He was almost on the Titanic

The Titanic continues to maintain an uncanny sort of fascination for us decades after it perished in the North Atlantic waters. It is simple to understand why since it altered both history and transportation for all time. There were certain travelers who, had they survived, may have had a significant influence on the globe. Milton Hershey was nearly among those travelers.

According to Pam Whitenack, director of the Hershey Community Archives, Hershey was a confirmed traveler on the Titanic's tragic 1912 trip. In order to return to the United States after spending the winter of 1911 on holiday in Nice, France, he purchased a ticket on the Titanic. Hershey ended up reserving passage on the Amerika and departing Europe just four days before Titanic, according to Whitenack. It is unclear what occurred to cause him to modify his plans, however it was probably work-related since the incident wasn't recorded. (Catherine stayed behind to carry on with her abroad medical care.)

Hershey definitely intended to travel on the Titanic, and there is documentation of him paying a $300 deposit to board the ship. However, a commercial emergency spared Hershey from the Titanic catastrophe. Hershey changed his travel plans at the last minute, and it's possible that did so to save his life.