The Story Of The Generosity of Milton Hershey

Most of you must have once indulged in the chocolaty taste of Hershey's chocolate which is very popular around the world. However, not many people know about the person behind Hershey's success which is nonother than Milton Hershey.

Milton managed to accumulate his immense wealth after he successfully produce his milk chocolate on a large scale. At the time chocolate was considered a luxury item produced mainly by the Swiss and the Germans. Even though he is rich, he is also known to be very generous.

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Early History of Milton Hershey

Born on 13 September 1857 in Derry, Pennsylvania, Milton Snavely Hershey happens to be the son of both Swedish and German farmers. Back then farmers were not an ideal job to have and because of that, Milton did not attend any college as he finishes school when he was in 4th grade.

Milton Hershey when he was young

When he was 14 years old, he got a job at a German-English newspaper company but he was definitely not happy with his job. His father was furious when Milton got fired from the newspaper company but his mother, on the other hand, suggested he jump into the confectionery industry.

This is the time Milton learns how to make sweets and ice cream from Joseph Royer in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. After four years following the guidance of Joseph Reyer, Milton return to his hometown to start his own business.

He then moved to Philadelphia in 1876 which was the year that the US organized the first World's Fair event. Milton hoped that the exhibition will turn his business into a success.

Business Failures of Milton Hershey

Despite getting financial help from his mother and relatives, his first business was a complete failure and his company was announced bankrupt in 1882. After that, he moved to Colorado to find another job when America was in recession.

Milton Hershey and his wife, Catherine

It was at this time that Milton learn the secret to making caramelized sugar by using fresh milk. In 1883 he starts his second confectionery business in New York. But things did not last long for him as his company was having troubles with cash flow and the police confiscated all his machinery due to not paying his debt.

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Reaching 1886, Milton was once again nearly bankrupt. He uses the little amount of money left to buy a ticket to go back home to Lancaster. In his own hometown, he was considered an ultimate failure.

Learning To Make Chocolate

In Lancaster, Milton Hershey aged 29 at the time was quite fortunate. While helping his mother and auntie make the sweets, Milton accidentally created a new type of caramel which he call Crystal A.

Hershey starts selling the Crystal A products to everyone that he sees and promised that they will melt in their mouth. He was very lucky to come across a British sweets importer who was fascinated with his products and even made a bulk order from him.

After getting his loan approved from the National Bank of Lancaster, Milton founded Lancaster Caramel Company in 1886 and only sell chocolates wholesale to his customers.

His business was booming at the time and it was the peak moment of his success to the extent that Milton managed to own two factories and 1300 workers in the 1890s. Later in 1892, Milton bought a chocolate maker machine from Germany.

Before this, Milton only used chocolate as a coating for his sweet caramel. Milton planned to make a drastic shift in his business.

Hershey Chocolate Company

Original Hershey chocolate factory in Pennsylvania

In 1900, Milton sold Lancaster Caramel Company for $1 million. Even though he lost the company he founded and his profitable Crystal A product, he was wise enough to keep his chocolate recipe safe.

After selling his company, he then founded Hershey Chocolate Company in Derry City where he knew that the farm nearby has enough milk supply for his business. In 1905, one of his favorite products, Hershey's Kiss enters the market.

While Milton may enjoy luxurious wealth with his wife, Catherine Sweeney, he did not have any child to share his wealth with. But he does know where the money should be well spent.

The Generosity Of Milton Hershey

Milton Hershey School

In 1909, Milton and his wife opened Hershey Industrial School which aims to provide orphans technical skills in making sweets and chocolates. The school still remains operational to this day.

After his wife passed away in 1915, Milton focused more on his business and charity work. With the amount of money that he has, he starts to build a city that he called Hershey in Pennsylvania.

On top of that, he also builds houses for his workers and in the coming years, the city of Hershey is equipped with all the facilities that are needed like banks, hotels, public schools, theme parks, churches, golf courses, and a zoo.

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Milton Hershey contributed $60 million worth of his company's shares to the Hershey Trust. He also gave away Hershey's chocolates to the American soldiers fighting in the Second World War.

Today, The Milton Hershey School teaches 1,900 students each year while the M.S Hershey Foundation still sponsors the cultural activities in Hershey city. It was estimated that the city is home to 14,000 people.

Hershey city

Milton Hershey passed away on October 13th, 1945. Even though he is long gone, his business has continued to expand dramatically all over the world. Millions of people around the world have tried the delightful Hershey chocolate without knowing the hardship that Milton Hershey went through to succeed in his business.

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