USA > New York > Greene County > Dear old Greene County; embracing facts and figures. Portraits and sketches of leading men who will live in her history, those at the front to-day and others who made good in the past > Part 13
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In 1852 High Hill, Leeds and Catskill were the preaching circuit, and in 1855 Sandy Plains came in.
In 1864, High Hill was cut off the circuit, and the present church at the head of Main street was erected. Since that time the church has been enlarged, and the Sunday School room and church parlors added. The grand Steere and Turner pipe organ being a great improvement, brought about by the Atheaneum, at the head of which was John A. Foote.
The church has had a number of extensive revivals when large numbers were added to the membership, one under the pastorate of Alfred Coons, and another during the Chapman work here, but the greatest of all has been under the Rey. J. W. Tetley who added about 100 at a single service in 1915.
The Rev. Charles A. Holla, and the Rev. R. E. Bell were great preachers.
The line of pastors has been: J. Tackbury, D. Poor, Eben Hubbell, Abraham Davis, Philip Hoyt, Samuel G. Steyens, James Burch, William Hale, and Mr. Hale made his home in Coxsackie, 1852, Thomas Lodge, J. W. Macomber, William Steyens, C. M. Egglestone, O. P. Matthews and S. I. Ferguson down to 1864.
Since that time they are Revs. Z. N. Lewis, J. Millard, J.
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K. Wardle, Edmund Lewis, Angelo Ostrander, David McCartney, Those living are Revs. George Clark, Thomas Lamont, Alfred Coons, Charles A. Holla, Richard E. Bell, Edmund L. Hoffecker, Frank Beale, Robert Knapp, Clark Wright, H. Y. Murkland, and J. W. Tetley.
The officers of the Methodist Episcopal Church are:
J. Clark Salisbury, church treasurer.
B. C. Sanford, treasurer.
William H. Thorne, financial secretary.
Trustees: Charles E. Bassett, John A. Foote, George W. Holdridge, J. Clark Salisbury, Orliff T. Heath, Richard Van Hoesen, Willis A Haines, J. Lewis Patrie, Cyrus E. Bloodgood deceased.
Stewards: Henry Van Bramer, Euberto Austin, B. C. Sanford, William H. Thorn, Elias Lasher, Herbert W. Terwilliger, Raymond E. Smith, Elmer E. Whitcomb, H. G. Bates, Edwin C. Hocmer, N. L. King, Silas Embree, O. A. Freer, George F. Moon.
Sunday School Superintendent, Addison C. Myers.
President Epworth League, Ruth Marshall.
President Ladies' Aid Society, Mrs Nelson Mattice.
President Women's Foreign Missionary Society, Mrs. Van Gelder.
President Women's Home Missionary Society, Mrs. Geo. W. Holdridge.
Organist, Mrs. Willlam Driscoll.
Chorister, George Parks.
The first Christian Church was organized at Coeymans in 1812. From that center Jasper Hazen, the local preacher went out and organized churches at Freehold 1812, and later on at South Westerlo, Stephensville, Medway and Medusa. The church at Freehold is still regarded as the strongest of the number men- tioned, and all are flourishing.
The Quaker church at Stanton Hill was built in 1833 by Jonathan Head of Oak Hill.
The Friend's or Hicksite church near the same place was erected in 1840.
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Christ's Presbyterian Church, Catskill, 1808.
The Presbyterian Church
It is uncertain just when the first Presbyterian church was organized in Greene county. There was an organization at Dur- ham in 1793 and at Greenville in 1789, and the Rev. Berialı Hotchkin the first American Missionary to cross the Hudson river from the New England settlements formed these societies. The Greenville Presbyterians met in a barn.
The church at Catskill was incorporated in 1803, and it may have been that the Rev. Beriah Hotchkin visited Catskill before the places mentioned first. The first organization at Cairo was in 1808. Ashland 1799, then Old Windham.
It is certain that the Presbyterian churches of Greene
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county organized in the early 1800's are still energetic and thriving and a great power for good.
