Pahaquarry

         There were many good, kind people in this town, but this page is devoted to the last 6 residents, the ones who were there at the end. There was the mayor, Jean Zipser, the mayor, Harold Van Campen, the only committeeman the town had, and the Valentine family, Wayne and Paula, the father and mother, and their children, Michael and Meredith. Below are summaries of who they were, what they did, and where they are now. 

           Before I begin, I should let the reader know that there are very few photos, if any, of these people, so I was not able to use very many here. I will, however, include pictures related to them when possible. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

             Jean Zipser was a very devoted mayor, and it's clear that she loved this town dearly. She once said "I've traveled extensively, but there is something that moves my heart in a way I can't describe when I begin the drive down the mountain into the valley and home. It's an issue of the heart I think, much like love,” She was a writer, poet, artist, reader, tango dancer, cook, raconteur (fancy word for 'Very skilled storyteller".) and a very creative person. She did her best to hold the town together after the Mr. Van Hagen died in 1994, commenting "With the death of Mr. von Hagen, I think we can continue until the end of the year.” And yet, the town lasted for about 3 years, thanks to her efforts, and some help from Mr. Van Campen, the town's other committee member, as she could not hold a quorum without him. This was a remarkable feat, as the town had two thirds of the minimum requirement for a municipal government that whole time. The township still did inevitably dissolve, and the citizens were very sad about this decision, even though they knew they didn't have much of a choice but to go through with it."Pahaquarry is home, and home has a very special connection," She said."To lose that connection is painful." 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

         In 1997, after Pahaquarry dissolved, Jean founded the "Pahaquarry Foundation", an organization that supports writing and art programs in schools, and helped to preserve what was left of Pahaquarry. What she did with this foundation for Pahaquarry was amazing. She managed to get the Park Service, which had neglected the town in the past, and her Foundation to team up and repair and restore the 190 year old house of her grandmother, Julia Orthwine. Ironically, the very service that had forced Julia's descendants out of her home had returned to help them reclaim it. In 1999, the N.P.S. had begun to replace beams and repair porches throughout Pahaquarry. Jean's Foundation began acquiring grants to help fund their efforts. "All the bitterness of the past receded." she wrote. "That does not mean that everything goes smoothly. However, the foundation and the National Park Service have discovered that we can save Julia's home (the B.B. Van Campen Farm) and give this extended community a valuable resource." In 2002, for an issue of the National Park Service Cultural Resources Magazine, Jean wrote "While preservation of the mid-Delaware River Valley as a national park the Delaware River as part of the Wild and Scenic River System is laudable, I abhor what has happened to my community, Pahaquarry Township, which was forced out of existence. I have struggled to turn my bitterness and anger into something positive. Preserving the wonderful, historic houses is a way for me to assuage my grief. It combines my deep feelings for family heritage and regional history with my civic mindedness."

          She continued her work with the Park Service and her foundation until February 14, 2006, when shockingly, and sadly, she died in a car crash. She died at the location of the accident. According to a news report, she died when "her car went off the road, hit an embankment and rolled over, according to park officials." Even the park service was upset about her death. "Jean was an impassioned spokesperson for local history and for the arts" said park superintendant, John J. Donahue. "She did a great deal toward advancement of both causes and was a long-time park partner in these efforts. We will miss her." 

         The Pahaquarry Foundation still exists today, still doing what they can to help Pahaquarry. In addition to them, another organization had formed in 2007, called the Pahaquarry Association for History and the Arts; ironically, its acronym is "PAHA".  Anyway, while the Pahaquarry Foundation's main focus is helping keep Pahaquarry from decaying, (although, they do dabble in the arts on occasion.) PAHA focuses on Jean's artistic side. They hold art conventions, and help spread awareness of Pahaquarry.

         After Jean had died, her last will and testament were honored, and she had left around 100,000$ more to friends and family than the 400,000$ worth of her estate! Various items were auctioned off to help pay for it. Items sold included books like with titles like "Tom Jones" and "Primal Leadership - Learning to Lead with Emotional Intelligence", Jazz records, a stained glass window, and I'm not joking here, a canoe with a Campbell’s Soup Raft. (Yes, it exists, one is pictured below. These rafts sell for around 300$. I'm just as surprised as you are.) But as Robert Teel, president of the auction house (which Ms. Zipser frequently visited) aptly said "The uniqueness is the person, not the items," he also said "She was a very interesting person, very well known because of Pahaquarry Township and the Pahaquarry Historical Foundation, and she was a most interesting artist, writer."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jean was a great person, who did everything she could for her town and those close to her. It's such a shame that she died, she did so much, and we've lost a very kind person. She has been, and will still be, missed. Rest in Peace, Ms. Zipser.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

         Mr. Van Campen didn't like the media and reporters very much. When asked to be interviewed, or even photographed, he refused, claiming that it would "only bring people around." And that, my dear reader, is the only quote I could find from Harold Van Campen. He didn't say much else to the press, a stark contrast to the wealth of information Zipser shared. His town was quiet, and he liked that way, I assume. He simply didn't want to attract attention. Despite this, he was a very good man, and helped Jean with her decisions as mayor, and stood by her until his death in 2001. I have no idea how he died, as I cannot even track down an obituary. Even after his death, the press cannot cover a single story on the man. He wasn't very prominent, but he didn't want to be. Unfortunately, however, this means that there is very little information on the man himself, and it also means I cannot provide much more than what I've typed here. I am very sorry, but as much as I would like to give more information, there is nothing more I can add.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Valentines were the family who worked for the National Park Service. Well, Paula and Wayne did, the kids were just along for the ride. They were stationed in Pahaquarry to work with on the Delaware Water Gap Recreational Area, Wayne on the Delaware Recreational area as a whole from 1990-2002, and Paula on the "Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River" project from 1992-2002. Her project was essentially about protecting the river and the like. Anyway, after living in Pahaquarry, they went to work in Fire Island National Seashore, starting in 2002. I don't know much about the job of National Park Service Employee, but I imagine it involves protecting a certain National Park in need of it, and educating visitors about said park. Unlike the other 2 residents, Jean Zipser and Harold Van Campen, the family is still alive, and according to the NPC's website, doing very well.

        Wayne Valentine retired from his position of chief ranger at Fire Island in 2006, while Paula stayed to work there as the public affairs specialist. Though, she did eventually retire from this position in 2013, to join Wayne and the kids, Michael and Meredith, at their new home on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. "We look forward to spending more time with family and friends after we get settled in." Said Paula. She had started planting a perennial garden at their new home, and planned to travel with Wayne, and go sailing with him.  Their career with the N.P.C. lasted nearly 4 decades. 

         I don't know much else about them, most news reports at the time merely glossed over their names, and so I have no idea what kind of people they were. But I imagine they are very nice people, and I wish them good luck in their new home, we will always remember them as both hard working NPS members, and the last surviving residents of Pahaquarry.