USA > New York > Saratoga County > History of Saratoga County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers. > Part 98
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Nathaniel Edwards served in the French and Indian war, and was a captain in the American army during the war for independence. He enlisted from Connecticut, and served the whole seven years. His son, Isaac, enlisted at sixteen years of age, and served till the close of the war. About 1796 they came to Corinth through Greenfield Centre by a foot-path, or Indian trail, and located about one mile south of South Corinth village. Here they set to work elearing up the forest and making a home. Na- thaniel built a small frame house, the first in the town, and Isaac built a log house. In the spring of 1797 they sowed wheat, planted corn, and started an orchard from seeds brought with them from their eastern home. Isaac Edwards had six sons and one daughter. Hon. Edward Edwards, a member of the Assembly in 1845, and again in 1864 and 1865, who resides at South Corinth, is the youngest of these children, and the only one living. He is a large land-owner, a prominent merchant for the past forty-six years, and a valuable citizen. He has in his pos- session some Indian relics in the shape of stone gouges, which the Indians used for tapping maple-trees when making sugar in the spring. They were picked up in the vicinity.
Frederick Parkman settled on the site of the present Big Tree Hotel about 1796, and kept the first inn in the town. He built a grist-mill on Kayadrossera creek, which was the first grist-mill in the county north of Balls-
ton and south of Jessup's Landing. Frederick Parkman, a grandson, who lives at Jessup's Landing, is the only descendant living.
Jeremiah Eddy settled here, and kept the first blaek- smith-shop, in 1796-97. He had a large family, but one of whom, Harvey Eddy, is still living in Corinth.
John Purqua was a native of Hesse, in Germany. Go- ing to visit a brother, who was in one of the regiments of soldiers hired to the British government, he was impressed into the service and brought to America. He served three years, and then deserted the British flag, and soon after entered the American army, and served till the war elosed. In 1793 he came from Rhode Island via Massa- chusetts and Vermont, and settled about one mile north of South Corinth. Ile had to cut his own road through the woods from the vicinity of Fort Edwards. He had three sons and three daughters. Peter, who lives on the homestead, and a daughter living in Illinois are the only ones living.
Jephtha Clark, Jonathan Deuel, Zebedee Mosher, Washington Chapman, James Cooper, and Timothy Brown were other early settlers near South Corinth ; Stephen and William Brayton, at Jessup's Landing ; and Elial Lindsay, at Palmer's Falls.
Silas Nims came from Rockland, Mass., about 1800, and settled in the Gray neighborhood, in the north part of the town. He had a large family, of which but one, a son, Mr. John Nims, is now living in Corinth. Clark H. Nims, an adopted son of John Nims, lives at Palmer's Falls, and keeps hotel and boarding-house and a livery- stable.
The first lumber-mills in the town were built about 1800. Jonathan Deuel owned one at South Corinth in that year.
In 1810 there were between thirty and forty saw-mills in the town.
The first clothiery was built by Washington Chapman, on Kayadrossera crcek, about 1805. The old building is still standing, but not in its original shape, and is now used as a bolt-factory.
The first store in South Corinth was kept by Iliram Chapman, in 1826.
Dr. Asa C. Barney, who lived in the town as early as 1805, was the first physician.
A man named Soudan was an early preacher in the south part of the town.
For the first and only time in the history of this town a murder was committed in 1819. The victim was a drinking man, well along iu years, named Seth Haskins. He stopped at the house of his murderer, Benjamin Bennett, and asked for and received a drink of buttermilk. Upon leaving the house he was met by Bennett, who took a whip from a passing wagon and beat him unmerei- fully till the bystanders interfered and took the whip from him. Some three or four hours afterward Haskins was missed, and search being instituted, was found near by in a dying condition. A stone covered with blood and hair was found uear by him. He lived but a few hours. Bennett was arrested, tried, and convicted, and was hung at Ballston, July 21, 1820.
50
394
HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
IV. - ORGANIZATION.
Corinth was formed from IIadley, April 20, 1818.
The first meeting held for the town was called for the purpose of deciding upon a name. This meeting was held at the residence of Washington Chapman, at South Corinth, at that time called " Chapman's Corners." Mrs. Chapman asked the privilege of naming the new town, which being accorded her, she turned to a Bible lying on the table, and opened it to look for a name. She chanced to open at the epistle to the Corinthians, and said, " There it is; it shall be called Corinth."
The first regular meeting was held in April, 1819, at John Ensign's tavern, just opposite the present Palmer's Falls hotel. It was called to order in the road, and Esquires Benjamin Cowles, Barry Fenton, Washington Chapman, and David Rogers presided, sitting on a pile of pine boards. The meeting was held out of doors. John W. Taylor, afterward a distinguished member of Congress, acted as clerk. Benjamin Cowles was elected supervisor.
The records of the town previous to 1844 have been lost or destroyed, so that any details of the early political history of the town cannot be given.
In the town books is the record of one marriage. The ceremony was performed by Esquire Thomas Brown, on the 25th day of February, 1865, at the bride's residence. The happy couple were Thomas D. Hayes, of Creek Centre, Warren county, and Mrs. Hannah Woodward, of Corinth. Thomas Watson was present as a subscribing witness, and the record was made by Olney L. Brown, town clerk.
The town had a health officer appointed onee in its his- tory. July 22, 1865, Dr. Elias Lester was appointed to take charge of a colored family suffering with the small- pox.
LIST OF TOWN OFFICERS.
Year. Supervisors.
1819. Benjamin Cowles.
1820.
1821. Samuel McCrea.
1822.
1823.
1824.
=
1825. David Rogers.
1826. Benjamin Cowles.
1827. William Jones.
1828. =
1829. David Rogers.
1830. Thomas Dibble.
1831.
1832.
1833. Benjamin Cowles.
40
46
1834.
=
66
1835. Windsor Brown.
1836.
1837.
1838. Jeduthan Lindsay.
1839. Obadiah Wood.
1840.
1841. William Ide.
1842. Benjamin Cowles.
1843. Benjamin F. Sims.
1844.
William Brown.
Ebenezer K. Clothier.
1846.
David Eddy.
Supervisors.
Town Clerks.
Collectors.
1847. Henry S. Efnor.
Jeduthan Lindsay. Amos Clunis.
1848. Arden Heath.
David Eddy. Nelson W. Grippen.
1849. Benjamin Grippen. John R. Houghton. John II. Card.
1850. Amasa B. Martin.
Olney L. Brown.
1851. Asahel Deuel. N. W. Buckmaster. Hiram Barrass.
1852. Arden Ileath.
"
Nelson W. Grippen.
William E. Buttles.
1855. A. C. T. Sherman.
1856. Arden lleath.
1857. N. W. Buekmaster. Jere'h E. Grippen.
James S. Brown.
1858. A. C. T. Sherman.
Alfred Angell.
1859. Nat'l M. Iloughton.
Charles L. Allen.
1860. Sylvanns Rugg. 16
1861. Franklin Carpenter.
1862. N. W. Bnekmaster. Chester Allen.
1863. N. W. Buckmaster. S. H. Hickok.
1864. Tilly Iloughton. Salmon 11. Hickok. Peleg J. Randall.
1865. “
Edmond llickok.
1866.
David D. Sturdevan. Luther Cole.
1867. Franklin Carpenter. Jeremiah Grippen.
1868.
Asel G. Hodges.
1869. John C. Herriek.
Gilbert C. Ide.
1870. John Ambler.
1871.
=
Olney L. Brown.
1872. =
1873.
1874.
1875. Isaae S. Murray.
William Il. Randall.
1876.
Emery J. White.
1877. Gilbert C. Ide.
Clark I1. Nims.
1878. N. M. Houghton. A. L. Parmenter.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
Benjamin Grippen.
1858. Almerin D. Holden.
Edward Edwards.
1859. Truman Brown.
1844. David Eddy, I. t.
1860. Tilley Houghton.
1861. Enos Ambler.
Darling P. Mallery, s. t.
1862. Thomas Brown.
1845. Benjamin Grippen.
1863. David Lyon.
1846. Benjamin F. Sims.
186-1. Daniel B. Ide.
IS47. Gideon Comstoek.
1865. Nelson W. Grippen.
1848. David Eddy, l. t. Elijah Trumbull.
1867. Asahel Deuel.
1849. William Ide. 1868. Daniel B. Ide.
1850. Tilley Houghton, Jr.
1869. Nelson W. Grippen.
1851. David Lyon.
1870. Almerin D. Holden.
1852. Benjamin Grippen.
1871. Asahel Denel.
1853. Amasa B. Martin.
1872. Daniel B. Ide.
Nathan W. Buckmaster.
1873. Nelson W. Grippen.
1854. Almerin D. Holden.
1874. James E. Iliekok.
1855. Obadiah Wood.
1875. David T. Burnham.
1876. Daniel B. Ide.
1877. Nelson W. Grippen.
1857. John E. Comstock, l. t.
1878. Linus Wandell.
Truman Brown.
V .- VILLAGES AND HAMLETS.
JESSUP'S LANDING is a small village in the eastern part of the town upon the Hudson. It was called Jessup's Landing because two brothers named Jessup, who were the first lumbermen in this section, and owned considerable land and some saw-mills in Warren county, used to land their rafts of lumber here, and carry the lumber by wagon across the country to a point on the river below.
It is also said that a man named Jessup kept a ferry at the point where it still is, and that the place was named after him. As early as 1800 it was quite a business point, but it never developed much until since 1851. It now contains about sixty-five dwellings, three churches, one
66
1853. Asahel Deuel.
1854. Arden Heath.
N. W. Buckmaster. Nelson W. Grippen.
Benjamin Grippen. Spencer E. Burnham.
Nelson W. Grippen.
¥
16
David T. Buroham.
Gideon Comstock, . t.
Collectors. Records lost.
66
16
1856. Tilley Houghton, 1. t. David Lyon.
=
16
16
1845. Theo. W. Sanders.
Town Clerks. Records lost.
William Raymond. Joseph Barrass, Jr.
1866. Thomas Brown.
395
HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
school-house, two hotels, about a dozen stores and shops, a saw-mill, and a grist-mill. It has about five hundred in- habitants.
PALMER'S FALLS is a hamlet at the falls, and contains about twenty dwellings, two hotels and boarding-houses, the works of the Hudson River Pulp and Paper company, and (when the mills are all in operation) about two hun- dred inhabitants.
SOUTH CORINTH, in the centre of the southern part of the town, is a pleasant little village with about one hundred inhabitants. It contains twenty-five dwellings, six mills and shops, two stores, one hotel, one church (Metho- dist Episcopal), and a school-house.
MOOLEYVILLE is a small hamlet in the southwest part of the town. Saw-mills, lath-wills, and the lumber busi- ness generally, have given the place whatever of importance it may have.
VI .- SCHOOLS.
The early school-houses were built at South Corinth in 1800, and at Jessup's Landing about the same time. In 1811 the " Rock school-house" was built. It was the first frame school-house, and derived its name from being built upon a large flat rock.
Among the early teachers were Widow Church, Stephen Olney, Nehemiah Price, Mr. Spaulding, and Mr. Sabine.
Rev. Rodney D. Andrews came to Jessup's Lauding in 1871 as pastor of the Baptist church. In March, 1873, with a view to afford an opportunity for those who desired to pursue a higher course of study than that afforded by the district schools, he opened a private school called " Co- rinth High School." The venture has been quite success- ful, the average attendance being about thirty scholars. The curriculum embraces all the branches of science, lan- guages, etc., usually included in an academic course of study. Several teachers of the common schools in the vicinity have qualified themselves at this school.
COMMISSIONERS' APPORTIONMENT, MARCH, 1878.
District.
Number of Children
between the Ages
of Five and Twenty-
Equal Quota of Public
Public Money Accord-
ing to the Number of
Public Money Accord-
ing to Average At-
tendance.
Library Money.
Total Public Money.
No. 1
112
$52.14
$77.03
$67.08
$3.74
$199.99
33
52.14
22.70
16.35
1.10
92.29
3
45
52.14
30.95
33.39
1.50
117.98
4 ..
20
52.14
13.76
16.12
67
82.69
5.
39
52.14
26.82
17.57
1.30
97.83
25
52,14
17.19
7.48
83
77.64
..
145
104.28
99.73
92.25
4.84
301.10
8
36
52.14
24.76
17.58
I.20
95.68
9
28
52,14
19.26
18.98
94
91.32
" 10.
