USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Wilbraham > Wilbraham annual report 1941-1945 > Part 1
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WILBRAHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY
A15801 347232
WILBRAHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY
A15800 603588
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2017 with funding from Boston Public Library
https://archive.org/details/wilbrahamannualr1941wilb
Town of Wilbraham
Year Book
F W
R
ONM
TO
INCORPORATED
1763.
M
5
S
A
Covering the Activities of the Year of 1941
Please bring this book with you to Town Meeting as the supply is limited.
WILBRAHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY
bound val (yes 1941-1945 26683
Town of Wilbraham
Year Book
WI
0
NMOJ
INCORPORATED
1763.
M
TS.
S
Covering the Activities of the Year of 1941
TOWN OF WILBRAHAM, MASSACHUSETTS Incorporated 1763
Rrepresented in the United States Senate by David I. Walsh, Clinton Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr., Boston
Represented in Congress by Charles R. Clason, Springfield Second Massachusetts Congressional District
Represented in the Governor's Council by Edmund Burke of Worcester Seventh Councillor District
Represented in Massachusetts State Senate by Thomas H. Johnston, Clinton Worcester-Hampden Senatorial District
Represented in Massachusetts House of Representatives by Clarence B. Brown, Brimfield William J. Sessions, Hampden First Hampden District
Annual Town Election and Annual Appropriation Meeting Always held on first Monday in February.
3
Elected Town Officers -- 1941
AND DATE OF EXPIRATION OF TERMS
Selectmen and Board of Public Welfare
ALBERT L. MARTIN, Chairman, 1942 GEORGE E. MURPHY, JR., 1943 J. LORING BROOKS, JR., 1944
Assessors E. RAY PEASE, Chairman, 1942 CHARLES W. VINTON, 1943 HENRY I. EDSON, 1944
School Committee
H. W. CUTLER, Chairman, 1942 MRS. MARY S. MERRICK, 1943 HORACE J. RICE, 1944
Town Collector MICHAEL C. SMITH, 1942
Treasurer WALTER F. BERRY, 1942
Town Clerk MRS. JENNIE T. ABBOTT, 1942
Auditor WILLIAM E. PORTER, 1942
Cemetery Commissioners HENRY I. EDSON, Chairman, 1942 ADELBERT J. BROOKS, 1943 ARTHUR E. DIBBLE, 1944
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Water Commissioners HOWARD E. CALKINS, Chairman, 1942 GEORGE E. NORTHUP, 1943 *GERALD B. OWENS, 1944
Trustees of Public Library MRS. MARY R. GREEN, 1942 DR. A. L. DAMON, 1943 H. W. CUTLER, 1944
Tree Warden ERNEST M. HAYN, 1942
Constables ERNEST L. BACON, 1942 WILLIAM E. DAY, 1942 AUGUSTUS F. FRIEND, 1942 EVERETT P. PICKENS, 1942 JOHN B. TUPPER, 1942
Planning Board RUSSELL HARRINGTON, 1942 WALTER F. LAUFFERT, 1944 A. I. MACDONALD, 1942 RAY PALMER, 1943 HERBERT F. SWETLAND, 1943
1
Officers Appointed by Selectmen
Town Counsel ERNEST E. HOBSON, 1942
Clerk and Visitor for Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Welfare HELEN C. BODEN, 1942
*Vacated office-removed from town.
