USA > Michigan > Oakland County > History of Oakland County, Michigan, with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, palatial residences, public buildings, fine blocks, and important manufactories > Part 24
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In March, 1837, the village of Pontiac was incorporated by act of the legisla- ture, with limits including section 29, the north half of 32, the west half of 28, and the northwest quarter of 33, being one and a half miles square, and containing fourteen hundred and forty acres. The citizens of the village continued to be voters in the township until March 15, 1861, when a city charter was obtained, since which the city and township have been distinct from each other. The city limits were originally the same as the village limits. By an act approved March 20, 1867, the city limits were extended to their present bounds, which include the south half of sections 19, 20, 21, and all of sections 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, and 33, being two and a half miles by three miles square, and having an area of four thousand eight hundred square acres, or a little over one-fifth of the township. The present area of the township is twenty-eight and one-half square sections, equivalent to eighteen thousand two hundred and forty acres.
GEOGRAPHY, DRAINAGE, TOPOGRAPHY, ETC.
The township is situated in the east central part of the county, and is bounded on the north by Orion, on the south by Bloomfield, on the east by Avon, and on the west by Waterford townships. It is wholly drained by the Clinton river and its tributaries, Galloway and Pontiac creeks.
The Clinton river enters the township on the southwest quarter of section 31, and passes, in a serpentine course, through sections 31, 32, 29, and 28, leaving the latter near the northeast corner, where, also, it crosses the city line of Pontiac. Thence it runs in a general southeast direction to the village of Auburn, when its course changes to the northeast, and it leaves the township in the southeast corner of section 24, two miles north of the southeast corner of the township. There is a considerable amount of low bottom or meadow land along this stream, partic- ularly between the built-up portions of the city, and the lakes to the southwest, and also above and below the village of Auburn. For a stream of its size it affords a remarkable amount of water-power, there being no less than six dams within the limits of the township, including five in the city of Pontiac.
During the cooler months in the spring and autumn it is a remarkably clear and swift-flowing stream, but during the warm months its channel is more or less filled and obstructed by water-plants and grasses. Being the outlet of the group of lakes in the centre of the county, its waters are not subject to floods, the large area of water surface covered by the lakes acting as an equalizing reservoir, and hence its flow is remarkably uniform at all seasons.
Galloway creek heads in the southeast part of Orion township, crossing into Pontiac very near the northeast corner of section 1, from whence it flows in a general southwestern course across sections 1, 2, 11, and 10, turning on section 10 to the southeast, in which direction it flows across section 15 and into the centre of section 23, where it changes and flows in a northeast direction, leaving the township on the southeast quarter of section 13.
A small tributary of this stream rises in two small lakes located on sections 4, 5, and 9, and flows southeast, and unites with the main creek on section 10. Gal-
loway creek passes through a small lake lying partly in sections 14, 15, 22, and 23. The lakes of the township are Three-Mile lake, on sections 6 and 7, covering some three hundred acres in Pontiac township, a part of Upper Silver lake, on sec- tion 7, Osmun, Terry, and Harris lakes, on sections 18, 19, and 20, and Mud lake, on section 32. There are also small lakes on sections 14 and 34.
The aggregate water-surface of the township (not including estimate of the Clinton river), is probably about six hundred square acres.
Pontiac township has great variety of surface,-level plains, valleys, and hilly lands,-with every quality of soil, from the sandy and gravelly hill-tops to the rich black loam and alluvial deposits of the bottom-lands along the lakes and streams. The production of small grains and corn is excellent, and for clover the sandy loam of Michigan is nowhere excelled.
The highest point of land in Oakland County, and one of the highest in the region south of Saginaw bay, is claimed to be "Bald mountain" (so called), sit- uated on the northwest quarter of section 1, in this township, and having a spur extending north into Orion township. Lying a short distance west from this summit is also another collection of hills of considerable altitude. The height of Bald mountain above the level of Lake Huron is something over five hundred feet. Its height above the surrounding country is probably from one hundred to one hundred and fifty feet. From its breezy summit on a clear day the vision extends over a vast region. On the east, north, and west can be descried the various groupings of conical hills, with which the surface of southeastern Michi- gan is broken, and a good glass discovers shipping upon Lake St. Clair.
