Pahaquarry

 

       The mine was one of Warren County's biggest, and no one knows exactly who dug it. The most commonly accepted theory is that it was built in the seventeenth century, by Dutch miners. Most historians agree with this, however, there are some who claim that it was actually impossible for the Dutch to have built it. They say that their colonial wrought-iron tools could not pierce the hard sandstone that the copper was encased in. The mine was also in hostile territory at the time, as the Dutch and the Esopus Native Americans that lived near it were at war in 1655. This made them bitter enemies, and it's argued that the Native Americans couldn't possibly have wanted the Dutch to mine there. However, it is also agreed upon that the Native Americans didn't build the mine either, as the copper in their tools had been traced to a different mine. So this begs the question, if the Native Americans didn't create the mine, and neither did the Dutch, then who did? To this day, historians still haven't found an answer... What we do know for sure, however, is that the English took full control of the mine in 1664. Whether they used the mine for anything prior to early records or not is unknown.

       The earliest reports of settlers (Other than the Dutch/Native Americans) say that mining began once again in the year 1750, though, this venture was a failure, and the mine's owner at the time, John Reading Jr., gave up on the mine in 1760. Mining would flare up again every decade or so, but it died out in 1901. Later, a Doctor Keith examined the ore; he started in 1903, and finished in 1906. His research said that from an average of 100 pieces of copper, Pahaquarry Copper Mine's ore was 3.25% copper. Not high grade, but useful nonetheless. However, in 1943 the United States Geological Survey reported that the mine's ore was only comprised of 0.11% to 0.38% copper, which was so low grade that it would cost mining companies more money to mine the ore than it was actually worth. The land is now part of the Delaware Water Gap Recreational Area, along with Pahaquarry.

       For a time, the mine was open to tours, but it was shut down due to a dangerous disease called "White Nose Syndrome" that threatened to kill all of the mine's bats. I couldn't find a year, the best information I could find mentions a tour that took place in 1988, and vaguely. The park staff closed off the mine with a metal gate, and placed a sign next to the entrance explaining why the mine had been closed. (Pictured below.)

 

 

  

         

        

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

        The sign explains that "White-nose Syndrome" had been discovered in two sites within the park, and it was suspected to be in others as well. The disease had killed hundreds of thousands of bats in the northeastern United States in 3 years, making it a very serious problem. Caves infected with this disease can show very little, symptoms, and these symptoms are also very hard to notice, making it difficult to pinpoint. It's carried by an airborne fungus, likely to latch on to clothes and personal items. Although the disease isn't harmful to humans (As far as we know), it can easily spread itself to other caves via visitors. All of these factors meant that the mine could no longer be toured, as the fungus could run rampant within the mine if touring continued. However, there were rumors that a lower area of the mine was still accessible in warmer months, when the bats weren't hibernating. Whether these are true or not, I can't say for certain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

As I said, there is very little information on Harold Van Campen. However, there is a wealth of information on his ancestors. As a matter of fact, he can be traced back to Colonel Abraham Van Campen, a very prominent man in Pahaquarry; he was the very first settler. The land was part of where the Native Americans used to live, and they were, in essence, the ones who named Pahaquarry. They called the land "Pahaqualin", and that eventually became "Pahaquarry." For those curious, Pahaqualin was Leni-Lenape for "The land between mountains and rivers", and just looking at the town's geography, it's no wonder they called it that. Anyway, the Native Americans eventually lost this land to Proprietors from West Jersey in 1713. Abraham bought this land from the heirs of one of the Proprietors, George Hutcheson. It was a 1,666 acre tract of land, which he bought for £735. It became the upper half of Pahaquarry Township; he had already bought various other pieces of land to make up the rest. At one point, the man owned over 3,000 acres of land, and he sold most of it, leaving 1,600 to his sons. a Richard Smith, who traveled down the Delaware with a Native American guide in a canoe in 1769, years after Mr. Abraham had died, had this to say about the man's home:"we had a glimpse of the late Col. Van Camp's place below Walpack; he has a good share of even land and a range of swelling hills proper for sheep pasture, as much of all this country would be if it was cultivated."He built that "place" around 1725, in the wilderness.

          During the Indian Wars, his home was the headquarters of all settlers in the area, and a fort was built nearby for a garrison of 250 men. The officers ate at his dinner table. He was Colonel of the West Jersey Troops in the French and Indian War of 1755-58 and was ordered by Governor Belcher (whom I feel bad for, with a last name like that...) to have his regiment ready to march to Pennsylvania and repel the Native Americans before they could reach New Jersey. The Native Americans were terrified of him. He was also Justice of the Peace, and performed marriages in the region through his job. He was also a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. He married Twice, had about 4 kids per wife, and lived a happy, rich life. Little did he know what his great land purchases would become in the far future...