We have referred to the churches in a number of these towns elsewhere. The church at Catskill, has always been a lead- er in religious work, and strong in the mission field and bible work.
The first church was built in 1808, and in 1853 the build- ing was remodeled as it now appears.
No other church in the state can boast of having had so few pastors. There have been but five men, towering giants in the religious work, who have remained long years in honored prosperity and loved by all. The first was the Rey. David Porter, 1803-1831, Theodore M. Smith, 1831-39, Gideon N. Judd, 1840- 49, Dr. Geo. A. Howard, 1850-1890 and pastor emeritus to 1898, and lastly the Rev. Christopher G. Hazard. 1891-1915. And under these men the church has prospered. Pastor Hazard has also been at the head of the Greene County Bible Society. He is regarded as one of the finest pulpit orators that the church ever had.
The first meetings were held in the court house, and the first church had a double row of windows, as may be seen from the picture of Catskill taken in 1839, which we show elsewhere. The building adjoining the court house property.
The great Chapman revival occurred during the pastorate of the Rev. George A. Howard in 1890, and Dr. Howard had other prosperous revivals.
Dr. Hazard has continued to build up the church, and the revival of 1915 added about 100 to the church.
Following a fire which broke out under the floor in 1896 and did much damage, very considerable improvements were made in the building, and the new organ, gift of Miss Helen Mackey was built into the structure. New stained glass windows were installed and the church wonderfully beautified.
Among the men who have gone out from the church are the Rev. Charles O. Day, of Andover College. _ The Rev. Charles
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REV. GEORGE A. HOWARD. DD., LLD. Deceased. 50 Years Pastor of Christ's Church,
Catskill. New York.
DEAR OLD GREENE COUNTY.
Hawley, the Rev. Geo. L. Weed and Edgar T. Doane to the missionary field.
The gifts of the Catskill churches to the mission field have been noteworthy.
The officials of this church are:
Trustees-Orrin Day, J. Henry Deane, John L. Driscoll, Josiah C. Tallmadge, Albert C. Bloodgood, Harmon P. Pettingill, Emory A Chase, J. W. Kittrell, George S. Lewis, the latter being treasurer.
Elders Orrin Day, George S. Lewis, L. Carleton Austin, Charles A. Elliott, James D. Hopkins.
Sunday School Superintendent, Herman C. Cowan.
Christian Endeavor Society, Herbert Knapp, pres.
Women's Home Missionary Society, Mrs. Harry Morris,
Women's Foreign Missionary Society, Mrs. F. F. Hender- son, pres.
Women's League, Mrs. E. M. Sedgwick, pres.
Chorister, Charles J, Bagley.
Organist, Lisle Embree.
Gloria Dei Church, Palen ville.
Gloria Dei Protestant Episcopal church at Palenville was organized in 1878, and the artistic stone church was erected the following year, the ground being a gift as well as portions of the structure. The Rev. Robert Weeks of Catskill supplied the pulpit during the summer season.
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¡REV. WILLIAM J. FINNERAN, Deceased, Former Pastor and Builder of St. Patrick's Church, Founder and Builder of St. Patrick's Academy,
DEAR OLD GREENE COUNTY.
Catholic Church
The first organization of the Roman Catholic church ap- pears to have been made by the Rev. Father Farrell in 1830, at Hunter, and it was not until 1837 that the first church was erec- ted. Among the pastors were Fathers Constantine, Carroll, Myers, Grattan, Reilly, Murphy, Cannane, and Delehanty.
The Roman Catholic church at Coxsackie was organized in 1845 and the first priest was the Rev. Williani Howard.
The Roman Catholic church at Athens was organized in 1871.
St. Patrick's church, Catskill, was organized in 1854, and the church, a low wooden structure on William street was on the lot in the rear of the present church. During the pastorate of the Rev. William Finneran, the new church was built, and he was instrumental in building the church at Cairo, in 1895.
History of this church and St. Patrick's School elsewhere in book.
The church at Leeds was built during the pastorate of the Rev. Father Driscoll around 1870.
The church at Cementon was built during the pastorate of the Rev. Father Fitzgerald.
At one time there was a flourishing Reformed church at Oak Hill in the town of Durham. It was started previous to 1800, but about 1840 the building was torn down and the organization passed. The Rev. Pietrus Van Vlierden, was pastor, going later on to the church at Catskill.
The Baptist Church
The Baptist church was first organized in Greene county in the town of Durham, at Hervey Street in 1788, and at Greenville Center in 1793. The preacher was Deacon Obed Hervey, who who was an ordained minister but devoted most of his time to agriculture. Gayhead, Westerlo, Acra and Greenville Center worshippers held their meetings in barns in the several sections. The last named built a church, the first erected in 1817.
The New Baltimore church was organized in 1825.
The Baptist church in Athens was organized in 1832.
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First Baptist Church, Catskill.
The First Baptist Church was organized in Catskill in 1803, and services were held in the kitchen of one of the members, Ketura Hill. Later on in the school house and court house.
The first church was erected in 1823, and John J Ashley was at the head of the project, and he gave the ground upon which the present building stands. The first church proved too small and in January, 1840, a new church was dedicated. This building was in the great fire of 1851, and was destroyed.
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The society was not so easily disrupted and soon had another church. which also on the 8th of August 1871 was a victim of the flames.
Still the ardent church enthusiasm prevailed and from the ashes came the stately and artistic [ building that is after a lapse of 41 years a grand building for any denomination to occupy, This building cost about $25,000. The debt last remaining was wiped out under the pastorate of the Rev. R H. Rollin, John D. Rockerfeller contributing a considerable portion of that amount. It certainly through all its tribulations merged as the most pros- perous Baptist Church in Greene County.
John J. Ashley was superintendent of the Sunday School for 34 years, and Frederick Lynes one of the early supporters of the church was superintendent about 25 years.
The present head of the Sunday School is Robert Fenton, and C. K. Thompson is at the head of the Junior department. The Sunday School is in a very prosperous condition.
The Revival of 1915 brought a great number of accessions to the church, and it also brought Pastor Hamm to the front as a strong pulpit orator and earnest worker.
The church has had the following pastors: Truman Bee- man, Peter Thurston, John M. Peck, Reed Burrit, Richmond Taggert, Bartholomew Welch, Peter Simonson, John Dowling, Thomas Dowling, Henry Whitman, Samuel Wilson, Samuel B. Willis, George Webster, E. F. Platt, J. M. Hope, A. J. Chaplin, George Webster, William C. McCarthy, A. C. Williams, P. Frank- lin Jones, Barney B. Gibbs, Horace J. Baldwin, James A. Fisher, Horace J. Baldwin, Robert H. Rollins, Robert W. Elder, George W. Rockwell, Charles J. Burton, and the present pastor, Maurice R. Hamm.
To Mr. Hamm must be given the credit for the organizaton of the Boys' Brigade, which has a complete uniform, and under the command of Wm. Heath, is an inspiration to the
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older members of the church. The Roster of the Brigade as shown in the cut which we print of the boys, is as follows:
Names of early members of Boys' Brigade. Front row - Left to right: Arthur Quick, Cecil Daniels, Norman Finch, Ser- geant Warde Heath, Corporal Louis Plank, Floyd Hough, Cor- poral Albert Hock, Arthur Stewart.
Center row -left to right: Frank Doebler, Frank Knight, Leroy Yager, Arthur June, Arthur Scott, William Brandow.
Back row-left to right: Commandant and Chaplain Rev. Maurice R. Hamm, Earl Gardner, Bruce Brandow, Emund Reed, Corporal Leroy Tiffany, First Lieutenant Lester Butler, Corporal Warde Stewart, Sergeant Charles Beach, Captain W'm. Heath.
Officers of the First Baptist Church:
Senior Deacons-E. D. Green, Edgar Selleck, George (). Van Hoesen, Robert Fenton.
Junior Deacons-Ward Me Laughlin, William Heath, Al- fred Jewett.
