From the Vault: Milton Hershey School Alumni Artifacts

In the Milton Hershey School Archives, we have the benefit of preserving the legacy of Milton Hershey’s vision and bringing historical insights from the school’s past to light. While many people think of the Archives as holding items related to Mr. Hershey and the early years of the Hershey Industrial School, some of the most exciting objects are those given to us by alumni.

Over the past four years, MHS has worked with archivists to create a more organized and accessible archival system. In this process, we have encountered incredible artifacts that speak to the school’s uniqueness and the success of our mission. Two objects from the vault that our archivists found particularly interesting help to exemplify how our alumni Raise the Bar after they leave MHS.

One of the more playful artifacts is the board game Center Point, created by Walter S. Grabowski ’57. When looking at this object, you are immediately drawn in by the brightly colored game face. The board is comprised of a hard plastic surface with little half-sphere grooves cut into the space tiles to hold the character pawns. The plastic face slides down to reveal a hidden compartment that holds the game pieces and dice. At first glance, the board reminds the viewer of a more complicated version of the game Trouble.

Grabowski patented the game in 1985 and would play it regularly at fairs and libraries. The objective is for the players to race to be the first to move their four pieces to the center of the board. Center Point combines strategy and chance with a unique game board to create a fun experience for all ages.

Grabowski’s ingenuity in creating something for others to enjoy reminds us that there is always room for new ideas and paths not yet taken.

Another interesting artifact is a small, framed honeybee donated by Harry R. Reichart ’47. After graduating from MHS, Harry became an accomplished beekeeper and found employment at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.

This bee is one of only 14 that went to space in a NASA shuttle in April 1983. The experiment aimed to determine how bees would behave in zero-gravity conditions, and Harry, a longtime beekeeper himself, helped prepare them for the mission. For MHS, the “space bee” holds profound significance, blending the school’s educational mission, the awe of space exploration, and a tribute to a remarkable alumnus.

This particular bee symbolizes the far-reaching impact of Mr. Hershey’s legacy, from the dairy farms and classrooms of Hershey, Pennsylvania, to the vast expanse of outer space. It’s a physical representation of how far an education at MHS can take students.

Harry’s journey from Milton Hershey School to NASA speaks to the diverse paths available to MHS students and alumni. His gift reminds us that the pursuit of knowledge and the drive to pioneer new frontiers are universal among our students, no matter their chosen field. This humble but powerful message encourages us to look beyond the obvious and find the extraordinary.

By highlighting two of our favorite alumni artifacts, we hope it will continue to encourage more alumni to share their stories.