PA Dutch Days

 

Hershey Park, 1956

Pennsylvania Dutch Days was born of a sincere desire to preserve the colorful arts and customs of the PA Germans, called the PA Dutch.  It was conceived by members of the PA Dutch Dialect Class of the Hershey Evening School.  The celebration started out as a one-day outing for class members and friends on August 27, 1949.

From such simple beginnings, it grew by leaps and bounds and the celebration grew to four days in length to accommodate the increasingly large crowds.  Over 160,000 people attended in 1955.  New features are added yearly, but no admission is charged to attend.  It is run by a group of volunteers, and Hershey Estates donates the use if the park, sports arena, and stadium facilities.

Milton S. Hershey, founder of Chocolate Town , USA, died before the first Dutch Days observance.  But his ideals and vision live on today.  He was a firm believer in the free enterprise system.

Activities at PA Dutch Days included:

Quilting Exhibits
Farm Implement Displays
Dairy Cattle Show
Dauphin County 4-H Exhibits
FFA Hog Show
Lotwaerrick (Apple Butter) Queen
State Poultry Queen
PA Poultry Exhibits
Seed guessing contests (How many lentils in the bottle?)
Southern PA  Purebred Goat Association Show
PA Farm Hay Exhibit
State-wide Chicken Bar-be-cue and other foods for sale
Music by bands and orchestras, and organ music
Die Wunnernaus Variety Show
Outdoor Games for Everyone
Speakers

"Mer hoffa dir hen oll en goot tzeit kott un wella eich
oll nochemol tzerick eilawda naegschd yohr.
Goot glick un Gott seim sayya"                   

Dei Deitsch Dawga Kummitte

We hope you have all had a good time and want
to invite all of you back once again next year.
Good luck, and God's blessings.
Your PA Dutch Days Committee

Schpeel Tzeit Far Yayder Leit
playtime for all the folks

En Dausend Bentza Far Weck Gevva
a thousand pennies to give away

Baloon Schtomperei
ballon stomping

Sock Rayssa
bag races

Boi Fresserei
pie eating contest

Wossermaloon Fresserei
watermelon eating contest

Schpkarrich Fawra, Mit Awga Tzugebunna
wheelbarrow pushing, with eyes blindfolded

Weschschpell Schpeelerei
clothes pin tossing contest

Grundniss Aw Far Yayderebber
peanuts for everyone

An ad for Reese's Peanut Butter Cups:  "Made in Chocolate Town since 1923....so they must be good!"

Welcome To The Hershey Chocolate Plant

In 1956, visitors were welcome, Monday through Friday, to inspect the various departments of the huge Hershey Chocolate Corporation plant.  Guided tours (lasting about 45 minutes) gave thousands of people each year a step-by-step look into the production and packaging of the many popular products of the Hershey corporation.  Plus samples of the various chocolate products were given to visitors on the tour.

Herhey Park Offers Varied Amusement Facilities.

Hershey Park, founded in 1907, by Mr. Hershey, was said to offer amusement facilities to satisfy every taste in recreation.  It even boasted the slogan:  Summer Playground of Pennsylvania.  In 1956, the park had 11 entertainment units, including:

Aerial Joy Ride Miniature Train Cuddle-Up Pretzel Comet Whip Skooters Carousel Bug Mill Chute Twin Ferris Wheels plus 8 kiddie rides in a special playground

There was dancing to famous orchestras of the day in the spacious Park Ballroom every Saturday night.  Free concerts were presented twice daily in the Park Bandshell on Sundays and holidays.

The Park Swimming Pool, had three bathing units, and was equipped with locker facilities for 4,000 people.

The Hershey Park Zoo was open every day except Monday.  It offered a Pennsylvania Game Commission wildlife exhibit. And it was free. HAERRLICH LEIT LAYWA EN HAERRLICH LAYWAS
"Happy people live a glorious life"

© Jann's PA Dutch Kitchen