While Fayette and Westmoreland counties are noted for many interesting historical features, the state of Pennsylvania is the Keystone for lots of reasons.
Where Is My Donations Page?
On a personal note, it has been a few months since a new post, so please don't assume these articles are exactly the smoothest thing in the world to develop, though I make it seem even harder. Wait a second, it's not what you are expecting - follow my train of thought for a minute...
No, I admit there isn't much in the way of video and exciting graphics, 'buzzes and whistles', so to speak. On the other hand, I try to present an historical reality in a basic format that gets the point across clearly without being too excessive. Hopefully that is nearly the case, notating the where's, what's and therefore's. Isn't that all we actually need though? Still, for me, I get a little rusty and it can take a certain amount of elbow grease and effort. Like now!
Added Tale To Get A Point Across The Bow
Get ready. You know, it's an involved tale, but a true one:
Once upon a time, long ago, this blogger guy had a sort of a colleague, who was a rare good friend he still ponders over at times. Coincidentally, he had also been familiar with her in Woodale, when she was around 19, and he at 15, unbeknownst to her memory banks. She even gave him a few good books, (thanks so very much). About 8 years ago, this person with various suggestions that were sometimes acted on, oddly receded from phone calls, even emails, as the whimsical blogger gained more viewership and joined some of the local historical societies in those heady days (I could write a lot more on that in another post).
Well, eventually this lady once stated quite seriously, with an air of authority and perhaps a small hint of naivete, she was sure she could create a history blog of her own pretty much as well and successful as his; at least, in so many words. In response, Alan said, "why don't you just do it then?" Thinking to himself, she likely will discover it's not as easy as it looks, lol. But allowing Nancy all the goodwill I honestly possessed in the endeavor, hell, maybe she was right, and had more connections too.
She also hinted strongly that I should take some English classes on grammar and punctuation, (probably right about that, though it hurt just a tad); she mumbled something about her grand kids and not really having a lot of time on her hands. Bottom line, never really heard from her again or of any blog she created, though on occasion she really was helpful. Not to go into so much detail, but her disappearance just might of had to do with a consideration of that time whether to publicly expose a certain society president, that a writer friend of my temporary colleague was very close to for obvious hypocrisies over an ancestral article for a newsletter that was requested from me and then mysteriously declined, once a part of it was punctually submitted for review. (Always levelheaded, one Mr. Lannie Dietle, a true collaborator and friend, who is the embodiment of the thorough, well-known researcher, and, by all accounts, a successful engineer and inventor who probably had more faith in me than I deserved, advised me to 'take the high road.' I reluctantly did exactly what he advised, though the yellow journalism was well placed and a rarefied, yet sore temptation.). Those kinds of experiences were actually rather frequent back then.
Oh,well. It's less often, but I'm still here making occasional errors, doing this 'hobby' of mine, while most of those people are gone.
Ar any rate, I haven't formed a nonprofit for financial assistance as it appears to be just too much red tape. No PayPal or 'GoFundMe' clutter to bother anyone with. (So far, anyway!). We are all creatures of habit. Just myself and my research plodding along with my lukewarm coffee in my free time on one newer computer, one older, and the upkeep which goes along with it. You might get tired of constant begging for donations on other sites, so you have the advantage of a breather. If you care to change my mind, feel free to pass on any fresh ideas you got, as I'll be very glad to consider them. I hope people will forgive my mini-ranting, as I found myself doing a large re-edit of this post cause I simply wasn't particularly thrilled with the way it read, so I just revamped it!
So do have a bit of mercy and from time to time, take a few moments to inform me in the comment section or by email that you enjoyed this study. That human touch always means much.
Also, since the blog has suffered under the newest changes to some extent, especially the SEO, and am missing the many hits, let me know if you patient folks have had any problems locating the Google 'blogspot' internet address for 'Fayette/Westmoreland Forgotten History' since losing my domain name some time back through no mistake of my own. Thanks!
That's enough said, so back to the main subject:
Locals in Pennsylvania might have a rudimentary knowledge of this article's premise, yet among the lesser known of many facts of the eastern and western portions of our great state, is that so much more chocolate and candy has been produced here than most places in our land that it would boggle the minds of the average consumer.
Hershey Chocolate
Let's start with the Hershey Company, an American multinational company and one of the largest chocolate manufacturers anywhere. One of the first items produced, was the famous Hershey's Chocolate bar, then branching out into many varieties, was the original and the first mass-produced milk chocolate in the whole of America.
