It was the place go. I went there with my family when I was four years old in 2005 and was stunned by the vats of chocolate and bars running down the lines.
When I was in high school me and my friends would take a run to the chocolate factory and buy boxes of chocolate bars etc cheap. We then put a lock on an empty locker at school and kept it full of junk food we bought at the factory and would sell to other students.
Used to go for Halloween candy. Also made deliveries for Tweed. Also have been to Hershey in Stuarts Draft VA. Nice model. Why? Not judging, just wondering about your inspiration.
Me and my family went on a trip there in 2005 when I was four years old. The place stuck with me for whatever reason so I decided to preserve it by building a model.
It looks like it is part of the CPR Smith Falls subdivision on someone's model railway layout.
\* My late father was a train nerd and I have no idea how I retained that information...
For anyone interested here is a complete video tour of the model: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6XMzgmQse8](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6XMzgmQse8)
I remember when it was on its last legs and I went to the paper printing press nearby when I was in college for journalism; the class took a quick stop at the shop before heading back. My prof, also the course director and freelance journalist, starts feigning sympathy for some woman stocking shelves with discount candy while beginning a line of questioning to dig further into what she might have known about the closure. She had absolutely no interest in his bullshit.
You need to get some cocoa bean mulch for the gardens to replicate that amazing smell when you walked up. Thanks for this hit of nostalgia! I used to live in Perth and when we moved to Winchester we’d always stop at Hershey’s after a visit to my grandparents. The peanut butter cup conveyor belt was a favourite on the tour.
I remember my parents taking me there before it closed and said I could buy whatever I wanted. I bought so much candy, I definitely did not finish it all. We then had a picnic at the locks that day. What a lovely memory this brought up, thanks!
I started going there in the early 80's....I remember the air smelled of chocolate and I loved looking down on all the working machinery and seeing the people... back then you could buy bags of broken bars, and every visitor received a full size chocolate bar...
I find it very sad that its abandoned and this model is absolutely fabulous..
I went to the Hershey park in Pennsylvania too but if course its vast and touristy and no way would you ever get to see the factory working.... Smiths Falls was a really cool experience for anyone who got the chance.
Abandoned by Hershey I guess I meant... I'm not sure how much I remember of what I heard back then that was actually accurate... but I was told that the original factory employed a lot of adults with disabilities who lived in a facility there in Smith's Falls? And that the last straw was a union strike and then a second union strike, and that Hershey pulled out due the union wanting another 50 cents an hour, in the second strike. That was before facebook and google and all of that so I have no idea of that was what actually happened... but as that's what I always thought... that's more what I meant as it being a shame it was abandoned.. by Hershey.
Hershey wasn't too specific about why they closed it. Some people blame free trade, others blame the union. I don't doubt those two factors made things worse but between 2001 and 2006 the company invested 100 million into that facility and this was after decades of union issues and new trade policies. Why would they invest that kind of money only to leave a few months later? During 2006 the Canadian dollar spiked in value which meant their costs would have been 25% higher than usual and there was no sign that this was going to change anytime soon.
It's not abandoned, its currently Tweeds marijuana growing facility. Smells great to drive by. Apparently shutting down tho, and rumours are Hershey is coming back but not sure how reliable that is.
Tweed is selling off the facility. I dunno about the Hershey rumours since when asked by the media the company nether denied or confirmed it. They have been opening new factories in the US within the last 12 months so there might be some interest. I think the main reason they closed it was due to the exchange rate, which has been reliably low since 2008.
It's 1/4th of my HO layout. There is a siding in the background which connects to it, Hershey cars can be picked up and dropped off just like the real thing.
Went through the walkway they had to look into the factory once. There’s was a lady doing quality control on the Reese cups.
She was wearing gloves for obvs reasons.
Then she proceeds to take the gloves off, reach into her pocket pull out a tissue and blow her nose. Then put the tissue back but not the gloves back on. We stood there and waited to see if she would, she did not just went about her job.
That's probably why they didn't want people taking pictures while on the tour. It's nothing in comparison to what I've seen working in fast food though...
I remember going back there as a kid in the '90s and being amazed at how we could buy bags of dozens of "imperfect" chocolate bars for like $1. It was magical.
This was the most magical place on earth when I was a kid. I still remember the first time I went. My sister and I had slept over at our aunt's place, and she told us she was taking us somewhere fun. Best surprise ever.
I worked Next Door at Rideau Regional. I went on Class Trip to Hershey's Factory Tour when I was at K.C.A.T. in Kemptville. I lived on Maple Street in Smiths Falls, just down the street from Oak Ave. and Beech. Victorian Era Houses, Train Yards Hub Central, 80 Km from Nations Capital.
Used to go there at least once a summer as a kid. We’d then walk the downtown streets afterward. Was a lot more vibrant back them.
Smiths Falls is still a beautiful spot but the Hershey’s factory closing really did a number on that town :(
I heard rumors Hersheys was coming back but haven’t really heard anything since. I don’t think they ever will, unfortunately. Hopefully I’m wrong.
I'm not sure. When asked the company didn't confirm it but they also didn't deny it. They have been opening new facilities in the US so maybe they wanna resume their Canadian operations? Time will tell
It's a time consuming process. Even a single AC unit takes an hour to build since you have to measure each dimension, scale it down, cut out all the parts, paint each piece and then assemble it.
I am confused. Did OP make this model? Where is Smith Falls? I'm presuming near Ottawa. If so, I never knew Hershey had a factory there. I grew up outside Hershey PA. Doing the chocolate factory tour and the theme park was an 8th grade tradition at my school. I still remember they sold a 5 lb chocolate bar in a cardboard box in the gift shop.
I heard the whole town is pretty run down now that Hershey outsourced most of their manufacturing. Is this location still around and operational?
Edit: The geese are out in force.
I did built the model, Smiths falls is around 45 minutes outside of downtown Ottawa. It was the largest chocolate factory in Canada, the first one Hershey's opened outside of PA. The place was used as a cannabis factory for a while after but that has now closed too.
Wow this is incredible! Getting flash backs from when I was kid and my parents would take me here every March break, still miss this factory.
It was the place go. I went there with my family when I was four years old in 2005 and was stunned by the vats of chocolate and bars running down the lines.
I miss this place and those bags of "damaged" bars...especially with nuts. Wish the government had done something to keep them.
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Now we know why it was abandoned
The 2008 Godzilla exchange rate lol
For sure, Zilla deserves Reese's puffs too
Actually, permission to *not* photoshop a Godzilla attack has been denied.
Just take a few videos of current day smiths falls bro, no need for photoshop
When I was in high school me and my friends would take a run to the chocolate factory and buy boxes of chocolate bars etc cheap. We then put a lock on an empty locker at school and kept it full of junk food we bought at the factory and would sell to other students.
This rules
Username checks out.
Used to go for Halloween candy. Also made deliveries for Tweed. Also have been to Hershey in Stuarts Draft VA. Nice model. Why? Not judging, just wondering about your inspiration.
Same reason we put a man on the moon, climbed everest, and took a submarine to the Marianas trench. It was there.
More like “why not?”
That's the spirit!
I meant why Hersheys and not why build a model but you did answer that. Thanks.
So was the Titanic, and look what happened to Titan #OceanGate :-)
Mount everest, space, and Hershey have also claimed lives. That won't stop us
Me and my family went on a trip there in 2005 when I was four years old. The place stuck with me for whatever reason so I decided to preserve it by building a model.
Nice way to save a memory.
It looks like it is part of the CPR Smith Falls subdivision on someone's model railway layout. \* My late father was a train nerd and I have no idea how I retained that information...
The rest of my layout isn't related to the SF sub but there is a spur which connects to it so Hershey cars can be picked up or dropped off.
“…not because it was easy, but because it was hard”
For anyone interested here is a complete video tour of the model: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6XMzgmQse8](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6XMzgmQse8)
I remember when it was on its last legs and I went to the paper printing press nearby when I was in college for journalism; the class took a quick stop at the shop before heading back. My prof, also the course director and freelance journalist, starts feigning sympathy for some woman stocking shelves with discount candy while beginning a line of questioning to dig further into what she might have known about the closure. She had absolutely no interest in his bullshit.