Although this point does not compare with the mountains of New York and Pennsylvania in its altitude above the sea, yet its comparative elevation above the surrounding country is sufficient to furnish a most beautiful view.
The collection of hills in this vicinity is composed of the various ingredients of the drift period,-chiefly gravel, sand, and bowlders.
ROADS.
The township is well supplied with good wagon-roads, and there are four fine graveled turnpikes diverging in various directions from Pontiac : one directly east through the village of Auburn; one northeast, towards Orion ; one north- west and one southwest, towards Orchard lake and Commerce. The Detroit and Milwaukee railroad passes through the southwest part of the township.
The early settlers will be found under the headings of Pontiac village and city and Auburn village.
FIRST TOWN-MEETING.
The first town-meeting for the township of Pontiac was held at the court-house, on Monday, May 28, 1827. Present, Sidney Dole, Charles C. Hascall, Gideon O. Whittemore, Henry O. Bronson, and David Stanard, justices of the peace.
The meeting was organized by choosing Joseph Morrison, Jr., as moderator, who was duly sworn, after which the meeting proceeded to business. The polls were declared open for the reception of voters.
It was moved, seconded, and carried that three assessors be chosen.
Moved and carried that no more than three constables be chosen.
Moved, seconded, and carried that no additional bounty to the sum assessed by the supervisors be voted by the town for encouraging the killing of wolves.
It was moved, seconded, and carried that two hundred dollars be raised by tax to defray the town expenses. Voted that a fence-viewer be allowed nothing for his services.
The town was divided into eleven road districts. Voted that no stallion above the age of one year be suffered to run at large, under a penalty of five dollars. The path-masters of the several road-districts were authorized to act as fence- viewers.
On motion it was ordered " that every farmer destroy all noxious weeds inju- rious to sheep's wool, together with the Canada thistle, on one-half of the road opposite to his premises ;" and in order to compel every man without distinction of calling to do his full share of the public service, it was ordered that " lawyers, doctors, and mechanics, and all other persons, keep the roads clear of the above- described weeds opposite their premises."
The path-masters were ordered to remove the residue, "and that they incur a penalty of five dollars for neglect of this duty."
On motion it was resolved that the next township-meeting be held at the court- house in Pontiac, according to law. On motion it was ordered that the supervi- sors be requested to appropriate five dollars for the completion of the public well.
The meeting then adjourned.
The following were the respective individuals chosen to fill the various offices at this meeting: for supervisors there were three names presented, Jacob N. Voor- heis, Elisha Beach, and Oliver Williams. The whole number of votes cast for this office was one hundred and ten, of which Jacob N. Voorheis received seventy- four, and was elected.
118
HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
For the office of town clerk there were two candidates : Captain Hervey Parke received seventy-two votes, and Almon Mack received thirty-five. For the office of assessor there were a large number of candidates, among them Leonard Weed, Shubael Atherton, Joseph Morrison, Henry O. Bronson, Harvey Seeley, John M. Mack, and Charles C. Hascall. The three first named were elected.
The commissioners of highways elected were Abner Davis, Harvey Seeley, and David Lyon, Jr.
Orison Allen and Schuyler Hodges were candidates for collector, and Allen was elected. The constables chosen were Schuyler Hodges, Orison Allen, and Wm. Thomas.
For overseers of the poor, Enoch Hotchkiss received seventy-five votes, and Jeremiah Curtiss seventy-two. The path-masters of the several road districts were as follows : district No. 1, Asahel Whitney ; district No. 2, R. W. Stevens ; district No. 3, Joseph Morrison ; district No. 4, David Stanard; district No. 5, Chester Webster ; district No. 6, Henry Thomas; district No. 7, Charles C. Has- call; district No. 8, Joseph Lee; district No. 9, Shubael Atherton ; district No. 10, Jesse Chipman ; district No. 11, Joseph Harris.
At the second annual town-meeting, held on the first Monday of April, 1828, there were present Sidney Dole, Gideon O. Whittemore, Leonard Weed, and Stephen Reeves, justices, and Hervey Parke, town clerk. Major Oliver Williams was chosen moderator.
At this meeting the office of pound-master was first established, and Major Oliver Williams was appointed pound-keeper.
