History of the Beech Creek Area of Clinton County, Pennsylvania, Part 9

Author: Harry A and Vera A Lingle
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USA > Pennsylvania > Clinton County > Beech Creek > History of the Beech Creek Area of Clinton County, Pennsylvania > Part 9


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The Lewanee Tribe, local lodge of the Improved Order of Red Men (IORM), was started at an early date and retained its charter until just several years ago, when the remaining members became members of


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the State lodge. Scouting for both boys and girls has been a "come-and- go" situation ever since the first troops were organized about eleven years after the scouting movement of England was introduced in America in 1910. Donald Glossner, a local school teacher and son of Albert and Ida Blanche (Miller) Glossner, was the local promoter and first scout master.


In the 1930's Thomas F. Kessinger and David M. Packer, aided principally by Russell J. Spangler and William H. Vonada of Blanchard, aroused enough interest to form the Beech Creek- Blanchard Volunteer Fire Company. Robert E. Murray was elected president of the organization. In March, 1939 Fire Chief Kessinger and Mr. Packer drove to Muncy to purchase a used truck, which, after conversion, became our first fire truck. In reality it was just a hose truck equipped with ladders and additional fire-fighting equipment. However, with the very high pressure in the local water lines, we were capable of throwing a stream to match many pumpers of that day. In the latter 1940's a renewed local effort resulted in the construction of the two-story masonry building that we know today. Subsequently a very active ambulance association was organized as an adjunct to the fire company. The original building, to which an annex was completed in the early 1970's, now houses two pumpers, a water truck and two ambulances. During 1979, a typical year, the local fire company responded to 40 calls. 8 were within Beech Creek Borough; 10 were in Beech Creek Township; 15 were in Liberty Township; 4 were in Curtin Township; and 3 were beyond the area.


A very worthwhile organization that went the way of many organizations, good or otherwise, was the Beech Creek-Blanchard Community Service Organization. During its life it sponsored many commendable projects, including a community Christmas tree, lighting contests, street markers in both towns, scouting programs and the annual Christmas Sing, which has continued ever since. The Senior Cheer Club, an inter-community group of senior citizens who are staying young while growing old, meets once a month most of the year for a friendly get-together, to enjoy a planned program and to make plans for future events, sight-seeing tours, shopping trips, etc.


The Beech Creek-Blanchard Memorial Day Parade, organized shortly after the Civil War, has changed considerably in appearance and routes over the years, but the tradition remains. In recounting early parades our predecessors usually mentioned the names of Uriah Kitchen, Peter Hoffman and Campbell McCloskey. If, at early morning during the late 1800's, these three gentlemen were observed walking to town in full Civil War regalia, it had to be Decoration Day. At that time it was customary for the parade to form in Blanchard. Following a full


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coverage of that town the paraders would sit down to a bountiful meal at Quigley's Hall, which had been converted to serve especially as a meeting place for the GAR. In the afternoon the parade would re-form in Beech Creek and cover all the local streets. Even in advanced years of age Kitchen, Hoffman and McCloskey and most of their comrades were eager and ready for this day of marching. In those days the parade was usually led by the local fife and drum corps, with all fraternal organizations of both towns in the line of march. After its organization the Blanchard Cornet Band took its place in this annual event. The IORM (Red Men) were in full Indian attire and other lodge members wore attractive, identifying shoulder epaulets. The local American Legion post, after its inception, assumed responsibility for the parade and made provision for the transportation of the few remaining "Old Soldiers", all then in advanced years of age.


Uriah Kitchen, who had also served in the Mexican War, was selected to unveil the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Lock Haven when it was dedicated on Memorial Day in 1909. Harry Kitchen, youngest son of Uriah, married Josephine Watkins, a sister of Rachel McCloskey, the wife of Harry's uncle, Campbell McCloskey. The Watkins sisters were daughters of Samuel Morrison and Nancy Jane Watkins. Ellen, another sister of the Watkins girls, married Leslie Cottle, whose family had come from Maine when he was still a boy. Campbell McCloskey, a son of Joseph and Agnes McCloskey, was a great, great grandson of the widely-known Revolutionary War soldier,


Members of the Beech Creek Military Fife and Drum Corps with their tal- lyho in background.


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Cleary Campbell, who had married Ann Gamble at St. James Church in Lancaster on February 23, 1761. Sarah (McCloskey) Kitchen, wife of Uriah, was a great, great granddaughter.


Since the closing of the Presbyterian Church the building on Main Street has been utilized to promote youth activities. The sponsoring group, which includes people from Liberty Township, established the Friendship Community Center. In late 1978 a committee was formed to affect the establishment of a library. After considerable effort the Friendship Community Library, an outpost of the Ross Library of Lock Haven, opened in 1980 in a portion of the Community Building.


One organization that has endured is the local parent-teacher group established in the 1920's as the Parent-Teacher Association. Some years later this group, after voting against affiliation with a national group of the same name, was called an "outlaw group" by a national organizer. Our association, which escaped the outlaw term by later changing its name to Parent-Teacher Organization, is a close second to the American Legion as the oldest continuously-active organization in the community. Unless the same groups that are proposing more stu- dent busing, even during today's fuel shortage, are successful in moving our school elsewhere, the local PTO should continue active and produc- tive.


BEECH CREEK


BEEG


BEECH CREE:


BEEC CRSE


BELECH EEN


BELCA CRÉER


BEECH CRÈER


ECH. CA.


An early outstanding baseball team: John Hunter, Bob Bullock, Ray Bul- lock, scorekeeper George F. Hess, Clair Heverly, Charles Lindsey, George Brenize, Dix Bullock, Manager Henry C.B. Williams and Joseph Shut- tleworth.


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AMERICAN LEGION FIRING SQUAD


George Murray, Ross Beschler, Kenneth Rupert, Duane Miller, Ted Hunter, Mark Kessinger, Linn Heverly, Bill Kunes and the bugler, Allan Lingle.


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Taken at Avis in 1947. Front row: Harry Lingle, Robert Bitner, J. Milton Potter, Paul Pletcher, Manager Devester Lindsey, Carl Lindsey, Samuel Kunes. Rear row: Dale Kleckner, Russell Bitner, Joe Schenck, Dr. Samuel Bower, Ross Bitner, Clair Lindsey, Dick Bitner, Walter Bower, Ronald McClure. In background: Paul Dickey, Frank Myers, Don Miller, Mack McCarthy, Charles Hepler, Jeffry Miller, Juanita Miller, Ellen Hills, Larry McCloskey, Ed Hills, Walter Winslow, Walter Miller, Joe Ed Hills.


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Baseball has been our most popular sport since it was first inaugurated some time before the 1870's. However, modern-day teams have been hard pressed to match the superiority of those of the past. The account of a game between Beech Creek and Blanchard at Blanchard in 1871 is recorded in the Liberty Township Bicentennial book published in 1976. The Beech Creek aggregation of 1871 appears very interesting when related to the early settlers of our area. George G. Hastings, the catcher, a Bellefonte area native, was the son of Daniel and Mary (Hartsock) Hastings. He and his older brother, Enoch, a Civil War veteran, who later operated a store in Beech Creek, had come here several years earlier. George married a local girl, Lauretta Rogers, the daughter of T. A. Smith and Agnes (Miller) Rogers. Mr. Rogers had been named for Thomas Armstrong Smith, a local saddler in the early 1800's. George and Lauretta later moved to Centre County. The Hastings families of the Avis area are descendants.


William Rothrock, the pitcher, and his brother James, the second baseman, were sons of Dr. W. P. Rothrock. The doctor and his family, excepting his two oldest daughters, Susan and Harriet, later moved to a western state. Susan married William Mitchell, a surveyor and a son of the evangelist. Harriet married Jacob Cook, a son of Robert and Mary (Quinn) Cook of Howard, several years before her death in 1872. The doctor, one of a number of Central Pennsylvania doctors named Rothrock, later lived in Bellefonte and purchased land in Benner Township from Daniel and Louise (Alexander) Leyden, who then occupied the former Rothrock home on Water Street. The Rothrock baseball players were grandsons of Robert and Fannie (Quigley) Stewart.


At shortstop was Frank Quigley, a son of Cline and Agnes (Thompson) Quigley, and a grandson of Michael Quigley, our first postmaster. Frank later married Sadie Bailey, a step-daughter of Hon. Joseph W. Merrey, who was identified with mining, lumbering and manufacturing enterprises in our county. Merrey is best remembered locally for the development of the southern end of Maple Avenue.


Henry Clay Bollinger Williams, a son of George Q. and Elizabeth (Bollinger) Williams, was at first base. His brother, Christian Allison Williams, a later Blanchard merchant, was in right field. The Williams brothers were grandsons of George and Susan (Quiggle) Williams and of Christian and Eliza (Kirk) Bollinger, early area families. Henry C. B. Williams is best remembered as the manager of some very successful baseball teams during the late 1800's and early 1900's.


Everett Packer, a son of Asher and Nancy (Hall) Packer, was playing third base. Everett's paternal grandparents were Moses and Hannah (Packer) Packer. Moses was the son of Eli and Elizabeth (Vickers)


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BLECAN


BOARD OF DIRECTORS, UMPIRE AND SCOREKEEPER CENTRAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONS OF 1932 WITH THE


Harry Lingle, Lewis DeHaas, Gaylord Bathurst, Calvin Holter, Paul Hanley, James Spangler, Samuel Kunes, Franklin Yeager, Fred Bitner, Allen Pletcher, Devester Lindsey, Frank Bowman, Luther Gardner.


Calvin Pletcher, W. Harold Clark, Dr. P. McDowell Tibbins, George F. Hess, Norris Harter, Allen Gundlach, Fred Johnson, Harold Hendricks, J. Aaron Haugh.


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Packer, and Hannah was the daughter of Job and Hannah (Lamborn) Packer. Everett's mother, Nancy, was a daughter of Jesse Hall, born about 1781 in New Jersey and died in 1877 in Kendal County, Illinois, and his wife, Elizabeth (Johnson) Hall, who was born in England. The Halls came to this area during the early 1800's.


William Quigley "Quig" Clark, oldest son of James and Rebecca (Quigley) Clark, was playing center field. Mr. Clark's grandparents, William and Sarah (Hays) Clark, are listed among our earliest settlers. His grandfather, Nicholas Quigley, was an early Beech Creek tailor. In left field was William Kessinger, who had been borrowed from Blanchard for that particular game. His brother, Henry Franklin Kessinger, was pitching for Blanchard, whose extremely large margin of victory (74 to 24) that day is explainable. In those days the home team, even though already the winner, took its turn at bat in the ninth inning. The Kessinger boys were sons of Jefferson and Fannie (Nestlerode) Kessinger, and great grandsons of Christian Nestlerode and his first wife, Anna Margaret (Bott) Nestlerode, ancestors of many, many current residents. It is noted that five of our nine players were Quigley descendants. Only one Quigley descendant lives here today.


A July, 1877 issue of the Bellefonte Democratic Watchman newspaper reported that the Beech Creek baseball team had played a game at Howard and gave the home team a sound beating. The players were not named. During the first thirty years of this century local baseball teams gave a very good account of themselves, both as members of the old Clinton-Centre (C-C) League and as independents. In 1931 Beech Creek entered the Central League, won five straight championships, then moved to the Centre County League for two seasons. Returning to the Central League in 1938 our teams won several more championships before the end of that decade. Subsequent League representations have not been so outstanding, yet our teams have usually been close to the top if not on top.


Through the efforts, particularly of Delmas McCloskey, Little League baseball came to Beech Creek within several years after its inception. Delmas became the first manager. He was a son of Harry O. and Lula M. (Boone) McCloskey. Several years later, when Little League headquarters in Williamsport announced the Junior League program for boys just beyond Little League age, a team in this category was organized locally. Bob Miller, a son of Walter and Thelma (Burke) Miller and the husband of Claire Bitner, was chosen to be the manager. These early teams, members of the Intercommunity Leagues, made good showings. Some years later, because of the pressure of higher and higher fees and added regulations, our Intercommunity Leagues


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Chapter X


withdrew from the international organization. This move permitted a greater number of boys to participate.


As mentioned previously the annual Memorial Day parade was led, for many years, by the Beech Creek Military Fife and Drum Corps. This marching group, sometimes called the Linn Fife and Drum Corps because of the preponderance of Linn members, was organized some time after the Civil War. A standout performer was E. B. Roberts, who had been a military drummer in the war. A former local resident, Hugh Linn of Williamsport, a son of the late Chatham and Agnes (Quigley) Linn, declares that he has never seen the equals of drummer Roberts.


Our early settlers, using many Indian techniques, did considerable hunting and fishing in order to provide enough food for their families. Over the years these activities have become more of an organized sport than a necessity. The Great Ring Hunt, which took place in this area, is fully described in Linn's History, published in 1882. On November 5, 1902 the old Philadelphia North American, a daily newspaper, carried a picture of Richard Berryhill, our foremost hunter, about to leave his camp for a day's hunting. Later pictures showed Mr. Berryhill, his long-time hunting companion, Jonathan Abbott of Blanchard, and their entire hunting crew. When good fishing weather arrived Berryhill and his fishing companion, Sammy Bowmaster, would be seen traveling by horse and buggy to their favorite spots. For many years after his death the talents of Mr. Berryhill, familiarly known as "Uncle Dick," as a hunter, fisherman and recognized prognosticator were periodically mentioned by George F. Hess in his bi-weekly news columns.


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Early Settlers More Fully Identified


As indicated previously our area was at one time a part of a very large township. For this reason it is difficult to establish exact locations of residents. Furthermore, the first census, taken in 1790, lists the families alphabetically with no clues as to their neighbors or respective area of residence. It is very evident, however, that the following settlers and their families were our neighbors, living just west of us in that part of our then large township that was to later become Liberty Township: John Masden (then usually spelled Marsden), John Gardner, Christian Bechdel, John Bitner, Daniel Kunes, Christian Nestlerode, the Liggets and Simon Rorabaugh, who had previously taken up residence in Pine Creek Township.


Pre-1800 settlers, who had chosen our particular area for at least semi-permanent residence, included the families of Major James and Nancy (Brown) Boyd, