USA > Pennsylvania > Northumberland County > History of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania > Part 81
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On the 16th of October, 1869, the public school system was adopted and the following persons were chosen as school directors: John H. Haupt, Harrison Wagoner, Charles B. Boyer, Peter Long, S. C. Weary, and Henry Otto.
CHURCHES.
St. Paul's Church, Lutheran and Reformed, is situated one half-mile west of Gowen City. The first building on this site was erected sometime during the '20's, but was replaced during 1846-47 by the present edifice, the corner-stone of which was laid, July 14, 1846. Rev. Augustus Bergner was Lutheran pastor and Rev. Isaac F. Steily Reformed pastor at that time. The first communion services recorded were conducted by Rev. J. P. Shindel on the 24th of May, 1832; seventy-two persons partook of the sacraments on this occasion, fifty of whom were Lutheran and the remaining twenty- two Reformed. During the year 1845 the Lutheran minister, Rev. Augustus Bergner, celebrated the Lord's Supper, at which time eighty-eight persons communed. On this occasion the first class of catechumens was confirmed. The first baptism was that of Lydia, daughter of Sebastian and Elizabeth Zimmerman, and occurred on the 1st of January, 1828. The succession of pastors has been as follows: Lutheran-Reverends J. P. Shindel, 1827-45; Augustus Bergner, 1845-61; John T. Hornberger, 1861-62; John C. Schmidt, 1866-68; D. E. Reed, 1868-74; Henry Weicksel, 1874-88, and William Weicksel, 1888, present incumbent; Reformed-Reverends Isaac F. Steily, 1840-69; A. S. Stauffer, 1887-89, and Joseph H. Schappig, 1889, present incumbent.
St. Peter's Church, Lutheran and Reformed .- As the records were destroyed by fire in 1881, no account of the organization of these congre- gations can be given. Prior to that time the name had been Emanuel's, but by the constitution adopted in 1881 the present designation was adopted. No regular pastors served until 1882, when Rev. Henry Weicksel assumed charge of the Lutheran congregation. Under his supervision the erection of a new church edifice was at once begun; it is situated five miles west of St. Paul's on the same road, and was dedicated by Reverends Henry Weicksel, A. J. L. Breinig, A. R. Hottenstein, and others on the 20th of May, 1888. Reverends William Weicksel and Joseph H. Schappig are the present pastors, Lutheran and Reformed, respectively.
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HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.
The members of St. Paul's and St. Peter's jointly conduct three Sunday schools, one at each church building and one at Gowen City.
Doutyville Methodist Episcopal Church is a wooden building twenty-six by thirty-five feet in dimensions, and was erected in 1874 upon ground donated by George Weary; the building committee was composed of M. H. Hoover, Henry Boyer, and George Artman, Sr. The first class was composed of Samuel Marshall, M. H. Hoover, Henry Boyer, George Artman, Sr., S. C. Weary, Louisa Boyer, Mary Artman, and Eliza Weary, of whom Mr. Marshall was the first leader. Reverends Fortner, Savage, Buckingham, Smith, Wood, Minig, Hantz, and Barnard have successively served as pastors.
CHAPTER XXXV.
JORDAN TOWNSHIP.
ERECTION AND ORGANIZATION-DRAINAGE-ROADS-POST-VILLAGES-INDUSTRIES- SCHOOLS-CHURCHES.
J ORDAN township is so named in honor of Alexander Jordan, the first president judge of Northumberland county elected by the people. A peti- tion for its erection was presented at January sessions, 1852, and referred to George C. Welker, John Young, and William M. Rockefeller; the report was confirmed nisi, April 5, 1852, and absolutely, August 4, 1852. The territory of the township had previously been embraced in Jackson and Upper Ma- hanoy.
The first township officers were Peter Schwartz and Benjamin Markel, justices of the peace; D. Bohner, constable; John Bohner and John Daniel, overseers of the poor; John Krissinger and Davis Dornmeyer, supervisors; Elias Schwartz, George Schadel, and John Wiest, auditors; George Traut- man, treasurer; David Witmer, clerk, and Daniel Williamson, assessor.
