USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Duxbury > Town annual report for the town of Duxbury for the year ending 1936-1940 > Part 16
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REPORT OF FEDERAL ADULT EDUCATION CLASS
To the School Committee of Duxbury :
The Hobby Class for Adults at the High School Shop is now in full swing having nearly finished three years of service. This class is open for both men and women for four afternoons and five evenings, Monday, Thurs- day, Friday, and Saturday from 2:30 to 5:30 P. M. and 7:00 to 10:00 P. M .; Wednesday, 7:00 to 10:00 P. M.
Furniture repairing and refinishing seems to be the most popular activity but many fine jobs have been done in making new articles of furniture such as stools, tables, magazine racks, and benches. A great many chairs have been repaired and finished with seats of rush, cane, splints or upholstery. Many articles of fur- niture arrive in pieces which must be glued up and sometimes new parts fitted before they can be restored. Pupils bring in their own articles of furniture to work on and pay for the material used. Money taken from the class is used to purchase new material and equip- ment for the shop. This year we purchased a new woodworking lathe, a dowel jig and some hand-tools to replace those broken or lost.
We have had a number of new pupils this year from other towns-Marshfield, Scituate, Hingham, and Wey- mouth. Some pupils attend three or four times a week, while others come to class once a week or when they have time. All have been very enthusiastic about the work and agree that it has been a boon to them by pro- viding an outlet for their creative ability and a chance to pursue a worthwhile hobby. Several pupils who
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have been wielding tools and brushes since the class started have rejuvenated over fifty articles of furni- ture.
We wish to express our sincere appreciation of the cooperation extended by the School Department and the Superintendent in allowing us the use of the shop and equipment.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN B. MacFARLANE, Instructor of W.P.A. Class
ニー二二二
REPORT
OF THE
Tercentenary Committee
OF THE
TOWN OF DUXBURY
1637 - 1937
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REPORT OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE TERCENTENARY COMMITTEE
In submitting the following complete report of its activities from its inception to the conclusion of the anniversary celebration the Committee ends its official existence. Duxbury's Tercentenary is now a matter of history, but I hope and believe that enough of lasting value has resulted to keep it from being forgotten.
This foreword to the report seems a fitting place for me to express personally the pleasure I have had in working with the other members of the Committee and its Sub-committees and my appreciation of their splen- did co-operation. I wish to thank them for their un- ceasing efforts and the fine support of the citizens of this and our neighboring Towns, all of which made the celebration the success it was.
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HARRY F. SWIFT,
Chairman of the Tercentenary Committee.
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DUXBURY'S TERCENTENARY CELEBRATION
Preliminary Proceedings
Three hundred years ago, on the 7th of June, old style -- or on the 17th of June as we now reckon by the calen- dar-the General Court of the Plymouth Colony enacted that "Ducksborrow" should become a township with the privileges of a town, its bounds and limits to be set and "appoynted" by the next Court.
In view of this approaching anniversary the warrant for the annual town meeting, March 2, 1935, contained the following article :
Article 30. To see if the Town will vote to appoint a committee to consider the celebration of the 300th an- niversary of the town or take any other action thereon.
It was voted that the chair, Harry B. Bradley, appoint a committee of nine (9) to carry out the intention of the article.
On June 12th, 1935, the members selected by Mr. Bradley met to organize themselves as the Duxbury Ter- centenary Committee with the following personnel:
HARRY F. SWIFT, Chairman, HERMAN C. BUMPUS, CHARLES R. CROCKER, BENJAMIN O. DAWES ELIZABETH S. PETERSON, Sec., REUBEN PETERSON, ADELINE M. SOULE SIDNEY C. SOULE, GORDON TWEED.
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They found before them a difficult piece of work. As one of the oldest towns in the U. S., settled by Pil- grim passengers of the Mayflower whose names are interwoven in the history and traditions of the country, any real observance of its 300th anniversary would have to be of more than local scope and importance. The program could not be drawn up in a hurry. Its selec- tion and the final carrying-out of its various details kept the Committee and associate committees active for about two years.