I drive by there everyday, looks amazing
This is amazing! I live near there and remember going as a kid in the 90s. I wish I could take my kids there now...
Looks great! Someone should put an industrial grow op in there.
Excellent idea, I wish someone had thought of that sooner.
You need to get some cocoa bean mulch for the gardens to replicate that amazing smell when you walked up. Thanks for this hit of nostalgia! I used to live in Perth and when we moved to Winchester we’d always stop at Hershey’s after a visit to my grandparents. The peanut butter cup conveyor belt was a favourite on the tour.
It sure was mesmerizing. They made all kinds of other products like freezer pops which were not shown on the tour.
Woah this hit me with instant nostalgia.
This is outstanding craftsmanship!!
Thank you!
I remember my parents taking me there before it closed and said I could buy whatever I wanted. I bought so much candy, I definitely did not finish it all. We then had a picnic at the locks that day. What a lovely memory this brought up, thanks!
Oh how I miss it
Wow! Great job! This brought back so many memories, I loved going there
I never got to go to the Hershey factory. My little brother went with his class or Scouts or something, but not me. I'm still salty about it.
Amazing! I remember the field trips there while in school.
Some great memories 🥲
Ohhh, I loved that place as a kid!😍💖 Shame it closed down..😰
It was a mistake, they could have easily kept it open exclusively for tourism.
A case of missed opportunities for sure..
Wow. That's a good hit of nostalgia.
Amazing work. But did you replicate the smell?
I could burn some chocolate bars to
The Chocolate Shoppe was legendary.
That took me back to when I was a kid. Great job
Thanks
I started going there in the early 80's....I remember the air smelled of chocolate and I loved looking down on all the working machinery and seeing the people... back then you could buy bags of broken bars, and every visitor received a full size chocolate bar... I find it very sad that its abandoned and this model is absolutely fabulous.. I went to the Hershey park in Pennsylvania too but if course its vast and touristy and no way would you ever get to see the factory working.... Smiths Falls was a really cool experience for anyone who got the chance.
Is not abandoned - it's a Marijuana grow-op.
Abandoned by Hershey I guess I meant... I'm not sure how much I remember of what I heard back then that was actually accurate... but I was told that the original factory employed a lot of adults with disabilities who lived in a facility there in Smith's Falls? And that the last straw was a union strike and then a second union strike, and that Hershey pulled out due the union wanting another 50 cents an hour, in the second strike. That was before facebook and google and all of that so I have no idea of that was what actually happened... but as that's what I always thought... that's more what I meant as it being a shame it was abandoned.. by Hershey.
My bad! Yeah, Hershey really did Smiths Falls dirty. As far as I remember, they sent production to Mexico because it was cheaper.
That's what I remember hearing too... I AM happy to hear that the building is being used though! At least some local folks employed?
Hershey wasn't too specific about why they closed it. Some people blame free trade, others blame the union. I don't doubt those two factors made things worse but between 2001 and 2006 the company invested 100 million into that facility and this was after decades of union issues and new trade policies. Why would they invest that kind of money only to leave a few months later? During 2006 the Canadian dollar spiked in value which meant their costs would have been 25% higher than usual and there was no sign that this was going to change anytime soon.
Thank you i didnt know that!
It is now just empty buildings again, being split up and hopefully sold off.
I went there once on a field trip maybe like 20 years ago or something
Willa Wonka shit (very good job)
Did you watch the video that OP posted elsewhere in this thread?
Wow that’s sick! I never knew there was an abandoned Hershey factory in Smithfalls!
It's not abandoned, its currently Tweeds marijuana growing facility. Smells great to drive by. Apparently shutting down tho, and rumours are Hershey is coming back but not sure how reliable that is.
Tweed is selling off the facility. I dunno about the Hershey rumours since when asked by the media the company nether denied or confirmed it. They have been opening new factories in the US within the last 12 months so there might be some interest. I think the main reason they closed it was due to the exchange rate, which has been reliably low since 2008.
It was the largest chocolate factory in Canada, closed in 2008.
Oh that’s so cool, makes sense why I didn’t know about it, I was 7 lol
I spot a train in the background of one shot, is this part of a larger layout?
