Oval tin box (A) with fitted, domed lid (B). Box has two raised bands on sides. Flat bottom of box is soldered to sides. Lid created by soldering a hammered, rounded oval top onto a 1/2" oval band. Interior of both A and B is tinned.
Used as a container for the miniature tea kettle G.00.03.1.
Lancaster County or region
Provenance
Ownership by donor's father, William A. Heitshu. Donor believes oval box was original container for teakettle.
Exterior surface has vestiges of an original finish, now oxidized with areas of corrosion. Abrasions over much of surface. Interior moderately rusted and corroded.
Object ID
G.00.03.2a-b
Credit
Gift of Martha Munster, Heritage Center Collection
Tin container, oval body, with fitted lid and printed paper laberl wrapping entire body: "HERSHEY'S PURE CHOCOLATE EXTRACT? POWDERED COCOA...MADE BY HERSHEY CHOCOLATE CO./ LANCASTER, PA. U.S.A." Tin lid is embossed : "GINNA & CO./ NEW YORK."
This tin was donated nearly full of sulfur powder, indicating it had been reused for storage. The container company operated 1874-1901. Thus, the container likely dates from when Hershey established his chocolate company (1894) to when the Finna & Co. ceased operations (1901), even though Hershey did not open for business at his Derry St. location until 1905.
The chocolate business was started by Milton Snavely Hershey (1857-1945) in Lancaster City in 1894 for the purpose of coating caramel candies, is current business then. He got the idea for making chocolate from a visit to the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. He ordered German chocolate-making machinery at the fair and began making chocolate coatings the following year.
Product made in Lancaster; Tin made in New York, New York
Provenance
Donor states she purchased container at a sale in Lancaster City, perhaps 20-25 years ago (1980s). Donated to the Heritage Center .
Tin is hazed overall with light corrosion; base has slight distortion?dent. Paper darkened overall with dark brown speckles. Scattered paper losses, esp. at top and lower edges.
Container was emptied of the sulfur powder it contained when donated.
Object ID
G.08.6.1
Credit
Given in memory of John G. Sebelist by his daughter Susan Briggs. Heritage Center Collection
The oldest tobacco shop in the United States, Demuth's was founded in 1770 by Christopher Demuth and remained in the family in the 1980's. With visitors such as Jasper Yeates and James Buchanan, the shop was, and still remains, a staple in the local community.