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Trustees-Robert Fenton, Clarence Travis, C. K. Thomson, Ward Me Laughlin, E. D. Green, Amin Smith.
Clarence F. Travis, treasurer.
M. K. Brooks, clerk.
Mrs. Maurice Hamm, benevolence treasurer.
E. D. Greene, chairman Board of Deacons.
Robert Fenton, chairman Board of trustees.
Mrs. John P. Russ, President Ladies' Union.
Mrs. Maurice R. Hamm, Leader Helping Hand Circle.
Robert Fenton, Sunday School Superintendent.
C. K. Thompson, Junior Superintendent.
Miss Eva Smith, Primary Superintendent.
Mrs. F. A. Jewett, Home Department Superintendent.
Alfred Jewett, Secretary.
Ward Mc Laughlin, Treasurer.
William Heath, Capt. Boy's Brigade.
Officers of the Baptist Young People's Union of America- President, Alfred Jewett; Vice President, Miss Irma Brandow; Secretary, Floyd Hough; Treasurer, Fred Teator.
C. K. Thompson was for 20 years secretary of the Sunday School.
Mrs. Egbert Beardsley, as superintendent of the junior de- partment for many years, has attained distinction as a lecturer.
Mrs. Rosa Person, as organist, has served the church for a long term of years.
The church never was in a more prosperous condition and is a power for good in the community.
American Bible Society
The American Bible Society like the early evangelical church early appeared in the Greene counly field. It was not many years after Freeborn Garretson, and the early circuit riders began to make their regular appearance in this section that the
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Bible Society made its appearance. C'atskill, Cairo, Durham, Coxsackie and Windham were represented and the prime movers were the Rev. David Porter, the Rev. Peter Wynkoop, Orrin Day and others of C'atskill. Rev. Beriah Hotchkin of Greenville, Ezra Post of Durham, Daniel Sayre of Cairo and Samuel Baldwin of Windham. .. That was in [815. Rev. Beriah Hotchkin was made president, Elisha Wise secretary, and Orrin Day treasurer. S. Sherwood Day succeeded Orrin Day, and George H. Penfield followed him. The society flourished and raised about $1000 yearly for their work which was the distribution of bibles free. It is still doing splendidly and under the direction of the Rev. C. G. Hazard, pastor of the Presbyterian church of Catskill.
The Catskill Y. M. C. A.
The Catskill Young Men's Christian Association was organ- ized in 1890, following the Chapman revival, rooms being fitted over the store occupied by C. L. and B. K. Van Valkenburgh, now owned by F. C. Mott. The first secretary was H. F. Stander- wick of New York. H. L. Boughton, W. I. Jennings, Jeremiah Day, E. A. Chase and Orrin Day, being among the prominent backers. In 1902, the present building was erected on the lot of the Old Arcade at a cost of upwards of $40,000, of which about $30,000 was a gift of Frederick Nelson Du Bois, who has been its most prominent supporter.
The general secretaries have been H. F. Standerwick, Geo. Geyser, F. H. Russ, Jacob H. Osterhoudt, A. H. Miller, Edward Tarring, Charles Cunningham, E. A. Ehrensburger, George Irwin and William Canivan.
The present officers are Albert C. Bloodgood president, T. J. Reilly secretary, P. Gardner Coffin treasurer. Directors: L. C. Austin, Geo. B. Austin, Herman C. Cowan, Howard C. Smith, Willis A. Haines. Orliff Heath, Elias Lasher, James P. Philip, David M. Post, Egbert Beardsley, and Josiah C. Tallmadge. Trus- tees: Emory A. Chase, P. Gardner Coffin, Geo. W. Holdridge, Josiah C. Tallmadge and William E. Thorpe.
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Old M. E. Church at Cairo Church at Jewett Height
TYPES OF CHURCH ARCHITECTURE
Church at Hensonville Twin Churches at Westkill
Ashland Collegiate Institute, Destroyed by Fire in 1861.
DEAR OLD GREENE COUNTY.