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| A very old ad for Hershey Bars |
There are also many types of chocolate and bars, some acquired from smaller outlets, too many to mention here, but some of these are Cadbury branded-products, with Twizzlers, Pay Day, Jolly Rancher, Milk Duds, etc.
Hershey Kisses were first produced in 1907, then adding an individual product wrapper of aluminum foil in 1921. They are almost as justly famed for their Hershey Cocoa and Hershey's Chocolate Syrup. Real treats I really enjoyed as a kid. Did you enjoy these too?
Many other companies that were acquired through Leaf International, apparently, particularly Sara Lee, a large umbrella company in itself that once included Hillshire Farms, Jimmy Dean and Ballpark; the Hershey Foods Corp. took over the conglomerate Leaf North American confectionery operations in 1996.
Milton S. Hershey, born on Sept. 13, 1857, died on October 13, 1945, founded the company back in 1894. The early idea of working in candy confection was his mother's and aunt Mattie's idea, so by 1871, he became an apprentice with Joseph Royer. By 1876, he was ready to start his own business. He then began traveling widely learning his craft.
What most aficionados of this brand probably aren't aware of, Hershey's is a subsidiary of the old Lancaster Caramel Company, founded in 1886. By who? Milton Hershey. In its earlier days, the company employed as many as 1300 workers by 1894. But, I am getting ahead of the story. B the year 1891, he acquired a small factory in Mt. Joy, Pennsylvania. He also maintained a factory in Reading. Believing the caramel business was a temporary fad, Hershey took a big chance and sold the large factory in 1900 for one million dollars while he kept the chocolate operation and expanded it further.
By the year 1900, Milton, who was a Mennonite, was successful enough to build his own company town at Hershey, Pennsylvania. He was also active in lots of charities.
First termed the Hershey Improvement Company, what became the Hershey Entertainment and Resorts department were entered in operation after 1904, to help build the town with homes, stores and parks, as Milton always had an eye on the bigger picture. This led to creation and development of Hersheypark by 1906, a family theme park with various amusements, 15 miles east of Harrisburg. This is the largest theme park in the country outside of California, Florida and Ohio.
Hersheypark
The first roller coaster, 'The Joy Ride', which became known as 'The Wild Cat', was 'rolled' out in 1923 by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company. It was built at a cost of $50,000. This was followed by other roller coasters, but there are plans this year for a new one called, 'Wildcat's Revenge', which is sure to be an exciting ride. Music was performed by, you guessed it, the Hershey Band, and in the next few years (1908-1910) a Merry-Go-Round and a miniature railroad and children's rides were added.
Some of Hersheypark's more popular rides include: SuperDooperLooper, Dinosaur-Go Round, Red Baron and Lightning Racer, among many others. A few of the former attractions were Sunken Garden, Carrousel Circle, Tower Plaza and Starlight Arcade, while there were many old rides like The Bug, Cuddle Up, Turnpike, Speedboat, Laughland, and the Ballroom.
Some of the themed areas of the park are: Chocolatetown, a huge attraction; Founder's Way, Pioneer Frontier, and the Boardwalk. By 2018, the newest expansion cost 150 million dollars. Other famous attractions would include, the Sweeterie, The Shore, The Crabhouse, the Music Box Theater and ZooAmerica, an amazing complex with five sections covering 11 acres, but there were once 40 acres altogether.
NOTE:
Forrest Mars, Sr., the confectionery magnate of the vast Mars, Incorporated company, began making M&Ms in 1941. Interestingly, the 2 'M's represent the names of Mars, and Bruce Murrie, son of Hershey Chocolate's president at the time, Wiiliam F. R. Murrie, who had a 20 percent share in the product. This unique arrangement allowed the popular candies to be made during rationing by Mars with Hershey chocolate.
The brand introduced the tagline, "The milk chocolate that melts in your mouth, not in your hand".
Reese Cups
Harry Burnett Reese Sr, (1879-1956), was the American business man, a confectioner, who founded the H. B. Reese Candy Company and invented the number one selling candy in the United States, the ever popular Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.
According to online resources, Harry was born on Frosty Hill Farm, and was of Welsh and English descent and he raised sixteen children. He use to raise frogs, which he then sold to restaurants in the Baltimore area and was an accomplished French horn player as well. Moving around frequently, by 1903, he managed fishing operations for his father-in-law in Dichtley, Virginia.