At the outset it was felt that the work of the Com- mittee should create something of permanent value. Two points were decided upon. (1) The writing of a commemorative volume descriptive of Duxbury, its people, their ways and manner of living. In short, an historical sketch of the town with particular emphasis on the last 100 years, a period whose records had not so far been properly brought together. Dr. Herman C. Bumpus was appointed chairman of a committee on the preparation of this feature.
(2) The design and location of markers for old trails, roads, shipyards and other sites of historical interest. Dr. Reuben Peterson, as chairman of a special commit- tee, was authorized to attend to this matter.
As these and various tentative plans were discussed, representatives of the Duxbury Rural Society, of the Duxbury Yacht Club, and of the Community Garden Club, with other interested individuals were invited to confer with the Committee. Nothing, however, par- ticularly the commemorative volume and the historical markers, could be definitely undertaken without funds. In its report for the year the Committee recommended the appropriation of three thousand dollars ($3,000) for the carrying-out of its projects and duties.
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The request was included in the warrant for the an- nual town meeting, March 7, 1936, and the town voted to raise and appropriate the sum of $3,000 for the use of the Tercentenary Committee, and that the present Committee should be continued. Authority was also given the Committee to increase its membership by the addition of the following persons: Miss Mary N. Gif- ford, as representative of the Duxbury Rural and His- torical Society; Mr. William H. Young, of the Duxbury Yacht Club; Mr. George E. Green, Superintendent of Schools; Prof. Edward C. Moore, Mr. H. B. Bradley, Mr. Oliver L. Barker, Miss Elizabeth E. Bolton and Mr. Walter G. Prince, of the Duxbury Post of the Ameri- can Legion, and Mrs. H. Parker Whittington.
During the year two members of the original Com- mittee, Mr. Gordon Tweed and Mrs. Horace H. Soule, stated they were unable to attend the meetings regu- larly and their resignations were accepted with regret.
The subsequent progress of the Committee's plans is best given in its own words in the report to the town for the year ending Dec. 31, 1936.
"Your committee has concentrated on three major efforts for the coming tercentenary celebration: (1) A commemorative volume, stressing especially the history of the last one hundred years; (2) Granite markers of important historical sites; (3) A three-day celebration, July 3, 4 and 5, 1937, with attendant historical exhibits, parade, oration and formal service, concerts, sports, fireworks, ball, and other features suitable to the oc- casion.
"The commemorative volume should be ready for dis- tribution by May 1 and is planned to contain three hun- dred pages, and cost two dollars a copy. It will be attractively bound, indexed, and illustrated. Dr. Her- mon C. Bumpus is chairman of the committee which
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has it in preparation, and is assisted by Elroy S. Thomp- son, a professional writer.
"One of the historical markers of granite, permanent in nature, has already been erected at the site of Ford's store. Eight others are in preparation. Dr. Reuben Peterson is chairman of this committee and Mr. Oliver L. Barker, designer.
"A carefully worked-out plan for the three main days of celebration has been prepared. The Duxbury Post of the American Legion is co-operating with your com- mittee. In view of their commendable efforts in recent years, it seemed best to combine with them and hold our celebration over the holiday week-end, rather than on June 17, the actual anniversary of incorporation. All churches have been asked to hold suitable services on Sunday, July 4. Dr. Frederic A. Delano of Wash- ington, D. C., has accepted an invitation to address us on July 5, and Dr. Charles E. Park of the First Church in Boston has agreed to serve as orator of the day.
"It is hoped by the committee that a tercentenary postage stamp may be issued in connection with the event.
"Guests of honor will be invited from state and nation, as well as from neighboring towns of the Old Colony and county. The town will be asked at the approaching March meeting to appropriate a sum sufficient to insure the carrying out of this program in a manner com- mensurate with the importance of the occasion."
HARRY F. SWIFT, Chairman, ELIZABETH S. PETERSON, Secretary, Duxbury Tercentenary Committee.
The amount desired by the Committee was embodied in the warrant for the annual town meeting, March 6,
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1937, Article 31: "Will the town vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of five thousand dollars ($5,000) for the use of the Duxbury Tercentenary Committee."
The town so voted.
HISTORICAL MARKERS
The sub-committee on markers consisted of Dr. Reuben Peterson, chairman; Mr. Charles R. Crocker, Mr. Oliver L. Barker and Mrs. Leo Bencordo, nee Elizabeth Bolton. After many discussions it was finally decided that if the markers were to be permanent they should be of stone and that under the funds available 9 sites could so be marked.
The lettering was chosen for its legibility, of such size as to be read easily by the passer-by. Great care was given to the wording of the legends with the pur- pose of showing on each stone, clearly and succinctly, what it commemorated, without that over-crowding which makes so many historical markers difficult to read except under close inspection.
Sites, material and legends were all submitted to and approved by the Tercentenary Committee before any markers were erected. These are of Acton Gray Granite, standing about 4 feet 6 inches above ground, 2 feet wide and five inches thick, brush-hammered finish on one face. Important letters are 2 inches high and sand blasted to a depth of three-eighths of an inch. All are set in approximately one cubic yard of concrete. All except that of "Ford's Store" have the inscription "Duxbury Tercentenary, 1937" at the base.
Following is the list of the 9 markers, their sites, and their legends.
(1) Tree of Knowledge. Located at Tarkiln, at the junction of the former Massachusetts Bay Path, Route 3,
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before the road was straightened, and the road running through Tinkertown.
TREE OF KNOWLEDGE 1774-1845 Mail Box on Oak Tree For Post Riders And Stages Between Plymouth and Boston.
(2) Elder William Brewster's Homestead. South side of the road just before reaching the Myles Standish Homestead site.
SITE OF ELDER WILLIAM BREWSTER'S HOMESTEAD N. 85°-W. 420 ft. Marked By Lilacs Brought from Holland.
(3) Ford's Store. On Tremont St., on the west side of road just above the mill-pond.
SITE OF FORD'S STORE N. 85°-W. 43 ft.
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1826 Established Jas. T. Ford & Co. 1853 Nath'l Ford & Sons Burned 1921.
(4) First Church. On the eastern portion of the ceme- tery on Chestnut St.
SITE OF FIRST CHURCH 1632
First Minister 1637-1658 Ralph Partridge.
(5) Duxbury's First School. On Tremont St., at foot of Harrison St.
SITE OF FIRST SCHOOL HOUSE Erected 1715
Land Donated By Benjamin Chandler.
(6) Grist Mill and Factory at Millbrook. On the west side of Route 3A, nearly down to the mill-pond.
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SITE OF GRIST MILL N. 19°-JW. 113 ft. 1640 SECOND GRIST MILL S. 75°-E. 41 ft. 1746 FACTORY & GRIST MILL 1812-1878 Burned 1900.
(7) The Weston Marker. On the Weston wharf, facing the road and King Caesar's house on the north side of King Caesar's Road.
1764-1857 EZRA WESTON "KING CAESAR" AND DESCENDANTS HOMESTEAD ROPEWALK & WHARF 1840 Largest Ship Owners In America.
(8) Old Point School. On Powder Point Avenue at the entrance of the lane leading to Nora Smith's house.
SITE OF POINT SCHOOL N. 45°-W. 8 ft.
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1800-1879 Mattakesett Republic First Student Gov't 1840.
(9) Blue Fish River Grist Mills. On the east side of the bridge over Blue Fish River.
SITE OF TIDE GRIST MILLS First 1766 Second 1855 Demolished 1877.
Towns like Duxbury, whose old industries have died or migrated to more convenient business centers, have little to live on except their memories. If they are in New England they have the advantage of being part of a section that is becoming more and more a Mecca for people seeking the quiet and charm of life in the country or by the sea.
That is the only commodity most old New England towns have to sell. The fate of those who haven't even this is seen in the many deserted farmlands and dwin- dling communities throughout the region.
It can not be too often repeated that Duxbury is de- pendent upon outside support for its existence. That it receives this support is not due to the fact it fur- nishes any entertainment of any kind. Those who come here have to provide their own amusements at their own expense. Duxbury has no summer theatre, no artists' colony, no shops like those of the North Shore
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and many points on the Cape, no moving picture house. All it can offer is the charm of an old town with some beauty of land-and seascape.
The people who are satisfied with this are the ones Duxbury wishes to welcome. They do their full share in the money they bring into the town. The more the town can give in return beyond the common modern conveniences-good roads, good water and lighting systems, efficient fire and police protection- the better for all concerned. In other words, Duxbury can capitalize on its atmosphere and historical interest to advantage. Everything centering attention upon those features adds to the flavor of the town.
The Tercentenary Committee had this in mind when it decided the time was opportune to search the rec- ords for various old sites connected with Duxbury's past and so to mark them that they would add to the knowl- edge and pleasure of future citizens.
Part of the work, that on old home sites, was entrusted to Mr. Charles R. Crocker who spent many months look- ing up and verifying dates, locations and names of original owners wherever possible. Some sites, though known to be ancient, could not be marked with any ac- curacy for lack of sufficient data or other definite rea- sons.
Those finally marked by Mr. Crocker's signs are as follows :
Home of Mr. Wait Wadsworth, 1766. On Standish St., near the old Myles Standish house.
Home of Constance Southworth, about 1750. At the right of the entrance to the Standish monument.
Home of Sylvanus Sampson, 1798. On Standish St., now owned by the Winslow family.
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Home of Miss Mary Gifford on Standish St. Built by Andrew Sampson, 1806.
Home of Mr. Charles Eaton on Tremont St. House on this land owned by the first Christopher Wads- worth, 1640.
The Governor Prence farm,, 1643. On the Bay Road joining Soule Ave.
Home of Samuel Chandler, about 1710. On Tremont St., next to Shore Acres. Now owned by Mr. Brown.
Home of John Tisdale. Now owned by Mrs. Margaret Edgar, Tremont St. Built before 1655.
House across the way from Miss Louise Coburn's house. Built about 1643.
House known as the Joe Delano farm, about 1643. On the hill on West St., near Malichai Brook.
House on Franklin St., built in 1721 by Job Cole, now owned by Francis Swift.
Home of Caleb Sampson, about 1710, on Franklin St. Now owned by Mr. Franklin Brett.
The Levi Simmons farm on Temple St., North Dux- bury; house built by Lewis Simmons about 1698. Now owned by Mr. Harrington.
House at the Tinkertown greenhouses, built by Samuel Seabury about 1755.
Home of Nehemiah Peterson, Tinkertown, about 1760. Now owned by Kenneth Buntin.
Old house in Tinkertown, built about 1785. Now owned by Mr. Murray.
House of Mr. Fletcher, Tarkiln, built about 1710. Known as the Chandler farm.
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The Jessie Chandler home, 1812, in Tarkiln. Now owned by Mr. Harry Randall.
Site on Tremont St., home of Mr. Frank Hoyt, whose house probably includes some portion of the old house built here about 1693. Afterwards lived in by the well- known Rev. Dr. Allyn, 1788, at that time elected minister of the First Unitarian Parish .:
Later other markers in the form of large wooden signs, legible from the roadside, were erected on the sites of old shipyards. Four are at various points along the Blue Fish River : Ezra Weston's, 1834-1843; Deacon George Loring's Shipyard, Anchor Forge and Salt Works, about 1830; Drew's, 1830-1867; Paulding's, 1867-1871; Levi Sampson's, 1830-1865, later N. Porter Keene's Yard, 1868-1875. A fifth, on the farther side of the bridge on Standish Shore, marks the location of the first Duxbury shipyard, that of Thomas Prince, about 1720. This work was done most generously at his own expense by Mr. William H. Young, as chairman of a committee on ships and shipyards.
THE TERCENTENARY VOLUME
The commemorative volume, "The Story of Duxbury, 1637-1937," required extensive research by Mr. Edward Bourget, Mr. Elroy Thompson and others of the Writers' Project of the Works Progress Administration of Mas- sachusetts, supplemented by the voluntary assistance of numerous citizens having family diaries, records or other data throwing some light on the history of the town. £ Mr. E. Waldo Long assembled the material in final form as it appeared on publication, June, 1937.
The Story of Duxbury, of which 1000 copies were pub- lished, and the historical markers are the major results of the work of the Tercentenary Committee and its as-
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sociate committees. These two constitute permanent records not just of the town's 300th anniversary but of many significant and important phases of Duxbury's past life. They will prove of increasing value to future citizens who are interested in the annals of the second town founded by the Pilgrim Fathers.
Briefly summarized the volume begins with a descrip- tion of the town's boundaries, following with chapters on education, churches and cemeteries, industries and commerce, civic and military activities and sketches of well-known citizens. The 30 illustrations, including maps and old prints, add considerably to the worth of the record. Considering no reference books existed and that the time was short for any volume in the nature of a history those responsible for the "Story of Dux- bury" deserve great credit.
INVITATIONS TO GUESTS
By 1937 the lay-out of the anniversary plans was so well under way that the Tercentenary Committee was ready to prepare its list of special guests for July 5th, the day of the parade, and the luncheon and commemo- rative exercises at the Wright estate.
Its first invitation was to the President of the United States.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt traces his descent from Philip de la Noye of the ship Fortune, 1621, who re- ceived a grant of land in what is now the Millbrook section of Duxbury. The Wright estate was a part of the ancient Delano grant.
Dr. Reuben Peterson, who went in January, 1937, to Washington as the emissary of the Tercentenary Com- mittee, through the kind offices of Dr. Frederic A. Delano, the President's uncle, personally presented the
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invitation. For a time President Roosevelt hoped to attend, but due to the prolonged session of Congress, found it impossible to leave the Capitol. His uncle, who was to have represented him and to have made an address, was at the last moment prevented by sickness.
The Hon. Charles F. Hurley, Governor of Massachu- setts, and his staff, Brigadier-General Charles H. Cole, chief, accepted the Committee's invitation, as did Con- gressman Charles L. Gifford, who also agreed to ad- dress the afternoon gathering on July 5th. Invitations were sent to the Secretary of State, Frederic W. Cook, the Lieutenant-Governor, the district Senator, the dis- trict Representative, the President of the Massachusetts Senate and the Speaker of the House. Regrets were received from Senators Hon. David I. Walsh and Hon. Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr., who were unable to come.
More locally, invited guests included the Board of Commissioners of Plymouth County, the Sheriff of the County, the Selectmen of the neighboring towns of the Old Colony and of the County, with their wives. Others were, all Duxbury town officials, both elective and ap- pointive; the Board of Fire Engineers and Dr. N. K. Noyes, as members of the marshal's staff; Mr. and Mrs. E. C. Hultman, Captain Parker Hall, Mrs. Wendell Phillips, Mr. Thomas W. Ellis, 94 years old, only sur- viving member of the G. A. R .; all clergymen of the local churches and the chief officers of all the patriotic and fraternal orders in the town.
Various historical societies were honored through their chief officers. These were: The Pilgrim Society, Plymouth Antiquarian Society, The Massachusetts So- ciety of Mayflower Descendants, Sons of the American Revolution, Daughters of the Americal Revolution, Colonial Society of Massachusetts, New England His- toric and Genealogical Society, Alden Kindred of Amer-
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ica, Marshfield Historical Society, Jones River Village Club of Kingston, Duxbury Rural and Historical Society. Dr. James B. Conant, president of Harvard College, and Mrs. Conant were invited but could not attend. Henry L. Shattuck, treasurer of Harvard College Corporation, was included in the list of guests, as was also President Gleason L. Archer of the Suffolk School of Law.