An Early School
See picture on preceeding page .
Henry J. Fox, owner of the Ashland Collegiate Institute, was a brother of George C. Fox of Catskill, and he was also one of the professors of the school. The building was completed in 1857, and was five and a half stories high, with a wing of 100 feet, the main part being over 200 feet. It was one of the most complete schools of the early period, and part of a chain of great academies, there being one at Stamford, one at Warnerville, Charlotteville, Jefferson, Waiton and Franklin. It had a great chapel, recitation rooms, library, laboratory, dining room and rooms for 400 pupils. It furnished a complete preparatory college education. All of these schools have disappeared. The Ashland school was destroy- ed by fire in 1861, at the opening of the fall term, and was a complete loss
Latin, Greek, French, Spanish, German and Italian were taught. Music, drawing, painting, surveying, astronomy, trigon- ometry as well as the English branches were taught. The school was full at the time of the fire.
Among the graduates was James Harvey Van Gelder of Catskill and other prominent Greene county men. Mr. Van Gelder was awarded the gold medal, and graduated from Yale with the highest honors ever attained .
Other Orders
Among the early orders that have passed are the Sons of Temperance, Good Templers, Daughters of Temperance, which had organizations in most of the towns of the county. Lyman Tremaine, afterwards very prominent, was the great temperance orator.
Great temperance revivals followed in many sections and pledge signing was quite as much pressed as church revival work. The Francis Murphy movement was most successful, and in later
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years his son Francis, and one Thomas Doutney stirred up the pledge signers in a great wave of enthusiasm. The latter in the SO's was, as I remember, the last.
2
Interior of Catskill Public Library
Catskill Public Library
The Catskill public library was organized in 1893, when the library of the Catskill Schools was taken over as a gift, other books being added througe the Board of Regents, and rooms opened on Main street. Following a movement started by Judge Chase, W. I. Jennings, Frank H. Osborn, and others Andrew Carnegie was induced to present Catskill with a library building, which was erected in 1902 at Franklin and Bridge streets. The gift followed the pledge of maintenance by the Board of Education of School district number one. The building cost about $30,000 and ample quarters in every way. For some time the kindergarten was conducted in the basement. Several exhibitions of paintings have been made there. The number of volumes is about 10,000. The librarian from the start has been Miss Emily Becker assisted by Miss Delia Whitbeck.
i
The trustees are: W. I. Jennings, Fannie B. Wey, Mrs. F. H.
Osborn, Miss Anna B. Phelps, E. C. Hocmer, and J. W. Kitrell.
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Some Notable Men
MICHAEL O'HARA
With the building of improved highways for the state came the difficult job of selecting a head in each county to take charge of the work. Greene county was fortunate in having a born road man, and Michael O' Hara, of the town of Hunter, was selected to fill the position. He is now in his second term and 7th year and has more than lived up to the reputation that nine years of road building in Hunter, the town of Good Roads, had given him.
The O'Haras haye been residents of Hunter over 60 years.
Michael O'Hara is the son of John O'Hara, who came to this country from Ireland, as a bridge builder, and built the brid- ges on the Hudson River Railroad. He located first at White Plains, and in 1885 moved to the town of Hunter with his family.
Michael O'Hara was born at White Plains in 1850, and was married to Ella T. Haskin, who died June, 1913. He was supervisor of the town of Hunter 6 years, and chairman of the
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Board of Supervisors 2 years, and succeeded in greatly lowering the tax rate of his town. His son, Herbert O'Hara, former con- ductor on the Tannersville railroad, is postmaster at Haines Falls. John O'Hara and Mary O'Hara are living at Haines Falls.
THE DAY FAMILY
There have been few families more closely allied to the early and later interests of Catskill and Greene county than the Days. Stephen Day was born at Colchester, Ct., in 1746 and was the son of John Day. In 1791 he moved with his family to Old Catskill and was engaged in milling at that place. He was one of the promoters and builders of the Susquehanna turnpike, which in its day was the greatest forward movement in the county. It therefore appears likely that he was connected with the build- ing of the famous stone arch bridge at Leeds. The old turnpike and its toll gates are a fragrant memory.
His sons were Orrin, Philo and Russel Day. Orrin Day was a great financier, and was also connected with the freighting business. In 1831 he established the Tanners Bank, becoming first president of that institution. At his death in 1846, his son S. Sherwood Day, became president of the bank, and Orrin Day, his son succeeded in 1885 to the presidency, a position which he still holds. So that from 1831 to 1915, three generations of the Day family have been at the head of the bank.
S. Sherwood Day was born in 1807 and died in 1885.
Orrin Day, his son, was born in 1845.
Orrin Day, grandfather of Orrin Day, was one of the foun- ders of the American Bible Society in 1815.
JUDSON A. BETTS
Judson A. Betts was born April 8, 1852, at Gayhead, town of Cairo, N. Y., and lived on the farm where he was born until 35 years of age. For seven terms he taught school in adjoining dis- tricts. At the age of 18 years he married Harriet E. Webber, who died in January, 1909. He has a family of four children. In the year 1890 he moved to Catskill, and in 1902 was admitted to the bar as an attorney and counsellor at law, and is also ad-
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mitted as attorney in the U. S. courts. He attained his education by hard study at the rural district school and spare moments at home. He served as Clerk of the Board of Supervisors for several terms. In 1895 he was the Democratic nominee for County Treasurer and was defeated; renominated and elected in 1898; elected in 1901; defeated in 1904; and again elected in the fall of 1907. During his service as County treasurer the office has been well kept and no discrepancies have been found in his accounts. Recently Mr. Betts' office was visited by the State examiners and his book reviewed. They O. K. his books and complimented his proficiency. Mr. Betts is prominent in his home village. He is a director of the Catskill National Bank, also a director of the Catskill Building and Loan Association; served seven years in the State Militia; is Past Chancellor of K. of P., and trustee in num- erous estates. Mr. Betts is a member of Christ's Presbyterian Church of Catskill, is strictly temperate, and does not use tobacco in any form. He is cordial and generous and never turns the hungry or needy from his door.
His son, Lee F. Betts, is associated in the law business with him, and was Sergeant at Arms under Governor Sulzer.
I. WHEELER BRANDOW
Among the men who have been doing business in Catskill for over 40 years is Ex-Sheriff I. Wheeler Brandow, who has had many interesting experiences and knows what it is to climb to the front under difficulties. In 1865, his father, Henry Brandow, one of the old residents of Hensonville, moved to Catskill, work- ing for Mr. Dunham in the painting business.
Charles and George Brandow took up the painting business also, J. V. Brandow took up painting and later photography which he is still following. Mott Brandow and I. Wheeler Bran- dow went into the trucking business. 1. Wheeler Brandow was but 17 years of age at that time, and by steady thoroughgoing work he made a success of his business. In 1882, when the West Shore railroad was finished through Catskill, he entered into an arrangement to purchase the bus lines of Philip Gay, Landlord
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Ellis and Enos Gunn, and heading off that much opposition, formed a partnership with George Bates, to operate a bus line to carry passengers and was very successful until the trolley line made its appearance. He was prominent as a political leader, and in 1895 was elected Sheriff of Greene county, serving 3 years, and under his administration the county affairs were looked after
I. Wheeler Brandow.
in splendid shape. Subsequently he remodeled his Main street house, and embarked in the feed business, and associated with Messrs. Salisbury & Austin he is still in the same line. He is one of the men who has always helped to boom Catskill and who has ever lent a helping hand to those who needed help. He has rep- resented the village of Catskill as trustee and water commissioner, and has always stood for the best interests of the town.
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DALE S. BALDWIN
Dale S Baldwin, Supervisor of the town of New Baltimore comes of an honored Colonial stock. He is one of the youngest men ever sent to represent the town as its representative head and a man of many sterling qualities and possessing great business tact. He was nominated by the Democratic party and had the distinction of his nomination endorsed by the Republicans.
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