Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning Center Acquires 241 N. Plum St. Property in Lancaster City
LANCASTER, Pa. – January 6, 2025 – Today, Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning (CHS), a subsidiary of Milton Hershey School (MHS), announced the purchase of 241 N. Plum St. in Lancaster city. This acquisition, alongside the previously purchased buildings at 240 N. Plum St., 242 N. Plum St., and 3 Tobacco Ave., will become the future campus of CHS Lancaster City. Construction on the initial three buildings began in November 2024.
CHS will transform the buildings into a new education facility campus that will provide high-quality early childhood education to children from six weeks to age 5 from under-resourced and over-burdened backgrounds, with all costs covered for qualifying families.
“With this additional space, we will be even better positioned to deliver our family success approach, designed to support CHS families in establishing safe, strong, financially stable homes so children can thrive both in school and at home,” CHS Executive Director Senate Alexander said. “We were excited to join the Lancaster city community before, and this new development amplifies that excitement, as it offers the potential for us to collaborate with the local community so families can access resources in an accessible location.”
Through the CHS family success approach, enrolled families work with their dedicated Family Success Advocate (FSA) to develop goals and identify areas of needed support to aid their child’s and their own personal growth. Areas of focus include housing, employment, health, education, food, and more. FSAs meet with families on-site to discuss progress and connect families with resources or education experiences needed to achieve goals, often including collaboration with local organizations and resources, offering on-site workshops, information sessions, and more.
CHS Lancaster City, first announced in November 2022, will preserve the acquired space at each property by enhancing the existing structures. The 241 N. Plum Street property was originally built in 1853 by Lancaster Locomotive Works and had subsequent uses by iron manufacturers and commercial electrical suppliers. It was purchased by the Egan Family Trust in 2007.
“There’s something special about expanding Milton and Catherine Hershey’s legacy to a location a few blocks away from where Mr. Hershey started the Lancaster Caramel Company in 1886 and founded the Hershey Chocolate Company eight years later,” MHS and CHS President Pete Gurt said. “This additional purchase will allow CHS to optimally serve children and families in need in an area the Hersheys held dear to their hearts. We look forward to doing so in collaboration with the Lancaster community.”
CHS Lancaster City is part of a $350 million initiative by MHS to initially develop six Early Childhood Education Centers in Pennsylvania. Each location is uniquely designed to support the whole child, with stimulating spaces encouraging hands-on play and exploration in a nurturing, home-like environment. In addition to the Family Success Center, all CHS Centers include state-of-the-art classrooms, a gross motor room, outdoor play areas, an Innovation Studio, and a STEM Garden.
CHS has selected James Snyder as the CHS Lancaster City Center Director. Snyder brings over 15 years of experience at all levels of the education field, with a large portion of that in Central Pennsylvania.
Other planned locations in Lancaster County are CHS Elizabethtown and CHS New Danville, which are also expected to begin opening in 2026. CHS Hershey opened in October 2023; CHS Harrisburg opened in September 2024; and CHS Middletown is expected to open in 2025.
ABOUT CATHERINE HERSHEY SCHOOLS FOR EARLY LEARNING
Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning (CHS) provides non-residential, year-round weekday care and education to children from six weeks to age 5 from under-resourced and over-burdened backgrounds, with all costs covered for qualifying families. CHS is a subsidiary of Milton Hershey School (MHS) and is part of a $350 million initiative to develop six Early Childhood Education Centers in Pennsylvania. For more information, visit chslearn.org.
ABOUT MILTON HERSHEY SCHOOL
Milton Hershey School is one of the world’s best private schools, where qualifying students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade live on campus and receive an exceptional educational experience—with all costs covered. For more information, visit mhskids.org.
