Chocolate Workers Sit-Down Strike Historical Marker in Hershey

Over the past 7 years we've been following the Pennsylvania Historical Marker Trail all through our great state and documenting the markers here on the blog. Millions of people walk or drive by these historical markers every year and never give them a second thought. They're a great source of historic information and we're trying to bring some much needed attention to them.

We were following the Historic Marker Trail and came across the Chocolate Workers' Sit-Down Strike Historical Marker in downtown Hershey. If you're waymarking, you'll find it located at the intersection of Cocoa Ave. and Caracas Ave., right beside the Hershey Theatre. If you're looking to photograph it, I recommend pulling into the theatre's parking lot and walking around the side of the building.

Marker Information:

Hershey's Chocolate Workers Local 1 (CIO) responded to a labor-management impasse on April 2, 1937 by initiating the first sit-down strike in Pennsylvania and in the confectionery industry. The strike was ended by strike-breaking violence and government mediation. The union lost two subsequent representative elections. In 1939 workers affiliated with the Bakery & Confectionery Workers Local 464 (AFL).

By: 2005 by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

If you would like to learn more about this marker and Pennsylvania history, we recommend that you visit ExplorePAHistory.com. Really interesting reading regarding the strike and how it finally ended. If you're interested in following the Pennsylvania Historical Marker Trail and learning more...you can check out our Historical Markers section right here on the blog.