5
Bookkeeper for Selectmen HATTIE E. G. BURBANK, 1942
Superintendent of Streets FRED C. PHELPS, 1942
Financial Committee
FRANK N. BODEN, 1942 IRVING J. CORDNER, 1942
LEON A. JEWELL, 1942 JOHN J. LYONS, 1942
WILLIAM H. McGUIRE, 1942 CARL NELSON, 1942 EDWARD P. RACIBORSKI, 1942
Board of Fire Commissioners
WESLEY G. CHAPMAN, 1942 DAVID J. MUIR, 1942 FRED B. REIDY, 1942
Forest Warden JERRY DONOHUE, 1942
Sealer of Weights and Measures CHARLES W. VINTON, 1942
Building Inspector GEORGE HERTER, 1942
Inspector of Provisions, Slaughtering and Cattle Inspector of Milk JAMES M. PICKENS, 1942
Gypsy Moth Superintendent E. RAY PEASE, 1942
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Registrar of Voters
MRS. JENNIE T. ABBOTT, Clerk, (Ex-officio), 1942 WILLIAM L. DEMPSEY, 1942 HAROLD R. PORTER, 1943
JOHN J. POWERS, 1944
Fence Viewers HAROLD W. BROWN, 1942 WILLIAM L. DEMPSEY, 1942 JOHN J. LYONS, 1942
Dog Officer JOHN B. TUPPER, 1942
Tire Rationing Board DR. FREDERIC T. STEELE WALTER F. BERRY RUSSELL J. HARRINGTON
In Memoriam
MYRON L. BRUUER
Former Member of School Committee
CARROL J. ENEMARK
Former Chairman of Committee for Civilian Defense
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Report of Annual Town Meeting February 2, 1941
Article 1. Dr. Frederic T. Steele was elected Moderator.
Article 2. Minor officers elected :
Pound Keeper John B. Tupper
Measurers of Wood and Charcoal
Walter Clark Robert M. Welch
Surveyors of Lumber
Walter Clark J. Wilbur Rice
Field Drivers
Harold E. Howe John B. Tupper
Norman Thurlow
Weighers of Grain
Ralph Bennett Henry Clark
Article 3. Voted to accept the reports of Selectmen, Board of Public Welfare, Treasurer, School Committee and other officers as printed.
Article 4. Voted that the compensation of elected officers be the same as last year.
Article 5. Voted the following appropriations: Public Welfare $9,500.00
Old Age Assistance 12,000.00
Aid for Dependent Children 1,000.00
Board of Health Appropriation 4,000.00
Schools and Improvement of Pines School grounds 62,400.00
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Water Bonds and Interest
4,920.00
Water Notes and Interest
3,270.00
Water Board Appropriation
4,000.00
Town Officers' Salaries Street Lights
5,800.00
2,900.00
Library
900.00
Hydrants
2,280.00
Misc. Highways and Snow Removal
2,700.00
Highways, Chapter 81
6,600.00
Highways, Chapter 91
500.00
Highways, Chapter 90, Springfield Street
2,500.00
Fire Department
3,000.00
Care of Cemeteries
650.00
County Tuberculosis Hospital
405.00
Dental Clinic
600.00
Americanization Class
375.00
Insurance and Bonding
800.00
Interest
200.00
Police
200.00
Soldiers Relief
1,200.00
State Aid
100.00
Road Machinery Appropriation
2,300.00
Printing Town Reports
296.20
Town Clerk's Expense
60.00
Town Treasurer's Expense
300.00
Town Collector's Expense
400.00
Registrars' Expense
50.00
Assessors' Expense
100.00
Building Inspector's Expense
10.00
Contingent Appropriation
800.00
Forest Warden's Appropriation
100.00
Tree Warden's Appropriation
550.00
Office Rent
144.00
Care of Parks
250.00
Liquor Law Enforcement
300.00
W. P. A. Projects
500.00
Legal Claims
1,000.00
Memorial Day
75.00
County Aid to Agriculture
100.00
Safety Committee
50.00
Unpaid Bills of 1940
61.00
Gipsy Moth
500.00
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Playground Project
300.00
150.00
New Precinct Expense Protection of School Children
600.00
Well Child Conference Water Main Extension Survey
300.00
500.00
Water Main Extension, Ripley Street
700.00
Reserve Fund
4,500.00
Article 6. Voted that the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, be and hereby is, authorized to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the current financial year beginning January 1, 1941, and to issue a note or notes therefor payable within one year, and to renew any notes or note that may be given for a period of less than one year in accordance with Chapter 44, Section 17, General Laws.
Article 7. Voted to instruct the Selectmen to prosecute any person selling or transporting intoxicating liquors in the town, contrary to the laws of the Commonwealth; and to raise and appropriate $300.00 for same.
Article 8. Voted to raise and appropriate $500.00 to be expended under the direction of the Selectmen for necessary costs of materials and trucking on the local W. P. A. projects or on local projects operated under the successor, if any, of the W. P. A.
Article 9. Voted to raise and appropriate $500.00 for the maintenance of Chapter 90 roads, provided the State and County contribute toward the same in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 90, General Laws. A unanimous vote.
Article 10. Voted to raise and appropriate $2,500.00 for the improvement of Springfield Street, provided the State and County contribute toward the same in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 90, General Laws. A unanimous vote.
Article 11. Voted to raise and appropriate $75.00 for the observance of Memorial Day.
Article 12. Voted to raise and appropriate the following
10
sums for the payment of unpaid bills incurred in 1940 within the limitation of the 1940 appropriations for said purposes : Board of Health $31.00 and Well Child Clinic $30.00.
Article 13. Voted to authorize and instruct the Selectmen to take whatever action they deem necessary for the clarifica- tion and determination of title to the various school house lots located in the town and no longer in use for school purposes; and to pay the costs from the legal appropriation.
Article 14. Voted to raise and appropriate $250.00 for the care of Parks at Wilbraham, North Wilbraham and Glen- dale.
Article 15. Voted to raise and appropriate $100.00 to be expended in the town by the Hampden County Trustees for Agriculture, in accordance with the provisions of the laws of the Commonwealth.
Article 16. Voted to authorize the Selectmen to sell, after first giving notice of the time and place of sale by posting such notice of sale in some convenient and public place in the town fourteen days at least before sale, property taken by the Town under tax title procedure, provided that the Selectmen or whosoever they authorize to hold such public auction, may reject any bid which they deem inadequate.
Article 17. Voted to raise and appropriate $50.00 to be expended by the Safety Committee with the approval of the Selectmen, in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth.
Article 18. Voted to raise and appropriate $600.00 to be used to protect the school children from traffic hazards.
Article 19. Voted to raise and appropriate $300.00 to be expended in the so-called follow up work arising from the Well Child Conference.
Article 20. Voted to instruct the Selectmen to institute or defend suits and employ counsel for the purpose of protecting the interests of the town; and to raise and appropriate $1,000.00 for the same.
11
Article 21. Voted to accept the cemetery trust fund left to the town since the last Annual Meeting: Henry C. Butler and Herbert F. Greene, one trust fund of $100.00 East Wil- braham Cemetery.
Article 22. Voted to assume liability in the manner provided by Section 29 of Chapter 91, General Laws and Chap- ter 513 of the Acts of 1939, for all damages that may be in- curred by work to be performed by the Department of Public Works of Massachusetts in rivers and streams of the town, in accordance with the provisions of said Chapter 513, and authorize the Selectmen to execute and deliver a bond of in- demnity therefor to the Commonwealth.
Article 23. Voted that the Dog Tax of 1940 be given to the Library.
Article 24. Voted to raise and appropriate the sum of $300.00 to be used under the supervision of the School Com- mittee for the operation of three playground projects, one in the vicinity of each of the schools in the town, during the months of July and August.
Article 25. Voted that the Selectmen be instructed to study and report back to a meeting of the town as soon as pos- sible after May 1, 1941, the proposal to accept as a public way that portion of Manchonis Road described as follows: Be- ginning at the intersection of Manchonis Road and Forest Street at a point which now terminates the western boundary of that portion of Manchonis Road which has been accepted and is now a public way, and extending in a westerly direction for a distance of approximately 2250 feet, more or less, to the point where said Manchonis Road intersects the western boundary of a private way known as Mohawk Street.
Article 26. Voted to authorize and instruct the Selectmen to establish and lay out and determine the boundaries of an additional voting precinct, to include the northwestern section of the town where the polling place for said additional precinct shall be located, said precinct to be known as Precinct C and to be used in all State and Federal primaries and elections, and to make such changes in the boundaries of the existing precincts
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A and B as they may deem necessary for the establishment of said additional precinct boundaries. Voted to raise and ap- propriate $150.00 for the purchase of a ballot box and such other voting equipment as is necessary.
Article 27. Voted to raise and appropriate $500.00 for a survey of the feasibility and costs of the project of extending the water main from its present terminus near the Boston and Albany underpass at North Wilbraham to the Palmer town line, the survey to be conducted under the direction of the Water Commissioners.
Article 28. Voted that out of the $500.00 appropriated for a survey of the cost of the project of extending the water main from the underpass at North Wilbraham to the Palmer line, a survey of the feasibility and cost of the project to extend the water main on Stony Hill Road north from its present terminus to the junction of Boston Road and Stony Hill Road be made, the survey to be made under the direction of the Water Commissioners.
Article 29. Voted to accept as a public highway the rest of Ripley Street beginning at the intersection of Ripley and Pomeroy Streets and running southerly for 520 feet more or less to the northerly boundary of property now or formerly of M. Luther Bruuer.
Article 30. Voted to raise and appropriate $700.00 to be used to purchase about 520 feet of six inch water pipe and fittings to be laid on Ripley Street from the intersection of Pomeroy Street to the north boundary of the property now or formerly of M. Luther Bruuer, the work to be done under the direction of the Water Commissioners.
Article 31. Voted to instruct the Selectmen to study and report back to a meeting of the town, as soon as possible after May 1, 1941, the proposal to accept as a public way the road running southerly from the corner of Monson Road opposite the intersection of Monson Road with Ridge Road, for a dis- tance of about 1200 feet southerly, to a point 50 feet beyond the north line of the property now or formerly of one Char- koudian.
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Article 32. No action taken.
Article 33. Voted (54 yes and + no) to amend Section 15 of the Zoning By-Law of the town by the adoption of the follow- ing amendment to be known as paragraph F of Section 15 of said Zoning By-Law-"in residence districts the removal for sale of sod, loam, clay, sand, gravel or quarried stone, except when incidental to and in connection with the construction of a building for which a permit has been issued, or except where it is to be used within the limits of the town, shall be deemed a nonconforming use of land and shall be permitted only if written permission of the Board of Appeals be obtained and under such conditions as the Board of Appeals may impose and make a part of the permit. The Board of Appeals shall in each instance impose such conditions as will protect the neighborhood and town against permanent and temporary hazards because of conditions which may be left after operations are completed, or because of the method of handling such material at the site or of transporting such materials through the town."
Article 34. Voted to request the Selectmen to appoint a committee of not less than five nor more than seven members with authority to investigate, formulate and recommend for action at the next regular or special town meeting, a building code and revision of the existing zoning ordinance.
Article 35. Voted that the sum of $10,000.00 of the total appropriation be taken from the free cash in the treasury. Voted that all money appropriated at this meeting be raised by assessment against the polls, personal properties and real estate of the town unless otherwise provided for at this meeting.
Voted unanimously the following:
RESOLUTION
We, the people of Wilbraham in Annual Town Meeting assembled, hereby adopt the following resolution:
Whereas Mr. William H. McGuire served the Town capably, loyally and unselfishly as a town officer continuously from 1902 to the present, and Whereas because of ill health
14
he finds himself unable to continue in town office, we do hereby express the deep appreciation of the townspeople for both the quality and the length of his long service.
And the Town Clerk is instructed to forward a copy of this Resolution to Mr. McGuire and to incorporate said Resolu- tion in the official records of this meeting.
JENNIE T. ABBOTT, Town Clerk.
Report of Special Town Meeting May 3, 1941
Article 1. Dr. Frederic T. Steele was elected Moderator.
Article 2. The Town voted to accept with thanks the survey conducted under the direction of the Water Com- missioners as to the feasibility and costs of the project of ex- tending the water main from its present terminus near the Boston and Albany underpass at North Wilbraham to the Palmer town line, and to further instruct the Water Com- missioners to make a survey as to the feasibility and costs of an independent well-standpipe system of water supply for the eastern section of the town, and to report their findings to the Annual Town Meeting in February 1942.
Article 3. Voted to accept with thanks the survey con- ducted under the direction of the Water Commissioners as to the cost of the project to extend the water main on Stony Hill Road north from its present terminus to the junction of Boston Road and Stony Hill Road; and to take no further action at this meeting.
Article 4. Voted to accept as a public way that section of Manchonis Road beginning at the westerly end of that portion of Manchonis Road previously accepted as a public way (inter- section of Forest Street) and extending in a westerly direction 800 feet, said way being 50 feet in width throughout.
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Article 5. Voted to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,100.00 for the improvement of Manchonis Road.
Article 6. Voted to accept as a public way the private way now in use and known as Dalton Street starting at the southerly side of Acton Street and extending southerly to a point 10 feet south of the south side of the last house now exist- ing on the east side of said way, said way being 50 feet in width throughout.
Article 7. Voted to raise and appropriate the sum of $700.00 for the improvement of Dalton Street.
Article 8. Voted to raise and appropriate the sum of $4,000.00 to complete the installation of the water main west- erly along Springfield Street in Wilbraham from its present terminus to the Springfield boundary line.
Article 9. Voted that of the appropriations made at this meeting the sum of $2,800.00 be raised by levy on the polls, personal property and real estate taxable in the town, and that the sum of $3,000.00 be appropriated from the surplus revenue of the excess and deficiency fund in the town treasury.
Voted that the town instruct the Water Commissioners to study the project of supplying water to Bartlett Avenue and Glendale Road and report to the next Annual Town Meeting.
Voted that the Planning Board be instructed to consider and recommend to the next Annual Town Meeting a suitable amendment to the zoning ordinance requiring those who build for sale houses not located on a public way, to construct an adequate private way, safe and usuable throughout the year, before such houses may be sold.
JENNIE T. ABBOTT. Town Clerk.
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Report of Special Town Meeting December 6, 1941
Article 1. Dr. Frederic T. Steele was elected Moderator.
Article 2. Voted, that the Town convey to Frederick and Anna L. Coon a certain tract of land situated in Wilbraham, on the southerly side of the Springfield Road, as most recently laid out and relocated by the County Commissioners of Hamp- den County, and bounded and described as follows: Descrip- tion of land in Wilbraham, Mass., lying between the northerly line of Springfield Road as established in 1911 and the south- erly line of said Road as established in 1939, to be sold by the Town of Wilbraham to Frederick and Anna L. Coon.
Beginning at an iron pipe in the southerly line of Spring- field Road, Wilbraham, Mass., near North Branch of Mill River, as relocated for the County Commissioners August 1939, said iron pipe being on the division line between land of said Coon and land formerly of the Springfield Institution for Savings produced ncrtherly to intersect the above mentioned southerly line of Springfield Road 100.90 feet to its intersection with the northerly line of the 1911 layout; thence by said line of the 1911 layout south 47° 27' 30" west 30.15 feet to an angle in said line; thence south 66° 56' 30" west 74.46 feet to a point in the above mentioned division line produced; thence by said line north 13º 24' 30° west 16.00 feet to the point of beginning.
And that the Selectmen be and they are hereby authorized, in the name and behalf of the Town, to execute, acknowledge and deliver to said Frederick and Anna L. Coon a deed con- veying said premises. A unanimous vote.
Article 3. Voted, that the Town convey to Mark V. D. Wadsworth and Harry R. Whyte a certain tract of land sit- uated in Wilbraham on the southerly side of the Springfield Road as most recently laid out and relocated by the County Commissioners of Hampden County, bounded and described as follows:
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Description of land in Wilbraham, Mass., lying between the northerly line of Springfield Road as established in 1911 and the southerly line of said Road as established 1939, to be sold by the Town of Wilbraham to Mark V. D. Wadsworth and Harry R. Whyte.
Beginning at a stone bound in the southerly line of Spring- field Road, Wilbraham, Mass., near North Branch of Mill River as relocated for the County Commissioners August 1939, said stone bound marking the westerly terminus of a curve having a radius of 1106.33 feet; thence easterly by said southerly line of Springfield Road 253.72 feet to a point in range with the division line between land now or formerly of Frederick and Anna L. Coon and land now or formerly of Springfield Institution for Savings; thence south 13º 24' 30" east, 16.00 feet to a point in the northerly line of Springfield Road as marked by stone bounds set to define said line as established by the County Commissioners in 1911; thence north 800 44' 30" west 128.09 feet to the intersection of said northerly line with the southerly line of Springfield Road as established in 1939; thence north 860 34' 30" east by said southerly line 92.51 feet to the stone bound at the point of beginning.
And that the Selectmen be and they are hereby authorized in the name and behalf of the Town, to execute, acknowledge, and deliver to said Mark V. D. Wadsworth and Harry R. Whyte a deed conveying said premises. A unanimous vote.
Article 4. Voted to refer to the Board of Health the matter of the water supply on Stony Hill Road.
JENNIE T. ABBOTT, Town Clerk.
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Town Clerk's Report
Births recorded
60
Births of prior years recorded
15
Correction of record of births
7
Marriages recorded
65
Correction of record of marriage
2
Delayed return of marriage
1
Deaths recorded
36
Personal property mortgages recorded
84
Other instruments recorded
5
Oaths administered
47
Gasoline permits renewed
18
Dog licenses, male
213
Dog licenses, female
53
Dog licenses, spayed female
64
Dog licenses, kennel
3
Resident Citizens' Fishing licenses
155
Resident Citizens' Hunting licenses
129
Resident Citizens' Sporting licenses
74
Resident Citizens' Women's and Minor's Fishing licenses
59
Resident Minor Trapper's licenses
1
Resident Citizens' Trapping licenses
4
Resident Citizens' Sporting and Trapping licenses Free
10
Non Resident Citizens' Fishing licenses
1
Non Resident Citizens' Special Fishing licenses
1
JENNIE T. ABBOTT,
Town Clerk.
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Town Clerk's Expense
$60.00
Appropriation
Jennie T. Abbott, reimbursement for cash paid for postage, supplies, dues and ex- penses to Town Clerk's meetings $41.86
A. H. Bartlett Co., birth and marriage certificates, marriage intentions 6.00
Robinson Seal Co., mortgage ring binder,
marital certificates, dog posters 5.38
Total expenditure $53.24 Balance 6.76
20
WILLIAM H. McGUIRE
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With Appreciation
The very lengthy public service rendered to the Town by William H. McGuire has been as embodied with merit as it has been with continuity.
Mr. McGuire became a member of the Board of Assessors in 1907 and served until 1909 when he was elected as Town Clerk and Town Treasurer, which two latter offices he held contin- uously until 1921.
In 1921 Mr. McGuire was elected to the Board of Selectmen and served continuously thereon until February 3, 1941. For several years he also served the Town as Highway Superin- tendent. A man of integrity and honor, Mr. McGuire was especially possessed of sagacious and impartial judgment, and he served as Selectman in a period during which the activities, responsibilities and expenditures of town government in this whole Commonwealth underwent a tremendous transfor- mation.
The unselfishness of purpose with which he has served the Town is well known to all who have had association with him. Reserved in his manner and charitable of heart he nevertheless was militant in his devotion to the Town during every moment of his service, and his very intense interest and ability in ad- ministering the Town's affairs is reflected in the soundness of the town's current financial structure, and the general con- fidence which the public has always evinced in the town's administration during his long incumbency.
Fortunately Mr. McGuire has consented to continue service on the Financial Committee and his comprehensive knowledge of town government is of great continuing value to the Town of Wilbraham.
To this whole Town and those who have served with him he has most splendidly exemplified fairness, ability and honor, and his counsel will continue to be sought and appreciated by those who now have the responsibility of town administration.
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