When The Pennsylvania State University purchased the former Olmsted Air Force Base in 1966, the acquisition of land and buildings did not include the Meade Heights housing complex (pictured left). Instead, the west region of campus was acquired by the University from the Department of Defense on November 26, 1968, for $1,175,000 and included 40 acres with 140 family housing units. The purchase of Meade Heights increased the size of the campus from 177.5 to 217.5 acres with a total of 90 buildings.

Meade Heights is beloved by many of Penn State Harrisburg’s alumni because of the unique housing experience it offered to students.  “The Heights,” as it was sometimes called, was more like a neighborhood than student dormitories. Originally known in the 1960s  as the “Capeheart Housing Area,” because it was built with federal provisions from the Capeheart Housing Act of 1955, Meade Heights was constructed on the Olmsted Air Force Base between February 1958 and finished in late 1960.

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In this original map of Meade Heights from June 1970 (above left), the lasting influence of the Olmsted Air Force Base is evident. Roads in the complex were named after officers, such as Mars Drive in honor of Colonel James A. Mars, commanding officer from 1919-1920 when the base was called the Aviation General Supply Depot.  During the 1970s, students in Meade Heights had access to a laundry facility called “Suds City” (on Weaver Avenue), as well as two different social hangouts known as the “Easy Inn” (929B Flickinger Street) and “Bender Brothers” (946A Kirtland Avenue) close to People’s Park.