The number of road districts was increased to twelve, and the following persons appointed path-masters : district 1, David Stanard; district 2, Edmund Perry ; district 3, Harvey Seeley ; district 4, Oliver Williams; district 5, Joseph Hoax ; district 6, Allen Briggs; district 7, Clispa R. Gardner; district 8, Johnson Green ; district 9, Moses V. Merlin ; district 10, Samuel L. Millis; district 11, James Day ; district 12, David Lyon.
At this meeting it was voted that the sum of two hundred dollars be raised for the maintenance of the poor, and as bounty for the destruction of wolves, bears, wild-cats, and panthers.
" It was motioned, seconded, and carried that the school act be rejected for one year.'
The officers elected at this meeting were-Supervisor, Jacob N. Voorheis; Town Clerk, Hervey Parke; Assessors, Calvin Hotchkiss, Harvey Seeley, Joseph Mor- rison, Jr. ; Collector, David Churchill ; Overseers of the Poor, Enoch Hotchkiss, Aaron Smith ; Constables, William Thomas, Edmund Lamson, Jr., David Churchill.
David Churchill refused to serve as collector, and a special election was held on the 25th of November of the same year, at which Joshua S. Terry was duly elected in his place.
FIRST AUDITORS' MEETING.
The first accounts against the township of Pontiac were audited on the last Tuesday of September, 1828, as follows : Hervey Parke, $7.31; John Southard, $2.00 ; Almon Mack, $0.75; Calvin Hotchkiss, $8.75; Jeremiah Curtis, $13.50; Isaac I. Voorheis, $23.25; Joseph Morrison, Jr., $20.00; Harvey Seeley, $8.00 ; Samuel Murlin, $21.00; Harvey Seeley, $7.66; Abner Davis, $12.50 ; Gideon O. Whittemore, $5.00 ; Stephen Reeves, $3.75; Leonard Weed, $3.75; Hervey Parke, $17.12; Joseph Morrison, Jr., $1.25; Hervey Parke, $31.00; Charles C. Hascall, $3.75 ; Hervey Parke, $1.25; David Paddock, $1.25; Jacob N. Voorheis, $1.25,-amounting in the aggregate to $194.09. For this indebted- ness corresponding township orders were issued, but their approximate value we are unable to give.
The highway commissioners of the present day would hardly covet the work their predecessors of 1829 were expected to perform. For instance, it is on record that road district No. 1 included the entire county of " Sagana," then attached to Oakland County for civil and judicial purposes. District No. 2 included town- ships 5, 6, 7, and 8, of ranges 6, 7, and 8. Colonel David Stanard was overseer of the " Sagana" district, and Edmund Perry of district No. 2.
At the election in April, 1829, Jacob N. Voorheis was elected supervisor, Charles C. Hascall, town clerk ; Harvey Seeley, Abner Davis, and Calvin Hotch- kiss, assessors ; Joshua S. Terry, collector; Elisha R. Gardner, Joshua S. Terry, and Jonas M. Higby, constables ; Isaac I. Voorheis, Jeremiah Curtis, and Jesse Decker, commissioners of highways; and Enoch Hotchkiss and John Clark overseers of the poor.
The justices of the peace for 1829 were Gideon O. Whittemore, Charles C. Hascall, Stephen Reeves, David Paddock, and Leonard Weed. At this time the road districts had been increased to fifteen, and the following persons were ap- pointed overseers of the respective districts from one to fifteen : Gardner D. Wil- liams, Edmund H. Spencer, Nathaniel Foster, Nathan Curtis, James Valentine, Charles Johnson, Elisha Beach, John R. Smith, Charles Cahoon, Samuel L.
Millis, Stephen Reeves, Joseph Morrison, Roswell Mathews, Heman Harris, Samuel C. Munson.
At this meeting it was voted that "stud-horses, rams, and boars should not be suffered to go at large, that hogs and cattle should not go at large in the win- ter season, and that every man's barnyard should be a pound for keeping cattle, hogs, etc."
At a meeting of the town board held at the house of Solomon Close, in Sep- tember, 1829, accounts against the township to the amount of four hundred and twenty-seven dollars and seventy-five cents were audited, and the clerk (Charles C. Hascall) was instructed to draw orders for the respective amounts.