The surface is hilly; Fisher's ridge, the highest elevation, extends across the northern part from east to west. Almost the entire area is drained by tributaries of Mahantango creek, which forms the southern boundary of the township. Middle creek and Mouse creek, which empty into the Greenbrier, and Fiddler's run, which flows directly to the Susquehanna, have their sources in the northern part.
The township is traversed by public highways leading in all directions, the most important of which is the old Tulpehocken road, the first legally authorized route of travel in Northumberland county. The valley through which this road passes, one of the most productive and thickly settled por-
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tions of the township, is situated between Fisher's ridge on the south and Jacob's ridge on the north.
POST-VILLAGES.
Mandata is situated in the valley of Fiddler's run on the main road from Herndon to Uniontown, two miles and a half from the former place. The lines of Jordan, Jackson, and Lower Mahanoy converge at this point, and the village is partly located in each of these townships. The postoffice and store are in Jordan; Noah Klock, proprietor of the latter, has been postmaster since the office was established. J. W. Seal's tannery, in Jackson, and the Wirt mill, in Jordan, are the industrial features of the place. The hotel, for- merly known as the Bull Run tavern, is in Jackson. The village comprises about a dozen private dwellings.
Urban is in the northern part of the township. The old hotel on the Tulpehocken road near this postoffice was built by David Schwartz early in the present century.
Hebe is a mail distributing point in the northeastern part of the township.
INDUSTRIES.
The Wirt mill, a three-story stone and frame structure, is situated in the extreme northwestern part of the township. It was originally established a hundred years ago.
Daniel Schwartz established a tannery in the northern part of the town- ship early in the present century. A similar industry was conducted at a contemporary period by George Shartel in the eastern part of the township.
SCHOOLS.
The public school system was adopted in 1865. The township sustains seven schools, for which an equal number of frame buildings has been pro- vided, nearly all of which were erected in 1865-66.
CHURCHES.
David's Church, Lutheran and Reformed, the oldest in the township, was originally erected in 1829; the laying of the corner-stone and the dedication of the completed building occurred in the same year. It was built of logs and weather-boarded, and continued as the place of worship until its destruc- tion by fire in 1864. The fire was caused by a defective flue, and occurred on the occasion of a funeral appointment. The present building is a stone structure, thirty by forty-five feet; a marble slab above the door is inscribed with the date, 1864. The materials were quarried at the foot of the mount- ain near by, where the necessary timbers were also prepared; many of the church members contributed their services gratuitously to this work. The building committee was composed of Abraham and Elias Trautman and Daniel W. Shaffer.
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HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.
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The Lutheran organization included the families of Snyder, Leitzel, Shaffer, Schadel, Trautman, Geise, Deppen, Masser, Wiest, Bush, Reed, Williard, and Hollenbach among its original membership. The succession of Lutheran pastors has been as follows: Reverends John Nicholas Hemp- ing, G. Neimann, Mr. Sapper, Mr. Porr, John C. Schmidt, J. F. Bayer, John C. Schmidt, J. F. Bayer, and D. M. Stetler, who assumed charge on the 1st of April, 1887. The present membership is seventy.
The Reformed congregation numbered among its early membership the families of Trautman, Merkel, Welker, McCoy, Masser, Henninger, Hepner, Adams, Hohn, Brosius, Bauman, Wiest, Rebuck, Leitzel, Campbell, Bohner, Strohecker, Rothermel, and others. The first baptism recorded is that of Peter Trautman, which was performed on the 26th of July, 1829. Rev. Rudolph Duenger was pastor in 1837. Rev. J. A. Leiss assumed charge in 1849; J. C. Fritzinger, in 1856; W. K. Engel, in 1874, and A. R. Hotten- stein, the present pastor, in 1876.
St. Paul's Church, Lutheran and Reformed, was erected in 1855; it was a wooden structure, thirty by forty feet with a seating capacity of three hun- dred. The corner-stone of the present edifice was laid on the 18th of May, 1890; it is a frame building, thirty-five by sixty-five feet, and was constructed under the supervision of Elias Phillips and Gabriel Adams. The half-acre of ground upon which the new church is located was donated by Aaron Shaffer.
