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Greg Kareofelas (1962)

Another view of the Hershey House. - This would have been a view from Main Street looking north, A corner of the front Porch, the Carriage House is at the rear and to the side on the left is the "Clay Tennis Court"

Janet Long (Levers) (1966)

Probably have to ask a previous generation: does anyone remember seeing the Hershey sisters playing tennis?

Marilyn Millsap (Thompson) (1961)

The Hershy house photos are great. Have you considered sharing copies with the Yolo County Archives - or maybe already have? I know they would love them.

Nita Keehn (1962)

Joan Richter (Lucchesi) (1960)

Thanks for the great pictures, Greg. Too bad it had to be burned down, unlike the Richie house across the street. It was moved.

Nita Keehn (1962)

Theresa Eve (1964)

Greg: Thank you for the wonderful pictures of the Hershey House!  I never saw the inside of that home; so interesting.  Wonder what it was like when the whole family was alive and active.  Maybe Mr. Hershey played tennis.  

Greg Kareofelas (1962)

Hi Marilyn  I was going to get in touch with the Yolo County Archives, then the Pandemic happened and I am kinda waiting to see what happens. I would want to be able to sit down and go over some of the stuff I would like to donate to them.- I just ran across the card I got from Heather, I'll try to get back in touch with her and see how they are dealing with "everything"

Greg Kareofelas (1962)

The is a view of the Hershey House "Back Porch". I went to kindergarten in the Parish Hall right across the street from this view. I can remember, as a little kid wondering about "that old house". Notice the old time "wavy glass" in the windows.

Greg Kareofelas (1962)

This was a little shed in the Hershey back yard. Not sure if it was a Garden shed of maybe what we used to call a "Pump House". I would have loved to see the gardens of this house "back in the day"

Kay Most (Chapman) (1962)

I too have really been enjoying your old photos, Greg.  Truly a step back in time.  I've been sharing them with my sister, who has greatly been enjoying the old memories as well.  Thanks for sharing, plus going to the work involved to digitize them.  They're a great thing to have.

Katy Pye (1969)

Hi everyone,

Thanks to Greg for the photos of the Hershey house and for others' reminiscences. I remember the house, the Ritchie's, the O.D. Payne house west of the Hershey's. All lovely in their prime.

I belong to Ancestry.com so went looking for, and found, David Hershey's will and estate papers. 

His will was signed in 1901 when Mr. Hershey was "about 83." At the time of his death (Feb 5, 1903), he owned property in several counties: Modoc (2 ag tracts), Colusa (5), Yolo (59), Sonoma (City of Santa Rosa-2), and Fresno (3). He owned the Hershey Opera House (of course), valued at $9K and still collecting income in 1903 (4%/yr. of that current value), He owned the Hotel Julian, valued at $39K. His total personal and real estate was valued at the time of probate at $305,317 and change. 

His will leaves a life estate of the "Home Place" to his wife Ella, separate from the children. She and their 6 children share equal parts of the remainder of his estate. The will is short and there are no restrictions on his children marrying. If he threatened them in life with disinheritance if they married, it is not stated in his will. So, it seems, they made the decision not to marry, except his son, according to a post earlier here. 

I made a quick search for Ella's will, in case she made that condition, but couldn't find one. 

Be well ~

Larry Michalak (1960)

Someone asked about if the Hershey sisters played tennis on their tennis court.  My mother, Cal Flowers Michalak (born in Woodland in 1918 and died in 2010), lived as a llttle girl on Main Street at Cleveland and Main (the Otis Flowers house, which was torn down in the 1940s and the River City Bank is there now).   She got permission from the Hershey sisters (who were friends of her father Otis Flowers) to play tennis on their tennis court, and she did so occasionally.  I also remember Franklin Fitz telling me about the old cars that were stored in a garage on the Hersheys' property..  

Joan Richter (Lucchesi) (1960)

Thanks, Katy Pye, for the update on the will. Every once in awhile on You Know Your From Woodland When on  Facebook people bring this up and the long discussions begin. Each with their own opinion.

 Katy, are you Alice's daughter. I attended church with her. She was a lovely lady.

Linda Hotchkiss (Dela Torres) (1965)

The Hershey family was indeed interesting.  They owned a lot of land north of Yolo and near Zamora.  I remember one 160 or 200 acres being across the road where Ron and his dad farmed for many years.  There was an old brick two story home with a wide veranda on the front and not too far back from Road 14.  Ron said he never knew of anyone living in it, and I'm thinking it was built during the 1800's.  Ron also thought Earl Wallace farmed all their land.  

Don Murdoch (1962)

The Hershey sisters were very good business ladies.  My Dad worked for Farmer's Rice Growers Coop and had several dealings with them.  He sold them stock in the company and leased their ground to George Yoiungmark for rice growing.  George Youngmark grew hundreds of acres of rice on their farmland in Colusa County. That rice was stored in their warehouses along the railroad tracks along the old Hwy 99W.

Linda Hotchkiss (Dela Torres) (1965)

That sounds right Don Murdock as rice is normally grown on less productive soil such as is in the by-pass and more easily irrigated by flooding.  The Youngmarks are also an old family from around Dunnigan, and we all are probably aware of Youngmark's Nursery on West St. which was purchased from the nice Nielson family.  I also always heard that the Hersheys in Woodland were relatives of the family who owned the renowned Hershey chocolate company of PA.  Milton S. Hershey's family were Mennonites and he and his wife bore no children.  He also named Hershey, PA.  Does anyone know if our local Hershey family were indeed related to this famous family?

Fred Parker (1966)

I once saw  the Hershey sisters sharing a KIT KAT BAR

Tim Tucker (1965)

Larry Polete (Polete) (1964)

Fred, now I heard it was a Hershey chocolate bar with almonds. Lol.

Vern Larson (1960)

We would like to express our condolences to Bill Gilmour's wife Linda, and family and friends of Bill, WHS 1965, who passed away August 5, 2020. His obituary was recently added to the "In Memory" section of this website. All who would like to add their memories or thoughts are welcome. RIP Bill

Armand Jaques

Some time ago someone (senior moment, can't remember who) asked fpr a picture of the 3Jay Market, 214 4th Street, owned by my folks.  I finally found one.  This now the site of the Mission which would make my folks proud.

Bernard Rocksvold (1965)

I spent a hell of a lot of time in that store. Your Mom Nelly was very nice to me. I will always remember it as Nelly's Market. Wasn't it called Nelly's Market before it became 3J Market?

Greg Kareofelas (1962)

Hey Armand

Thanks! It was me that was looking for a pic of your family's store. PERFECT! that is exactly how I remembered it. Many memories of running to the store to pic up something for Mom. Glad you were able to find a pic

Connie Logue (Wilson) (1966)

So many memories of "Nelly's" Market, across the street from where we lived.  (We lived on 4th and Court at the time) My mother, Kate Logue, used to tell us that your mother, Nelly, would call her and say, "Kate, I hate to bother you, but your children are up on the roof again." (two story house). I think your parent's market was like a second home...