Masonry Magazine August 1975 Page. 5
Founders Hall at the Milton Hershey School, Hershey, Pa., is a landmark structure of marble and stone.
The Goodness of Chocolate
Hershey to most people means chocolate. To others, Hershey is an unusual and thrill-filled theme park. And still to others, it's a quiet, little, planned community founded in 1903 a few miles from Pennsylvania's state capital of Harrisburg. Actually, Hershey is derived from the word "Hersche", which is the original spelling of the Hershey family name in Switzerland, and it meant deer or stag.
To the International Masonry Institute, a trust fund which encourages quality masonry-construction throughout North America, Hershey is the site of some of the most outstanding brick, concrete masonry, stone, marble, and other masonry construction in the U.S. Most of the structures are located at The Milton Hershey School, a private educational and living facility for orphan boys spread over 10,000 acres of beautiful land amidst the foothills of the Blue Mountains. Other structures are the ones uniquely designed and constructed by masonry craftsmen to be compatible with the theme nature of nearby Hersheypark.
The seldom-publicized school operates as a partnership between the sponsor of the boy and the school. Small groups of boys, with friendly houseparent couples, live in over 100 comfortable homes on the school grounds. They have a full schedule of classes, home study, family chores, including farming, and have access to a wide array of recreational and hobby activities.
The school began in 1909 when Milton S. Hershey, a great industrialist and humanitarian, and his wife Catherine, established a living heritage for boys. Today, the school provides for boys whose families have been broken by the death of one or both parents. All costs for education, board, lodging, clothing, and health services are borne by the school. After graduation, assistance is offered in job placement and an educational aid plan helps qualified students to continue formal study beyond high school.
The hub of the 10,000-acres school complex, is a landmark structure called Founders Hall. It was designed by Coleman & Coleman, of Landisville, Pa. Its architecture and quality of materials and construction by Mason Contractor Clifford Minnich is such that there are few buildings in the world which are as impressive. The General Contractor was H. B. Alexander & Sons, Inc. of Harrisburg, PA.
As you approach the building through beautifully landscaped grounds, you are confronted by a sculptured waterfountain in a pool 100 x 20 feet with walls of marble and stone skillfully laid by masonry craftsmen. Huge sculpted-