The Lutheran church numbered forty members at the time of its organ- ization, which was effected in 1855 by Rev. Augustus Bergner. Prominent among the families at that time were those of Shaffer, Phillips, Schadel, Giese, Ferster, Krissinger, Engel, Gessner, Billman, Kobel, and Byerly. William Shaffer was a member of the first building committee and a trustee at that time. The following is a list of Lutheran pastors: Reverends Au- gustus Bergner, 1855-60; J. Hasskarl, 1861; F. Waltz, 1863; John C. Schmidt, 1864; J. F. Bayer, 1869-70; John C. Schmidt, 1870-81; J. F. Bayer, 1881-86, and D. M. Stetler, 1887, present incumbent.
The Reformed congregation was organized in 1855 by Rev. J. Fritzinger, and at the first communion, March 29, 1856, eighteen persons partook of the sacraments. Prominent among the membership throughout the history of this church have been David, Josiah, Peter, and Daniel Schwartz; John, Daniel, and Edward Wentzel; Gabriel Adams, John Markle, and the families of Tyson, Rebuck, Wolf, Snyder, Kobel, Rothermel, and others. Reverends J. Fritzinger, John Wohlbach, and A. R. Hottenstein have successively served as pastors.
A union Sunday school, established mainly through the efforts of Elias Shaffer, is conducted under the auspices of both congregations. It is in a flourishing condition.
Trautman's Church of the Evangelical Association was organized in 1826
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ZERBE TOWNSHIP.
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by Rev. John Seibert. The first class leader was Daniel Rigel, and the fam- ilies of George Rigel, Jacob Trautman, Samuel Lesher, Frederick Bohner, Jacob Trautman, Jr., and Abraham Trautman formed the early membership. Services were held at private houses until 1877, when the present frame church building was erected by a building committee composed of George W. and John Trautman. It was dedicated on the 5th of February, 1877. This society was originally connected with Pine Grove circuit, and then with Mahantango circuit from its foundation in 1845 until 1872, when Uniontown circuit, to which it has since been attached, was formed. (In 1847-48, however, Ma- hantango circuit was attached to Pine Grove.) The following is a list of pastors: 1845, J. Sensel; 1846, J. G. Bosch; 1847, G. T. Haines, J. Adams; 1848, J. Farnsworth, J. Adams; 1849, A. Schultz, Jacob Gross; 1850, Jacob Gross, H. Bisse; 1851, W. Heim, S. Gaumer; 1852, C. Loos, S. Gaumer; 1853, C. Loos, N. Goebel; 1854, A. Ziegenfoos, J. O. Lehr; 1855, A. Ziegenfoos, J. Werner; 1856, L. Snyder, J. Werner; 1857, R. Diesher, E. B. Miller; 1858, J. Frey, E. B. Miller; 1859, George Knerr, Joseph Kutz; 1860, George Knerr, S. S. Chubb; 1861, W. Heim, M. Sindlinger; 1862, A. Boetzel, M. Sindlinger; 1863-64, A. Schultz, J. Steltzer; 1866, C. Loos, D. Lentz; 1867, F. P. Lehr, D. Mertz; 1868, B. F. Bohner, B. J. Smoyer; 1869, B. F. Bohner, W. H. Weidner; 1870, W. Heim; 1871, J. L. Werner, D. S. Stauffer; 1872, J. L. Werner, J. F. Wohlfarth; 1873, J. L. Werner, G. H. Landis; 1874, S. L. Wiest, H. D. Schultz; 1875, S. L. Wiest, S. T. Leopold; 1876-77, B. H. Miller, J. H. Shirey; 1878, B. H. Miller, A. Krecker; 1879-81, J. K. Fehr; 1882-84, C. S. Brown; 1885-87, C. J. Warmkessel; 1888-89, Hanert Rombarger; 1890, George Fisher, present incumbent.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
ZERBE TOWNSHIP.