Members of the general and reception committees, parade committee and chairmen of other committees were invited, with their husbands or wives. Dr. Harry A. Garfield, presiding officer for the afternoon of July 5, and Mrs. Garfield; Dr. and Mrs. Charles E. Park, Rev. and Mrs. Alfred R. Hussey of Plymouth, Mr. Glenwood J. Sherrard of the Parker House and Mr. Bradbury F. Cushing of the Hotel Statler (who had co-operated in publicity) were among the invited guests.
The following military and naval representatives were invited : Admiral William H. Gherardi, Capt. A. L. Latham of the 101st Regiment of the National Guard and his staff officers, Major A. J. Dunphy, Col. Warren S. Keith, Col. Frank L. Converse, Col. Francis V. Logan, Gen. Daniel Needham and Major James W. H. Myrick. The commander and officers of the U. S. Destroyer Schenck, which was anchored in our bay, were guests of honor, as was Capt. Charles C. Soule, chief of staff of Admiral Gherardi.
A group of guest descendants included the represen- tatives by name of about thirty old Duxbury families, some identified with the town from Pilgrim days, others well known to later generations. Those invited were: Clarence D. Bradford, Charles L. Alden (resident at the John Alden house), William A. Howland, Winthrop C. Winslow, Myles Standish, Jr., Allan H. Southward (de- scended from Alice Carpenter Southworth), Philip Delano of the line of Philip de la Noye, Dr. Herman
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C. Bumpus and his son, H. Carey Bumpus, Jr., represent- ing Edward Bompasse, a French Huguenot who came in the Fortune in 1621 and had land at Millbrook before 1634; H. Briggs Wadsworth, descendant of Christopher; J. Colby Bassett, Oliver L. Barker, Richard H. Wiswall of the family of the Rev. Ichabod Wiswall, minister of the First Parish, 1676-1700, and Reuben Peterson, Jr., representative of the Peterson clan, descendants of John Peterson, Powder Point, 1660.
Later names prominent in Duxbury history were rep- resented by Robert Cushman, Charles W. Holmes, George Partridge Richardson, Atherton Loring, Jr., George A. Winsor, William G. Winsor (aged 94, now of Middleboro and a member of the G. A. R.), William J. Burgess, Frank H. Dawes, George B. Cushing, Gershom B. Chandler, Leroy O. Freeman, Dr. Frederick W. Stet- son, William Ellis Weston, Ellis W. Brewster, Edgar B. Sampson, Harvey A. Soule, Seth Sprague and Fred E. Simmons. Gershom Bradford of Washington, D. C., was asked to represent his branch of that family but was unable to come. Mrs. Ellen Bradford Stebbins, daughter of Capt. John Bradford, and Mrs. Sophia Brad- ford Orcutt (83), and Miss Penelope B. Noyes, grand- daughter of Justin Winsor, the orator at the 250th an- niversary, were invited. Dr. George Studson De Lano of Dorchester was unable to attend because of advanced years.
Representatives from all the Boston daily papers and from the local papers of Brockton and Plymouth, and from the South Shore Life were invited to be present at the celebration.
FINAL ACTIVITIES
The Tercentenary Committee now entered upon a very busy period of supervision and appointing sub-
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committees and "officers-of-the-day" to carry out cer- tain last minute details.
PUBLICITY
Dr. Reuben Peterson, chosen chairman of a commit- tee on publicity, appointed as his assistant Reuben Peterson, Jr., now in charge of publicity for Erwin, Wasey & Co., Inc., of New York, one of the largest ad- vertising agencies in the country. This combination of father and son was exceptionally effective not only in the quantity but also the quality of the publicity with which they kept the New England public informed. As the time was comparatively short the job had to be a high-pressure one.
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