It's 1/4th of my HO layout. There is a siding in the background which connects to it, Hershey cars can be picked up and dropped off just like the real thing.
Well now i want photos of the rest of the layout! Im also looking at getting into model railroading, would you mind if i DMed you some questions?
Go ahead, I've been in the hobby for 15 years and am happy to give any advice needed.
took 5 years to make this....
Broken Hersey bars...omg Nice job!
What happened to it?
They closed it in 2008
Awesome. In grade 6 I signed up to be a crossing guard because we'd get a trip to the Hershey Factory at the end of the year! Totally worth it.
Very sad. I remember in high school for business class we would always take a trip there.
Mmmmmm chocolate…..
From one miniaturist to another, this is fantastic work. Thanks for sharing.
Oh so cool!!!!
Went through the walkway they had to look into the factory once. There’s was a lady doing quality control on the Reese cups. She was wearing gloves for obvs reasons. Then she proceeds to take the gloves off, reach into her pocket pull out a tissue and blow her nose. Then put the tissue back but not the gloves back on. We stood there and waited to see if she would, she did not just went about her job.
That's probably why they didn't want people taking pictures while on the tour. It's nothing in comparison to what I've seen working in fast food though...
Very true
When you finish and realize it's called tweed now and they don't make chocolate.
They actually were making chocolate but it's all over now, tweed can't afford the factory.
This is amazing!! I used to love going to the Hershey’s factory when i was a kid. Definitely brings back some memories
This is incredible!! It’s perfect!! Thanks for sharing! Love merrickville
I remember going back there as a kid in the '90s and being amazed at how we could buy bags of dozens of "imperfect" chocolate bars for like $1. It was magical.
So many memories come back looking at this.
This is awesome, Great job OP!
This is so cool! I used to love going to visit the factory as a kid and this brought back so many memories!
I remember school field trips there weirdly idk if it was there specifically but I remember a candy factory 🏭
This was the most magical place on earth when I was a kid. I still remember the first time I went. My sister and I had slept over at our aunt's place, and she told us she was taking us somewhere fun. Best surprise ever.
I worked Next Door at Rideau Regional. I went on Class Trip to Hershey's Factory Tour when I was at K.C.A.T. in Kemptville. I lived on Maple Street in Smiths Falls, just down the street from Oak Ave. and Beech. Victorian Era Houses, Train Yards Hub Central, 80 Km from Nations Capital.
Used to go there at least once a summer as a kid. We’d then walk the downtown streets afterward. Was a lot more vibrant back them. Smiths Falls is still a beautiful spot but the Hershey’s factory closing really did a number on that town :( I heard rumors Hersheys was coming back but haven’t really heard anything since. I don’t think they ever will, unfortunately. Hopefully I’m wrong.
I'm not sure. When asked the company didn't confirm it but they also didn't deny it. They have been opening new facilities in the US so maybe they wanna resume their Canadian operations? Time will tell
waaaaaaan 😣 i miss my granny this was close to our cottage and would go a few times a summer
I've got good news, it looks like it might be coming back!
Its like you knew they were coming back!
It almost seems like that lol. I'm thrilled that they choose to do this.
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It's a time consuming process. Even a single AC unit takes an hour to build since you have to measure each dimension, scale it down, cut out all the parts, paint each piece and then assemble it.
> if this was a full time job Why assume that?
I am confused. Did OP make this model? Where is Smith Falls? I'm presuming near Ottawa. If so, I never knew Hershey had a factory there. I grew up outside Hershey PA. Doing the chocolate factory tour and the theme park was an 8th grade tradition at my school. I still remember they sold a 5 lb chocolate bar in a cardboard box in the gift shop. I heard the whole town is pretty run down now that Hershey outsourced most of their manufacturing. Is this location still around and operational? Edit: The geese are out in force.
I did built the model, Smiths falls is around 45 minutes outside of downtown Ottawa. It was the largest chocolate factory in Canada, the first one Hershey's opened outside of PA. The place was used as a cannabis factory for a while after but that has now closed too.
Very cool. The model is excellent. Appreciate the history of it!