ORGANIZATION AND BOUNDARIES-PIONEERS-ORIGIN, GROWTH, PRESENT BUSINESS INTERESTS, AND SECRET SOCIETIES OF TREVORTON-SCHOOLS-CHURCHES.
Z ERBE township was erected by act of the legislature, March 11, 1853, from that part of Coal township lying west of a line ---
Beginning at the lines between Coal and Cameron townships at a point two thou- sand feet westward of where the said line crosses the west boundary of a tract of land surveyed in the name of Alexander Hunter, the 27th day of October, 1794; thence north fourteen degrees west to the line between the townships of Coal and Shamokin.
Its organization was directed to take place on the third Friday in March, 1853, with John Garrett, judge, and John R. Strausser and Joseph E. Van-
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HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.
horn, inspectors of election. The following township officers were selected on that occasion: justices of the peace: Daniel Beckley, John Metz; consta- ble, Jeremiah Pennypacker; overseers of the poor: Anthony Gillespie, Eman- uel Kauffman; supervisors: Bernard McManus, William Derr; clerk, J. Ep- ting; judge of elections, J. R. Strausser; inspectors: Ira Bower, Gilbert Ber- lew; assessor, A. A. Heim; auditors: J. Keiser, Michael Sigafoos, J. W Garrett; treasurer, James Mather.
The general character of the topography is mountainous, and the princi- pal stream is Zerbe run; there is no farming land whatever, for which the mineral resources of the region amply compensate.
. PIONEERS.
The first house in the township was built by William Cressinger about 1800, and occupied the site of the Pennsylvania House at Trevorton. John Fleming, George Eyster, Michael Solomon, and James Renney were also among the pioneers. Mr. Renney was born in England in 1788 and came to America in 1830. He first located at Pottsville, but removed to Sunbury soon afterward; in 1833 he established his residence at the site of Trevorton, where he was resident agent in charge of the coal lands for some years. After the founding of the town he became an influential and prominent citi- zen, and lived to an advanced age.
TREVORTON.
The existence of coal in this region was known as early as 1827, when a company was incorporated by the legislature for the construction of a canal, railway, or slackwater navigation from the Susquehanna river to "the coal mines"* at the mouth of Zerbe run. The time granted by the charter for the completion of the work expired before any steps had been taken toward the advancement of the project, and it was under other auspices that the de- velopment of the coal interests of this section was accomplished. On the 22d of March, 1850, the Trevorton, Mahanoy and Susquehanna Railroad Com- pany was incorporated; prominent among the projectors were William L. Helfenstein and John B. Trevor, while local influence as well as foreign cap- ital were enlisted in support of the enterprise. An affiliated corporation, the Mahanoy and Shamokin Improvement Company, was chartered on the 25th of February, 1850; the original constituent members were Kimber Cleaver, D. M. Boyd, David Thompson, William L. Helfenstein, and William H. Marshall. Although first in order of formation, the improvement company was second in importance, as the accomplishment of the designs of its pro- moters depended entirely upon the construction of the railroad. The im- provement company at once secured the coal lands, however, and in the
*The mine was operated by a Mr. Weiss, and a detailed account of it is given in this work in the chapter on the Development of the Shamokin Coal Field.
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ZERBE TOWNSHIP.
same year (1850), laid out the town of Trevorton; this work was performed by Kimber Cleaver, the well known civil engineer of Shamokin. The first public sale of lots occurred on the 28th of May, 1850, and was attended with demonstrations appropriate to the occasion. Addresses were made by Hugh Bellas and Alexander Jordan, two of the leading lawyers of Sunbury, after which Judge Jordan deposited a lump of coal from Zerbe gap and a bottle of water from the Susquehanna river in a hole which he dug in the ground, thus proclaiming "the bans between Zerbe gap and the Susquehanna river," which, it was confidently predicted, would be united by a railroad in the fol- lowing November. The projectors displayed commendable liberality in re- serving eligibly located lots for school and church purposes, while the width of the streets is justly a source of local pride.
The town thus energetically projected materialized with phenomenal rapidity. Among the first to purchase lots and make improvements were Peter Mahon, Daniel Tobias, William Kelly, Thomas Foulds, John Lynch, Gottlieb Breimeier, Peter Quinn, M. Cary, John Galt, Benjamin Troutman, Dr. William Fritz, John Knapp, Jacob Bader, and Tobias Beinder. The first store was opened by the improvement company and managed by E. P. Helfenstein; Wells Holmes also opened a store about the same time. The first hotel, now the Trevorton House, was built by H. B. Weaver; Daniel Tobias also erected one of the first hotels. John Weaver was the first land- lord of the Pennsylvania House, which was built by Conrad Hilbush. John R. Strausser was the first blacksmith and Jeremiah Pennypacker the first tailor. The first postmaster was Dr. William Atwater, who was commissioned on the 21st of December, 1850. John Garrett was the first resident justice of the peace. The first practicing physician to locate permanently at the town was Dr. Samuel Smith.
The following graphic summary of the early history and growth of the place appeared in the Sunbury American of April 26, 1856 :--
Trevorton is situated on one of the tributaries of Mahanoy creek, fourteen miles from the Susquehanna and just outside of the great Mahanoy coal basin. In 1850 a log house in the middle of a small clearing was the only mark of civilization visible. The deep and narrow dell was covered by a stately forest, full of limpid springs, wild flowers, and singing birds. Tall mountains, gloomy with somber pines and huge gray rocks, frowned down upon the quiet vale. But these rude mountains are full of that great source of wealth to our State, anthracite coal, and just at the spot where Trevor- ton now stands they are cleft to their base by Zerbe gap, thus opening a way to the mineral resources within. The eagle eye of enterprise pierced the gloom of the forest, and the hand of improvement speedily followed. Simultaneously with the fall of the giant oaks, a town arose. Merchant, artisan, and laborer crowded thither. In six months the scene had perfectly changed. A railroad was commenced from the mines to the Susquehauna, and is now 'completed and in successful operation. A bridge, over a mile in length, connects it with the Pennsylvania canal, where the enterprising company has dug out an extensive basin, aud substantial wharves, chutes, screens, and every facility for large and rapid shipment of coal have been erected.
780
HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.
The prosperity of the town has fluctuated with that of the coal interests, upon which it is entirely dependent. A special chapter is devoted to the subject of coal development in this county, in which full particulars regard- ing the Trevorton region appear; a paragraph in the Pottsville Miners' Journal in 1858 gives the following additional items of local interest :-
This region sent to market in 1857 one hundred ten thousand seven hundred eleven tons, which is an increase of thirty-seven thousand five hundred ninety-nine tons over 1856. This company works four veins at present above water level; the breaker is the most extensive in the country, and is capable of breaking one thousand tons per day. It is worked with a sixty-horse steam engine. The length of the Trevorton railroad is fourteen miles to the bridge; the descending grade is fifty-four feet four miles, and the balance will average about eight feet to the mile. The distance from the bridge to Baltimore is one hundred twenty-nine and one fourth miles; the freight and tolls, two dollars and ten cents per ton of two thousand two hundred forty pounds. This company owns eight hundred fifty coal cars and three locomotives. The present working capacity of the region is equal to two hundred fifty or three hundred thousand tons.
The town has a present population of about one thousand, and sustains a fair complement of churches, schools, and secret societies; the industrial and business interests include the collieries, owned by the Philadelphia and Read- ing Coal and Iron Company, three general stores, one drug store, two tin and stove stores, one furniture store, one flour and feed store, three butcher shops, four hotels, one bakery, and one wholesale liquor store.
Secret Societies .- The following is a list of secret societies, with the respective dates of organization or institution: Trevorton Lodge, No. 328, I. O. O. F., 1856; Zerbe Lodge, No. 184, K. of P., August 31, 1869; Mahanoy Valley Council, No. 244, O. U. A. M., October 21, 1870; Washington Camp, No. 156, P. O. S. of A., May 13, 1883.
SCHOOLS.
The first school house in the township was a frame building which stood at the corner of Eighth and Coal streets, Trevorton, and the first teacher was a Miss Hay. She was followed by Miss Sarah Bellas, now Mrs. John Plummer, who resides at Trevorton. There are now two brick school build- ings in the township, both in Trevorton. The schools are graded, and seven teachers are employed.
CHURCHES.
The first public religious worship in Trevorton was conducted in a car- penter shop under the auspices of the Protestant Episcopal church. A Sun- day school was organized and received the support of the population gener- ally irrespective of denominational distinctions.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized on the 13th of May, - 1853, by Rev. Joseph Ross. Among the early members were A. A. Heim and wife, George Weaver and wife, William J. Phillips and wife, William
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ZERBE TOWNSHIP.
Oshman and wife, Griffith Williams and wife, Joseph R. Low and wife, John Flemming and wife, J. B. Renney and wife, Emanuel Kauffman and wife, Anthony Gillespie and wife, Michael Shoppel and wife, Peter Metz, Rebecca Pennypacker, Elizabeth Bennington, Permelia Foy, Lucinda Yordy, J. W. Phillips, Matilda Metz, Mary J. Berlew, Jesse Nelson, Michael Sigafoos, Mary E. Kester, and Emma Carter. The first trustees were Michael Siga- foos, Emanuel Kauffman, John Flemming, A. A. Heim, and H. J. Renn. The first place of worship was an old frame school house; a brick church edifice was erected in 1858 and subsequently sold to the school board, when the present church building was constructed. The following is a list of pas- tors: Reverends Joseph A. Ross, R. Grier, Joseph G. McKeehan, Joseph Curns, B. P. King, Thomas Taneyhill, Nathaniel W. Colburn, M. L. Drum, George Warren, F. B. Riddle, E. Butler, John Swanger, John A. Dickson, Abraham Crayton, F. B. Stevens, S. C. Swallow, William Norcross, 1868; J. F. Craig, 1869-70; T. O. Clees, 1871-72; G. H. Day, 1873-75; J. W. Feight, 1876-78; John Lloyd, 1879-80; Joseph R. King, 1881-82; Robert L. Armstrong, 1883-85; Elial M. Chilcoat, 1886-87; Jonathan Guldin, 1888, present incumbent.
St. Patrick's Catholic Church had its inception soon after the opening of the coal mines at Trevorton. Quite a large number of the Irish and German miners were members of the Catholic church, and, wishing to practice their faith, requested Rev. Michael Sheridan, pastor of St. Joseph's church at Dan- ville, to pay them a visit. He complied with their wishes and celebrated the first Mass at the house of a Mr. Compton. The first baptism and marriage recorded in the church records by Father Sheridan are under date of October 1, 1854, and it is very probable that he commenced visiting the town about that time. He was succeeded in 1857 by Rev. George Gostenschnigg, pastor at Milton, who organized the congregation and at once commenced collecting money for the erection of a church edifice. Father George, as he was famil- iarly known, continued his collections over the county until May, 1859, when the contract was let for the building of the present place of worship, a white sandstone structure thirty-five by sixty-five feet in dimensions. The work was at once begun and pushed 'rapidly, and early in May, 1860, the edifice was completed. It was dedicated on the 20th of that month in the presence of a large assemblage by Bishop Neuman, of Philadelphia, and placed under the patronage of St. Patrick. But the worthy priest through whose untiring efforts the work was carried out did not live to witness its dedication. In making preparations for that event Father Gostenschnigg became overheated; on the 2d of May he died at Milton, and was buried in St. Joseph's parochial lot in that borough. He was succeeded by Rev. M. Muhlberger, who served until 1861, when Rev. Emil Stenzel became pastor. Rev. Edward Murray succeeded the latter in 1862 and in November, 1863, Rev. J. J. Koch, pastor of St. Joseph's church at Milton, took charge of the
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HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.
parish. In 1866 Father Koch was appointed the first resident pastor of St. Edward's church, Shamokin, but continued to minister to St. Patrick's until 1878. During his pastorate he enlarged the church, frescoed the interior, paid off the debts, and placed the congregation on a sound financial basis.
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