Catherine Hershey: A Beautiful Life Remembered

At the turn of the 20^th century, opportunities for women outside the home were few and far between. Many working-class women took positions in domestic service or factories where low pay and poor, often dangerous, working conditions made for a difficult life. This is the world that Catherine (Kitty) Sweeney entered when she was born on July 6, 1872. The eldest daughter of Irish-Catholic immigrants, she did not graduate high school and instead left school to begin working and supporting her family.

Despite societal setbacks, Catherine’s tenacity helped her forge her own path. She was known to be charming and clever, which helped her secure a sales position at a jewelry store in her hometown of Jamestown, New York.

She loved to enjoy life. One day while she was with her friends at A.D. Work’s Confectionery, she ran into candymaker Milton Hershey, who happened to be selling his caramels at the business. It was here, at a candy store, that the two met and their lives changed forever.

Catherine Hershey’s Early Years

After meeting Milton, Catherine moved to New York City where she worked at B. Altman Department store in the ribbon section. To be a young single woman working in the city shows her determined and independent nature. Like Milton, Catherine did not grow up wealthy, or in high society, and it is easy to see how these like-minded people instantly felt a connection. Soon, the two fell in love and were married in the rectory of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City on May 25, 1898.

When the newlyweds arrived in Lancaster, the traditional Mennonite community was a little shocked to meet the ostentatiously dressed Irish-Catholic Mrs. Hershey. Young children at the time recounted trying to catch a glimpse of the new Mrs. Hershey when she would step outside their Lancaster home just to see her red slippers or latest dress and hat ensemble. Catherine, to her credit, continued to be true to herself and adjusted to life in central Pennsylvania, hosting dinner parties with friends and becoming involved with the local community.

Love Mixes with Generosity

The couple was very comfortable financially and would travel the world together for months at a time. Her nickname for Milton was “my little Dutchman” and he personally picked out a daily arrangement of fresh flowers for her each morning, even when they were traveling. Milton worked almost constantly, and it was only Catherine who could get him to stop and “smell the roses” both figuratively and literally.

Catherine’s generous spirit also influenced Milton’s first documented philanthropic gift of $5,000 to Franklin and Marshall College for their chemical laboratory shortly after their marriage. In addition, she made a sizable donation toward the construction of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Harrisburg which still bears her name, Mrs. M.S. Hershey, on the wall inside the front entrance. Her true passion, though, was in helping others, and she devoted much of her time to the Lancaster Charity Society, which helped children in difficult circumstances.

Just a couple years into her marriage, Catherine’s health began to deteriorate from an unknown disease that affected her nervous system and made it difficult for her to walk. As the years progressed and the Hersheys were unable to have children of their own, her generosity only grew.

‘Kitty’s Idea’

When the Hersheys decided to create the Hershey Industrial School—now called Milton Hershey School, Milton is quoted as saying “it was Kitty’s idea.” At this time, it was uncommon for a wife to become involved with her husband’s businesses, yet Catherine and Milton signed the Deed of Trust together on November 15, 1909, making them equal partners and co-founders.

Catherine’s enthusiasm in the school continued as she played a pivotal role in the early years. She, along with Prudence Copenhaver, shaped the Home Life program which included deciding the menus, clothing, and social etiquette training. While her health made it difficult for her to travel, she instead would host a breakfast each year for the boys to come to High Point Mansion, where the Hersheys lived.

Powerful Legacy

Catherine also found great pleasure in maintaining beautiful gardens around their home, leaving a lasting impression on the town’s landscaping. Even after her death, her roses were moved to the Hershey Gardens. Milton would often ask his chauffeur to take him to the gardens so he could sit with “Kitty’s roses.”

While Catherine tried to maintain her cheerfulness until the end, her illness caught up with her. She passed away on March 25, 1915, at the age of 43. As a woman who forged her own path, from working-class girl to philanthropist, she would be proud of the school’s continued success and how her legacy lives on in the thousands of Milton Hershey School graduates.