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Area Trivia: Nike Missile base within 25 miles of Media, PA

Nov 29

Media, PA – Within a 25 mile or so radius of the city once stood a ring of Nike Missile bases. Operational during the height of the Cold War, they served one purpose – defend the area from an enemy air attack. With those days now behind us, many of the bases have since vanished without a trace, making room for residential, commercial, and industrial development. Two of those bases are right here in Delaware County  – PH-67 Village Green (Chester / Media) and PH-75 Edgemont (Delaware City.)

Local history buffs may be pleased to know that some of the PH-67 Village Green site still exists. Traces of the Launch Area barracks have a new life as part of the Chichester Education Center at the Hilltop Elementary Complex on Cherry Tree Rd. Sadly, nothing remains of the Control Area which was where the Pennell Elementary School now sits.

A new website for the Village Green Nike Air Base has been launched at http://www.ph15.org/ph67. The purpose of the website to help preserve the history of PH-67 Village Green and to honor the hundreds of Army and National Guard servicemen that manned the base around to the clock during its years of operation. On the website, one can find historical information about the base, photos, articles, as well as first-hand accounts from veterans who were there. Ultimately, the goal is for the website to become a virtual museum of sorts so the memory of the base can live on.

Largly forgotten, Project Nike and was an important part of not only local Delaware County history, but the Cold War history of the United States of America.

One comment

  1. Remnants of PH75 still exist on Delchester Road at Route 3, next to the PENNDOT yard.