43
52.11
29.57
34.49
1.43
117.63
# 11
21
52.14
16.51
27.72
80
97.17
" 12
52.14
57.77
66.73
2.80
179.44
634
$677.82
$436.05
$415.74
$21.15
$1550.76
VII .- CHURCHIES.
THE BAPTIST CHURCH OF CORINTH.
The Third Baptist church of Greenfield was constituted Aug. 20, 1795, with seven male members. The number of
female members is left in doubt. The only member named in the record was Daniel Boardman.
The church edifice was built early in the present cen- tury, probably about 1808 or 1812. Daniel Boardman was the principal person interested, and advanced a large share of the money necessary to build it. In 1833 the property was fully deeded to the society. In 1858 the church underwent extensive repairs, and a bell was put in. It now stands as it was then. Its seating capacity is about three hundred.
In 1801 the name was changed from Greenfield to Had- ley, and in 1819 to Corinth.
The ministers who have served this church, named in the order in which they served, are Revs. Thomas Purring- ton, Samuel Savory, Joel W. Clark, Samuel M. Plumb, Benjamin St. John, Samuel Wood, Holt, II. H. Haff, Moses Randall, O. Dwyer, Palmer, Nelson Combs, and Rodney D. Andrews, who is the present pastor, and com- menced his pastorate June 1, 1871.
About three hundred and twenty different persons have connected themselves with the church at various times. The present membership is about seventy-six.
The present officers of the society are Enos Ambler and Darius Martin, deacons ; John Ambler, clerk ; Daniel Barrett, treasurer.
The salary paid the ministers has varied from $75 to $400. There has always beeu a Sunday-school connected with the church.
At oue time there was an extensive revival connected with the Baptist church of Jessup's Landing, while Elder St. John was the pastor. The meetings were very inter- esting, and the people were wrought up to a high pitch of spiritual fervor. Meetings were held at seven o'clock every morning, and at other hours of the day and evening. As there was no bell on the church at that time, the min- ister used to go up and down the street every morning ringing a large dinner-bell to call the people together for the moruing service.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF CORINTH.
A meeting of the professed friends and followers of Christ was convened at the residence of Mr. William Sco- field, about two miles south of Luzerne, on the river-road, August 29, 1814, at which meeting was organized the Congregational church of Hadley and Luzerne.
Rev. Cyrus Comstock, missionary, Rev. Lebbeus Arm- strong, of Moreau, and Rev. Reuben Armstrong, of Bolton, were the committee that instituted the church. Rev. Cyrus Comstock was moderator, aud Rev. Reuben Armstrong was clerk of this first meeting. Edmund and Hannah Sherman, Nezer and Thankful Scofield, Jesse and Mary Howe, Allen and Christian Stewart, Michael and Jane Kennedy, Wil- liam Scofield, Charles and Catharine McEweu, Ruth More- house, Hannah Early, Lavinia Sherman, Lydia Sherman, Esther Ilolmes, Perula McQueen, Hannah Lindsey, and Jerusha Sage were the first members. Edward Sherman and Nezer Scofield were elected deacons. The society con- neeted itself with the presbytery of Albany in December, 1814, and remained in this dual relation until 1822, when
one.
Money.
Children.
396
HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
it changed to a Presbyterian society, and in 1831 assumed the name of the Presbyterian church of Corinth.
In 1832 a church edifice was erected at Jessup's Landing, which was in use until about 1852, when the church died out, and the property was, in 1867, sold by an order of the county court, Judge MeKean (since famous as a judge in Utah) presiding. It was bought by Mr. Matthew Owens for $300, and the money was applied to pay the debts of the society at Luzerne. The building is now occupied by Mr. Owens as a dwelling.
The ministers were as follows: Rev. Joseph Farrar, 1816; Rev. Wm. Williams, 1818; Rev. Mr. Manly, 1822; Rev. Mr. Cook, 1823; Rev. Mr. Beckley, 1825; Rev. Josiah Comstock, 1826; Rev. T. Redfield, 1828; Rev. Joel Wood, 1832; Rev. T. Redfield. Rev. Jeremiah Wood, a Presbyterian missionary, also preached for the church at one time.
The present Presbyterian church was organized Feb. 17, 1867, with eight members, viz., Mrs. Burnham, Eliza Burnham, Mr. and Mrs. Yack, Mrs. John Hill, Dr. John C. Herrick, Thomas and Marion Brown. Rev. John Woodbridge, of Saratoga, was the moderator of the meeting and chairman of the committee of presbytery which organ- ized the church. Thomas Brown and John C. Herrick were elected elders. At a subsequent time R. P. Grant was also chosen to that office. The church edifice, a neat and tasty structure, situated near Palmer's Falls, was erected in the fall of 1873, and was dedicated in April, 1874. Rev. llenry Darling preached the dedicatory sermon, and Rev. Dr. Backus delivered the prayer. The church cost $2500.
The pastors have been Rev. Elihu Sandford, Rev. George Craig, Rev. William Durant, and Rev. Alexander Rankin, the present pastor, who began his connection with this church in January, 1872. The membership is now about thirty-six.
For three years past there has been a Sabbath-school connected with this church. It numbers at present about forty scholars. John Alexander is the superintendent.
METIIODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF CORINTII.
At some period between the years of 1825 and 1830, a Methodist Episcopal class was formed in Corinth, consist- ing of six members. These were James Creal, James A. Creal, John B. Rogers, Susan Carpenter, and two others. Services were held in the school-house, and in the Presby- terian church, until the Methodist Episcopal church was built. The church was built in the summer of 1858, and dedicated in September of that year. Rev. Mr. Robinson preached the dedicatory sermon. The size of the church is thirty-six by forty-eight feet, and it has a capacity to seat about two hundred and fifty. There is a bell on the church. Rev. P. M. Hitchcock was pastor in charge when the church was dedicated. This church has always been one charge, in connection with the Methodist Episcopal church at South Corinth. The present membership is about sixty. William H. Ide, H. R. Grippen, and Matthew Owens are the class-leaders ; Matthew Owens, Wilham H. Ide, J. E. Ilickok, and Edwin W. Wilcox are the stewards ; and Matthew Owens, Eugene Lawrence, Truman Young, J E. Ilickok, and E. W. Wilcox are the trustees.
The Sunday-school connected with this church was started in 1850, as a union school. Subsequently, about 1871 or 72, the school was divided, and there is now a school in connection with each of the churches.
William II. Idc and Philip Rice were among the first superintendents. The present superintendent is Wm. H. Ide. Rev. Joel Martin is the present pastor of the church.
FREE METHODIST CHURCHI OF CORINTII.
For some little time previous to November, 1867, Rev. Daniel M. St. Clair, from Saratoga, had held occasional week-day evening services in the Methodist Episcopal church at Jessup's Landing, and at that time ( November, 1867), organized a Free Methodist class in that place. This class was composed of J. FI. and Sally M. Davis, Allen H. and Emily Woodcock, John Mallery, and James Morris. The present membership is fourteen. The hall in which their meetings are held is over Mr. J. H. Davis' store, and is a light, airy, and commodious room, neatly finished off with native wood, and capable of seating from one hundred and twenty to one hundred and fifty persons. The church has never had a regular pastor, but various ministers of the de- nomination from different places have preached oceasion- ally ; among others, Rev. Daniel M. St. Clair, Rev. William Gould, Rev. J. B. Freeland, Rev. Henry Matthews, and Rev. Benjamin Winget.
VIII .- BURIAL-PLACES.
The burying-grounds in the town are as follows: first, on the south line of the town, near the place of R. Cooper ; second, east of South Corinth, near the farm of T. G. Car- penter ; third, in the Eggleston neighborhood, near the place of Mrs. Woodward; fourth, near the river, at the place of E. Woodworth ; fifth, near the school-house, in district 6, not far from J. Earley's ; sixth, south of the vil- lage of Jessup's Landing; seventh, in the northwest part of the town, near school-house No. 9.
IX .- TOWN SOCIETIES.
In 1823 application was made to the Grand Lodge of the State of New York for a charter for a lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, to be located at Jessup's Landing, and to be known as Corinth Lodge. The charter was granted, and the lodge eleeted John W. Creal W. M. It flourished for a time, and had about thirty members. In 1826, William Morgan was abducted from Canandaigua, and his abduction and probable murder caused such a wave of indignation throughout the State that many lodges suc- cumbed to the pressure and went down. Among these lodges was Corinth, which ceased to work in the fall of 1826, or in the succeeding winter. The mectings were held in the second story of the Baptist church.
For forty-one years the lodge remained in this condition, the charter, regalias, and officers' insignia having been taken to the west by J. W. Creal, W. M., when he removed there. But in 1867 a petition was presented to the Grand Master of the State for a dispensation to organize a lodge. The dispensation was granted, and the lodge organized under the name of Corinth Lodge, No. 683, F. and A. M., in September of that year, with thirteen members. June
397
HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
30, 1868, their charter was granted by the Grand Lodge. The first officers were George Decker, W. M .; William Ide, Sec. ; Matthew Owens, S. W .; Obadiah Wood, J. W.
The meetings are now held in a well-furnished and com- modious hall over Dayton & Hough's store. The lodge now numbers about seventy members. The present offi- cers are: W. M., Isaae S. Murray ; See., Appleton Holden ; S. W., Henry W. Mallery; J. W., Clinton Clothier; Treas., James Early.
The first and only Odd-Fellows' lodge organized in this town was chartered August 17, 1853, as " Corinth Lodge, No. 174, I. O. O. F." There was something near a dozen members at the date of its institution. The first officers were Darling P. Mallery, N. G .; Zina Mallery, V. G .; Luke C. Bartlett, R. S .; William Ide, Fin. Sec., Silas Allen, Warden ; John M. Ellsworth, Cond.
The lodge has flourished from the commencement, and now has a membership of about one hundred and thirty. Among the present officers are Ezra Sayres, N. G. ; Henry Allen, V. G .; Theodore Labram, R. S .; William Brown, Fin. Sec. ; and Henry W. Mallery, Treas. The meetings are held in a pleasant and well-furnished hall over Daniel B. Ide's hardware-store, at Jessup's Landing.
At South Corinth is a flourishing lodge of I. O. G. T. It is known as " Excelsior Lodge, No. 228," and was first instituted in 1867. In 1875 it surrendered its charter and took a new one. It has about sixty members. The meet- ings are held in a fine hall over E. & G. W. Edwards' store. The present officers are George B. Lyon, L. D .; Albert Densmore, W. C. T .; Smith Allen, W. Sec .; Susan Lyon, W. Treas.
X .- INDUSTRIAL PURSUITS.
The agriculture of this town is of a limited character.
The soil is generally a sandy and sometimes a clayey loam, and in the valley is quite productive. But little wheat is grown, and corn is the main erop.
MANUFACTURES.
The water-power at the great falls was utilized to a lim- ited extent in the early part of the century. The first mill was a saw-mill, built probably about 1804. It was owned by Ira Haskins as early as 1810. This mill stood until 1825, when it was torn down, and a new mill was built by Thomas, Ebenezer, and William Ide. Meantime, Thomas Harshe had built a grist-mill, and George W. and Matthew Ilarshe a woolen-factory, about 1820. These mills ran till about 1828 or '30, when Beriah Palmer, of New York, purchased the power and property. From that time it was idle until 1859. At that time, Mr. Thomas Brown, from Niagara Falls, came and purchased the property. He built a large race or canal to conduct the water to his works, and then built a shop to be used as an edge-tool manufactory. This commenced running in 1860. Owing to the breaking out of the Rebellion, and the rise in price of iron and labor, the shop was not kept running long. In 1865, Mr. Brown commeneed building a woolen-factory, which began running in 1866. On the evening of the 7th of November, 1869, Mr. Brown left his home, and going to the factory, took an armful of cloth from the drying-
racks and carried it into the building. Coming out he was met by his night-watchman, who had just wakened from sleep, and who, mistaking him for a burglar or incendiary, drew a pistol and fired. The ball entered the breast and, passing through the lungs, lodged against the spine. Mr. Brown lived but a few moments after being shot. After his death the property passed into other hands. In July, 1870, the factory was burned. It was rebuilt about twenty rods south of its former location. It was run, under the superintendence of Mr. R. P. Grant, until about 1874, when it was purchased by the Hudson River Pulp and Paper company, and is now used by them as a storehouse.
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