PH-32
Encyclopedia
PH-32 is a former Nike missile
launch site in Marlton
, New Jersey
, United States
. The 35 acres (141,640.1 m²) base was opened on July 1, 1955 as part of a ring of 12 Nike sites intended to protect the population and military installations of the Philadelphia area during the Cold War
, specifically from attack by Soviet
bomber aircraft. During its operation, it had two magazines armed with Nike-Ajax missiles. At different periods in the base's history, it contained between 16 and 20 missiles.
In 1963, the more advanced Nike-Hercules missile was distributed to some Nike bases. Because of this new missile, fewer sites were needed and PH-32, along with 7 other Philadelphia region bases, was shut down. After deactivation, PH-32 was sold to Burlington County
for $32,000 and was used as the Burlington County Civil Defense Center. Its new role was meant to be a coordination center for civil defense in the event of attack, but it ended up being used as storage. Different parts of the site also took on various roles including a fire and police academy, school, and target range.
The site was purchased by a developer who intended to split the property, with the new Spring Run neighborhood on the control area and a school on the launch area. While the project was approved, the development was never built. All buildings at the site were demolished in 1977. In the 1980s, water contamination near the base was found to be a health hazard. In the mid-1990s, the site was sold to another developer who turned the control area into the Briarwood development. In 2002, Evesham Township
had the launch area cleared of illegal dumps and demolition debris left from the buildings. During the cleanup, the magazine elevator doors were sealed with asphalt for safety reasons.
Project Nike
Project Nike was a U.S. Army project, proposed in May 1945 by Bell Laboratories, to develop a line-of-sight anti-aircraft missile system. The project delivered the United States' first operational anti-aircraft missile system, the Nike Ajax, in 1953...
launch site in Marlton
Marlton, New Jersey
Marlton is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Evesham Township in Burlington County, New Jersey. As of the United States 2000 Census, the population of Marlton was 10,260.-History:...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The 35 acres (141,640.1 m²) base was opened on July 1, 1955 as part of a ring of 12 Nike sites intended to protect the population and military installations of the Philadelphia area during the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
, specifically from attack by Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
bomber aircraft. During its operation, it had two magazines armed with Nike-Ajax missiles. At different periods in the base's history, it contained between 16 and 20 missiles.
In 1963, the more advanced Nike-Hercules missile was distributed to some Nike bases. Because of this new missile, fewer sites were needed and PH-32, along with 7 other Philadelphia region bases, was shut down. After deactivation, PH-32 was sold to Burlington County
Burlington County, New Jersey
There were 154,371 households out of which 34.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.70% were married couples living together, 10.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.70% were non-families. 22.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.50% had...
for $32,000 and was used as the Burlington County Civil Defense Center. Its new role was meant to be a coordination center for civil defense in the event of attack, but it ended up being used as storage. Different parts of the site also took on various roles including a fire and police academy, school, and target range.
The site was purchased by a developer who intended to split the property, with the new Spring Run neighborhood on the control area and a school on the launch area. While the project was approved, the development was never built. All buildings at the site were demolished in 1977. In the 1980s, water contamination near the base was found to be a health hazard. In the mid-1990s, the site was sold to another developer who turned the control area into the Briarwood development. In 2002, Evesham Township
Evesham Township, New Jersey
Evesham Township is a township in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States. The township population was 45,538 as of the 2010 United States Census....
had the launch area cleared of illegal dumps and demolition debris left from the buildings. During the cleanup, the magazine elevator doors were sealed with asphalt for safety reasons.