At the annual town-meeting held at the court-house in Pontiac, on the first Monday in April, 1830, there were present, G. O. Whittemore, Leonard Weed, E. Comstock, David Paddock, justices of the peace, and Charles C. Hascall, township clerk. Jeremiah Riggs was chosen moderator.
Voted, that there be five constables and three assessors elected. The following officers were elected : Supervisor, Abner Davis ; Township Clerk, Hervey Parke : Assessors, Henry Dean, Gideon O. Whittemore, and Jacob N. Voorheis ; Collector, Joshua S. Terry ; Constables, Joshua S. Terry, Rowland B. Perry, Eleazer Jewett, and William Thomas; Town Treasurer, Calvin Hotchkiss; Directors of the Poor, Thomas J. Drake, Judah Church, David Paddock, David Stanard, and Rufus W. Stevens; Commissioners of Highways, Isaac I. Voorheis, Heman Harris, and Jeremiah Curtis; School Commissioners, Hervey Parke, Harvey Seeley, Abner Davis, Leonard Weed, and Roswell Hilton.
The names of the township officers who have filled the respective offices of supervisor, township clerk, and justices of the peace, since 1831 to the present time, have been as follows :
1831 .- Supervisor, Abner Davis; Town Clerk, Gideon O. Wittemore; Justices, . David Paddock, Leonard Weed, Elias Comstock, Henry Dean, Stephen Reeves.
1832 .- Supervisor, Jacob N. Voorheis; Town Clerk, G. O. Whittemore; Justices, David Paddock, Leonard Weed, Henry Dean.
1833 .- Supervisor, Isaac I. Voorheis ; Clerk, G. O. Whittemore ; Justices, Stephen Reeves, Benjamin Phelps, William Thompson, Leonard Weed, Elias Comstock.
1834 .- Supervisor, Isaac I. Voorheis ; Town Clerk, James A. Weeks; Jus- tices, Benjamin Phelps, Elias Comstock. At this time the township was divided into forty-one road districts, extending from Pontiac to Bay City.
1835 .- Supervisor, Schuyler Hodges; Town Clerk, James A. Weeks; Jus- tices, Samuel Sherwood, Elias Comstock.
1836 .- Supervisor, Schuyler Hodges; Town Clerk, Wm. S. Driggs ; Justices, Harvey Seeley, Calvin C. Parks, O. D. Richardson.
At a special town-meeting on the 28th of April, 1836, Charles Draper was elected town clerk in place of Wm. S. Driggs (resigned) .*
William S. Henderson was elected justice of the peace, in place of Harvey Seeley, December 12, 1836.
1837 .- Supervisor, Alphonso B. Newcomb; Town Clerk, Cornelius Roosevelt ; Justice, Clark Beardslee.
1838 .- Supervisor, Chester McCollum; Town Clerk, B. C. Whittemore ; Jus- tice, Samuel N. Gantt.
1839 .- Supervisor, Chester McCollum; Town Clerk, Charles M. Eldridge ; Justice, Wm. S. Henderson.
A special election was held November 25, 1839. Bernard C. Whittemore and Milton Hyde were elected justices of the peace, to fill the vacancies caused by the removal of Clark Beardslee and Samuel N. Gantt.
1840 .- Supervisor, Chester McCollum ; Town Clerk, Joseph R. Bowman ; Justice, Calvin C. Parks.
1841 .- Supervisor, Chester McCollum ; Town Clerk, Joseph R. Bowman ; Justices, C. C. Parks, B. C. Whittemore, Wm. S. Henderson.
1842 .- Supervisor, Schuyler Hodges; Town Clerk, J. R. Bowman ; Justices, Wm. S. Herndon, ; C. C. Parks, B. C. Whittemore.
1843 .- Supervisor, Schuyler Hodges; Town Clerk, J. S. Carpenter; Justices, Warren Dunning, B. C. Whittemore.
1844 .- Supervisor, John Bacon ; Town Clerk, J. S. Carpenter; Justices, Warren Dunning, B. C. Whittemore.
1845 .- Supervisor, B. C. Whittemore; Town Clerk, James S. Carpenter ; Justices, John P. Le Roy, Wm. S. Henderson, Enos Church (resigned), Chas. M. Eldridge.
1846 .- Supervisor, Corrington Blanchard; Town Clerk, James S. Carpenter ; Justice, Milton Hyde.
* There seem to have been three township-meetings in April, 1836.
t [The historian has written this name plainly Herndon, but we think it possible it should be Henderson, he having held the same office in 1836, 1839, 1841, and 1845 .- THE PUBLISHERS. ]
119
HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
1847 .- Supervisor, C. A. Blanchard; Town Clerk, Edward P. Rankin ; Justice, Alfred Treadway.
1848 .- Supervisor, H. N. Howard; Town Clerk, Peter Hogan ; Justice, John P. Le Roy.
1849 .- Supervisor, Joseph R. Bowman ; Town Clerk, Henry V. R. Hubbell; Justices, Samuel E. Beach, Hiram A. Rood (to fill vacancy).
1850 .- Supervisor, J. R. Bowman ; Town Clerk, H. V. R. Hubbell (resigned), E. H. Whitney elected in his place; Justice, Hiram A. Rood. In this year the total number of voters in the township was four hundred and eighty-three, as shown by the poll-list. The township was divided into thirty-six road districts.
1851 .- Supervisor, Gideon O. Whittemore; Town Clerk, E. H. Whitney ; Justice, Erastus Bacon.
1852 .- Supervisor, Wm. M. Thompson ; Town Clerk, E. H. Whitney ; Justice, Ira Bromley.
1853 .- Supervisor, Francis Darrow ; Town Clerk, Hiram A. Rood; Justice, Samuel E. Beach.
1854 .- Supervisor, Francis Darrow; Town Clerk, C. A. Howard; Justice, Hiram A. Rood.
1855 .- Supervisor, Francis Darrow ; Town Clerk, Geo. R. Hixson ; Justices, Warren Dunning, Joseph R. Bowman (to fill vacancy).
1856 .- Supervisor, Francis Darrow ; Town Clerk, G. R. Hixson ; Justices, Ira D. Smith (to fill vacancy), Charles C. Waldo (to fill vacancy).
1857 .- Supervisor, George R. Hixson; Town Clerk, Chas. C. Waldo; Justice, Joel Loomis.
1858 .- Supervisor, Geo. R. Hixson; Town Clerk, C. C. Waldo; Justice, J. R. Bowman. In this year the township contained thirty-two road districts.
1859 .- Supervisor, Geo. R. Hixson ; Town Clerk, Alvin C. High; Justices, James Carhart (full term), Francis Darrow (to fill vacancy). The road districts. were increased this year to thirty-four.
1860 .- Supervisor, John L. Bradford; Town Clerk, Alvin C. High; Justice, F. Darrow.
On the 15th of March, 1861, the village of Pontiac was incorporated as a city, with the same boundaries as the village, and from that date the township and city were separate, and independent of each other in all matters of municipal and local government.
Township officers elected in 1861 were-Supervisor, Henry Bishop ; Town Clerk, Willard W. Hubbell; Justices, Warren Dunning (for four years), Ephraim Colby (for three years), Tomkins Buckbee (for two years), Levi Burlingham (for one year).
1862 .- For this year there are no records, but the supervisor was John L. Bradford.
1863 .- Supervisor, John L. Bradford ; Town Clerk, James Carhart ; Justice, Ephraim Colby.
1864 .- Supervisor, John L. Bradford; Town Clerk, Raymond F. Dunning ; Justice, Henry Bishop.
1865 .- Supervisor, Philo C. Davis; Town Clerk, Mark Walters; Justice, James Carhart.
1866 .- Supervisor, Philo C. Davis; Town Clerk, Andrew Bradford; Justices, Tomkins Buckbee (full term), John Miller (to fill vacancy), Edwin Phelps (two years).
1867 .- Supervisor, Philo C. Davis; Town Clerk, Andrew Bradford ; Justices, Morgan J. Spencer (full term), Andrew Bradford (vacancy).
1868 .- Supervisor, Philo C. Davis ; Town Clerk, Andrew Bradford ; Justice, Edwin Phelps (full term).
1869 .- Supervisor, P. C. Davis; Town Clerk, Andrew Bradford; Justice, Andrew Bradford. The road districts were reduced this year to twenty-eight.
1870 .- Supervisor, P. C. Davis; Town Clerk, Andrew Bradford ; Justice, Tomkins Buckbee.
1871 .- Supervisor, P. C. Davis; Town Clerk, Andrew Bradford ; Justice, M. J. Spencer.
1872 .- Supervisor, P. C. Davis; Town Clerk, Andrew Bradford ; Justice, Andrew Bradford.
1873 .- Supervisor, P. C. Davis; Town Clerk, Julius S. Bradford; Justices, Tomkins Buckbee, George Terry (to fill vacancy).
1874 .- Supervisor, P. C. Davis; Town Clerk, James S. Bradford; Justice, Edwin Phelps.
1875 .- Supervisor, P. C. Davis; Town Clerk, James S. Bradford; Justice, M. J. Spencer.
1876 .- Supervisor, P. C. Davis; Town Clerk, James S. Bradford; Justice, John E. Bulman.
1877 .- Supervisor, P. C. Davis; Town Clerk, James S. Bradford; Justice, Jerome B. Galloway; Treasurer, George A. McDonald; Superintendent of Schools,
Marion H. Short; Commissioner of Highways, Daniel D. Terry ; Drain Commis- sioner, Uriah Terry ; School Inspector, George Reeves; Constables, George A. McDonald, Wm. Johns, Jr., Wm. J. Kimball, Giles Austin.
ITEMS FROM THE TOWNSHIP RECORDS.
In the early days of Pontiac it required men of " good moral character" to keep a tavern and sell intoxicating liquors, as will be seen by the following :
"County of Oakland, ss. At a township board, held for the township of Pontiac, convened at the office of G. O. Whittemore, in said township, on the 27th day of April, A.D. 1831, present, Abner Davis, supervisor, G. O. Whitte- more, clerk, and Elias Comstock, Leonard Weed, Stephen Reeves, David Pad- dock, and Henry Dean, justices of the peace, all of which are officers of said township, residing therein, and now forming a township board: upon the appli- cation of Amasa Bagley and Solomon Close, of the said township, to the said board for permits to keep a tavern in the houses in which they now reside, in said town- ship, having duly considered the said applications, it is therefore considered that Amasa Bagley and Solomon Close are of good moral character, and of sufficient ability to keep a tavern, that they have accommodations to entertain travelers, and that taverns are absolutely necessary at those places for the actual accommodation of travelers; we, the undersigned, having satisfactory evidence of the same.
" In testimony whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names on the day and year and at the township named as aforesaid.
" ABNER DAVIS, Supervisor. "G. O. WHITTEMORE, Clerk. " DAVID PADDOCK, " LEONARD WEED, " ELIAS COMSTOCK, " HENRY DEAN, " STEPHEN REEVES, "Justices of the Peace."
At the annual town-meeting in April, 1834, it was voted that the path-masters be fence-viewers, and " That the supervisors of the county of Oakland be re- quested to renew the county bounty on wolf-scalps."
Electa Dewey, a county pauper, was bid off by Joseph Hunt, to be kept by him at one dollar per week during the time she may continue to be county charge, not to exceed one year.
From a statement of the township auditing board, made December 20, 1834, it would appear that the township expenses for the current year were four hundred and nine dollars and eighty-two and a half cents.
The beauties and benefits of " wild-cat" money are illustrated in the proceedings of the township board in September, 1838, at which the following preamble and resolutions were placed upon the township record :
" Whereas, There is in the hands of the township clerk of this township the sum of ninety-seven dollars, uncurrent funds, that were raised last year for the purpose of repairing certain bridges in this township; therefore, Resolved, That the supervisor procure the passage of a resolution of the board of super- visors ordering said sum to be raised for the present year, and said uncurrent money be placed in the hands of the receivers of the several banks where it belongs, as the property of the township."
Signed by the town board.
.At a meeting of the township board in January, 1839, licenses were granted to the following parties to keep taverns: Artemas Hitchcock and Messrs. Boss & Barber, in the village of Pontiac, Warren Dunning, in the village of Auburn, and Amasa Green, a retailer's license, in Pontiac.
During the season of 1839 the highway commissioners, Mahlon Hubbell, Ephraim Colby, and Peter Van Dyke, constructed five bridges in the township, the most expensive one costing one hundred and fifty dollars, being at Auburn.
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