaffer, Gwen; Root, Douglas L.; Tiger, Caroline (2008). Pennsylvania. Fodor's Travel Publications. p. 144. ISBN   978-1-4000-0739-4 . Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  9. ↑ "Reading Eagle". news.google.com– via Google News Archive Search.
  10. ↑ Butters, Patrick (February 14, 2002). "The company town built on chocolate; In Hershey, Pa., sweetness is a way of life". The Washington Times. Hershey, PA. Archived from the original on 11 July 2012.
  11. ↑ Richman, Irwin (2004). The Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Arcadia Publishing. p. 10. ISBN   978-0-7385-2458-0 . Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  12. ↑ "Aluminum Spinning for Hershey's Lighting Fixtures, Metal Spinning Aluminum Sheets". Charles Schillinger Company. 2018-05-23. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  13. ↑ "Gettysburg Times". news.google.com– via Google News Archive Search.
  14. ↑ Houts, Mary Davidoff; Whitenack, Pamela; Whitenack, Pamela Cassidy (2000). Hershey. Arcadia Publishing. p. 110. ISBN   978-0-7385-0436-0 . Retrieved 19 November 2013.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.