User:Hmich176/Hersheypark/West Derry Road/History

This is a history of properties on West Derry Road. For more information on the history of West Derry Road, see the notes page about West Derry Road. For tracking notes, see here.

7 West Derry Road (Lot No. 1 and one-half Lot No. 2)
This property was once part of Martin L. Nissley's plot of the Village of Spring Creek, comprising Lot No. 1 and one-half of Lot No. 2.

12, 14, 18 West Derry Road
12, 14, and 18 West Derry Road were combined into one deed when Jacob F. Habecker sold the three tracts to Elizabeth Cassel. The tables below separate the properties.

15 West Derry Road (Lot No. 3 and one-half Lot No. 2)
This was Lot No. 3 and one-half of Lot No. 2 in Martin L. Nissley's plan for the Village of Spring Creek.

A tract of land was added to the deed in 1916.

23 West Derry Road
This property was originally three separate tracts of land which Carrie Letterman owned. The first property she owned was inherited from Harriet Kettering in 1914 and was known as Tract No. 1 (Lot No. 4). Letterman acquired two properties from John H. Gordon in 1922 and 1923. These are called Tract No. 2 and Tract No. 3.

Tract No. 1 (Lot No. 4)
Tract No. 1 was once part of Martin L. Nissley's plot of the Village of Spring Creek, comprising of Lot No. 4.

24 West Derry Road
This property is the first one I have been able to trace as far back as is possible in the history of the area. I am certain as I continue doing research that I will be able to do similar with all of the other properties, as it appears that all of this land for the properties along West Derry Road is all connected to a patent granted on October 7, 1741.

27 and 29 West Derry Road (Lot No. 5)
This was Lot No. 5 of the Village of Spring Creek, as laid out by Martin L. Nissley.

37 West Derry Road (Easterly portion of Lot No. 6)
Easterly portion of Lot Number 6 or Tract Number 1.

39 West Derry Road (Westerly portion of Lot No. 6)
Tract Number 2 and the westerly portion of Lot Number 6 or Tract Number 1.

47 West Derry Road (Lot No. 7 and one-half Lot No. 8)
Lot Number 7 and part or one-half Lot No. 8.

Articles of Agreement Wilbur S. Heller, Miscellaneous Book 12A, 104, dated 1963-09-01.

71 and 73 West Derry Road
71 and 73 West Derry Road was a house that was 2.5 stories and was split into a duplex in 1915. It was recombined as a single home in 1976.

71 and 73 West Derry Road (prior to 1915)
When Milton S. Hershey (via a representative) sold this property to Abrabram T. Heilman in 1913, there was not a building on the property. When Heilman sold the property to Harvey Curry, the property included a 2 and one half story home. This building currently exists in Hersheypark, and is used as a Subway restaurant.

Castelli's Hotel
This property was known as C's Restaurant and Jitterbug Club from 1940-1946. It was renamed Castelli's Hotel, which operated until 1964, when Dionzio Castelli wanted to leave the business. Part of selling the property to Hershey Estates included a guarantee of a job either with Hershey Estates or Hershey Foods.

Pre-split properties of West Derry Road
This section is for properties which are divided up into multiple properties on West Derry Road, generally dating from the 19th Century. Subsections here are named for the most recent owner on the list for simplicity of connecting the West Derry Road properties with these properties generally from the 18th and 19th Centuries.

Solomon Bechtel property
The Solomon Bechtel property is eventually split between the following properties:
 * 47 West Derry Road
 * 51 and 53 West Derry Road
 * 55 West Derry Road
 * 59 West Derry Road
 * 61 West Derry Road

Solomon Bechtel sold the property which later becomes 51 & 53, 55, 59, and 61 West Derry Road to George M. Uhler in 1857. The property which becomes 47 West Derry Road was sold to James McClurg in 1856.

Solomon Bechtel's name also appears under the alternate spelling Solomon Bechtold.

John H. Nissley estate
This property was last owned by the estate of John H. Nissley when it was sold to Milton S. Hershey. Nissley was the son of Martin L. Nissley, owner of the land seen above. Part of this property was along West Derry Road while some of it was also part of the main parts of Hersheypark.

List of properties connected to John H. Nissley estate:
 * 65 West Derry Road
 * 71 & 73 West Derry Road
 * 75 West Derry Road
 * 77 West Derry Road
 * 79 West Derry Road
 * 111 West Derry Road

Tract 1 and Tract 3
These two tracts share same ownership history. Therefore, there is no reason to have them as separate sections.

Thomas Wagner farm
32 and 34, and 36 Old Derry Road were part of the Thomas Wagner property Milton S. Hershey purchased in 1910.

James Campbell patent
This is the property which Reverend Joshua Williams owned and then split and sold to different individuals. The individuals (which are seen above) include Christian Behm and John Sardis.

10, 12, 14, and 18 West Derry Road all trace directly back to the Campbell patent.

List of Deeds
Deeds from West Derry Road are found via Dauphin County Recorder of Deeds.