diff --git a/pds3label/pds3_label_visitor.py b/pds3label/pds3_label_visitor.py
index 58f685e..5b4ef32 100644
--- a/pds3label/pds3_label_visitor.py
+++ b/pds3label/pds3_label_visitor.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 from __future__ import print_function
+import re
 
 try:
     from collections import OrderedDict
@@ -40,8 +41,25 @@ def visitScalarIdentifier(self, ctx):
 
     def visitScalarString(self, ctx):
         ODLv21Visitor.visitScalarString(self, ctx)
-        return ctx.STRING().getText()
+        return Pds3LabelVisitor._clean_string(ctx.STRING().getText())
 
     def visitScalarSymbol(self, ctx):
         ODLv21Visitor.visitScalarSymbol(self, ctx)
-        return ctx.SYMBOL_STRING().getText()
+        return Pds3LabelVisitor._clean_symbol(ctx.SYMBOL_STRING().getText())
+
+    @classmethod
+    def _clean_symbol(cls, instring):
+        """Strips the single quotes off of the symbol"""
+        instring = re.sub(r"'", '', instring)
+        return instring
+
+    @classmethod
+    def _clean_string(cls, instring):
+        """Cleans up the provided string, including the following things:
+            * Strips off double quotes
+            * Replaces all whitespace (including newlines) with a single space.
+        """
+        instring = re.sub(r'"', '', instring)          # strip "
+        instring = re.sub(r"-\s*\n\s+", '', instring)  # remove hyphen and its trailing whitespace
+        instring = re.sub(r"\s+", ' ', instring)       # replace whitespace with single space
+        return instring
diff --git a/test/test_pds3label.py b/test/test_pds3label.py
index 3c1e340..500f49b 100755
--- a/test/test_pds3label.py
+++ b/test/test_pds3label.py
@@ -32,3 +32,15 @@ def test_string2(self):
         assert label.label_dict['INTEGER1'] == 1
         assert label.label_dict['FLOAT'] == 2.3
         assert label.label_dict['COMMENT1'] == "THING TEST"
+        assert label.label_dict['COMMENT2'] == "Alive."
+        assert label.label_dict['COMMENT_1'] == "THING TEST"
+        assert label.label_dict['COMMENT_2'] == "Alive."
+        assert label.label_dict['COMMENT_2_A'] == "Alive Again."
+        assert label.label_dict['SYMBOL_STR'] == "JBD-123"
+
+    def test_string3(self):
+        label = Pds3Label('test/data/string3.lbl')
+        assert label.infile == 'test/data/string3.lbl'
+        assert label.label_dict['MULTILINE'] == 'This is a test of the emergency broadcasting system.'
+        assert label.label_dict['HYPHENATED'] == 'The planet Jupiter is very big'
+        assert label.label_dict['EMPTY_STRING'] == ''