Reese moved to Hershey in 1916, for a job as a dairyman. About 1918, he started up his own candy business in Hummelstown, Pennsylvania, which eventually failed and he returned to working at the Hershey Chocolate factory. Soon afterward, Reese began making chocolate again in the basement of his house, where at first he made 'the Lizzie Bar', followed by the 'Johnny Bar', named for a daughter and a son. By 1925, he began building his factory. He struggled until the mid 1930's, and by 1935 his peanut butter cups became his most popular product which he concentrated on marketing separately in various priced sizes. As they say, the rest is history.
Mt Reese always promoted his close relationship with Hershey's. On top of that, he was proud they supplied him with the chocolate for the coating on his peanut butter cups. I can still recall the banner, "Made in Chocolate Town -So They Must Be Good."
Clark Bars
David Lytle Clark, (1864-1939), an Irish entrepreneur and confectioner hailing from County Londonderry, founded the D. L. Clark Co. in 1886, in what was Allegheny, now the north side of Pittsburgh, Pa. This began in a one-room location when he was 19 years old.
Later, he was president of a slew of candy companies in Pennsylvania and over into Ohio. An important one of these for my region was the Fayette Candy Company, of Uniontown, in Fayette County, my neck of these woods, so to speak. I'm probably too young to remember it, but Clark Bars were way more readily available at the local stores here when I was a kid than they are now.
Clark also produced Zagnut and as he expanded his interests with the Clark Chewing Gum Company, creating Clark's Teaberry Gum, purchasing the patent from Charles Burke, which my grandmother and aunt for very fond of, as well as myself.
The Clark Company was sold to Beatrice Foods in 1955. Some of them are said to now be manufactured in Morocco, by the Gerrit J. Verburg Co., while they are also produced in western PA, by the Altoona-based Boyer Candy Company, which is privately owned by Consolidated Brands. Glad to hear it!
Hershey's Ice Cream
I bet there are a whole lot of Pennsylvanians in the western part of the state who are not aware there is another Hershey Company! Well, it is only fair to give their history too.
This is the Hershey Creamery Company, a self-distributing company, that also produces sherbet, smoothies, yogurt, etc., and even ice cream mixers. Yes, they are still in existence too!
The company was founded by Jacob Hershey and four of his brothers, Isaac, John, Paris and Eli, in Lancaster County, Pa., just like Milton Hershey's beginnings. It also began in 1894, but do you know what is interesting? There is absolutely no connection with the corporation of the Hershey Chocolate Company. The business was taken over by the Holder family by the 1920's. The Holder's operation, Meyer Diary Co. merged with the Hershey's, with some type of agreement to keep the Hershey name, although there is no information available on whether the brothers still held any stock in the company; perhaps not. The Holders have 30 distribution centers in 28 states. George Holder is the most recent president.
The two Hershey companies have had a rough relationship over many years, marked by lawsuits over their trademarks. Possibly the ice cream producers had estimated the value of the old name highly enough to deal with the legal aspects. The Hershey Chocolate Company had begun lawsuits with Jacob Hershey and his brothers over trademark infringement, in 1921. In the old days, they used ice packed around their wooden containers to keep the cream cold and fresh. Wouldn't it be nice, if they could truck some over to the Fayette/Westmoreland region to taste how good it is in the summer months?
The Hershey ice creamery are said to be the very first company to pre-packaged individual pints of ice cream. There is a wonderful work ethic with this company and they insure superior quality using pure vanilla extract, real fruit flavoring, higher grades of almonds, pecans and walnuts. They also roast the nuts in their own plant, and officially make the grand claim of 'the highest quality chocolate available in the U. S. and in Europe.'
After WW2, they added the convenience of popsicles and ice cream sandwiches from their Cameron Street, Harrisburg, plant. In the past 20 years they expanded sales down into the southeast coast of the United States all the way to Florida, and westward toward, Illinois.
I hope viewers of 'Fayette/Westmoreland Forgotten History', found something to enjoy in the stories of the major players in the candy industry in Pennsylvania. We all can relate to the quality of these products down through the years, and yet the ingenuity and perseverance of these "Candy Kings" was truly legendary.
Stay tuned for more exciting articles and let me know what you think about which candy you like the best. Also, exactly what type of regional history subject would you most want me to cover soon and really want to learn more about? Please let me know.
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