Derry Township near Hershey in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

The Homestead

Photographed By William Pfingsten, April 12, 2008

1. The Homestead Marker

Inscription. Milton S. Hershey was born here on September 13, 1857. The house was built by his great-grandfather, Isaac Hershey, in 1826. Milton S. Hershey purchased The Homestead in 1897 and lived there with his wife Catherine from 1905 to 1908. The building served as the home and school for the first four boys who were enrolled in 1910.
Today, The Homestead serves as headquarters for alumni activities and records, including student grants for continuing education.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Charity & Public Work • Education • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1785.

Location. 40° 16.553′ N, 76° 37.942′ W. Marker is near Hershey, Pennsylvania, in Dauphin County. It is in Derry Township. Marker is on Heritage Road, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 785 Homestead Ln, Hershey PA 17033, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Milton S. Hershey (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Milton Hershey School (approx. 0.3 miles away); Kinderhaus “Climbing Tree” (approx. 0.3 miles away); Kinderhaus Canna Bed (approx. 0.3 miles away); Wildlife Habitat Enhancement

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(approx. 0.6 miles away); Pennsylvania State Police (approx. 0.8 miles away); Derry Churchyard (approx. one mile away); Hershey (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hershey.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. Milton S. Hershey marker.

Additional commentary.
1. Additional memorial/markers have been added
At the entrance to the home, a sundial marker has been placed, honoring the original Superintendent of the Hershey Boys Home. There are two markers:

The first reads:

IN MEMORY OF
OUR SUPERINTENDENT
GEORGE E. COPENHAVER
1909-1936
THE BOYS

And the second reads:

Erected in 1938 by the students and staff of the
Hershey Industrial School, now the Milton Hershey School,In memory of the first superintendent
George E. Copenhaver (1877-1938)

Originally located at the Junior-Senior High School,
the sundial memorial was relocated in 2010 to the
Homestead, where George and Prudence Copenhaver
cared for the school’s first students
Department of

The Homestead image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Pfingsten, April 12, 2008

2. The Homestead

School History

— Submitted July 1, 2014, by James R. Murray of Elkton, Florida.

The Homestead Sundial Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James R. Murray, July 1, 2014

3. The Homestead Sundial Marker

One of the two markers on the sundial

Photographed By James R. Murray, July 1, 2014

4. The Homestead Sundial Marker

Second marker on the sundial

Photographed By James R. Murray, July 1, 2014

5. The Homestead Sundial Marker

This is a new marker placed in 2010- at the front entrance to the Homestead.

Photographed By William Pfingsten, April 12, 2008

6. The Homestead

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 15, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,784 times since then and 70 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 15, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 1, 2014, by James R. Murray of Elkton, Florida. 6. submitted on April 15, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland.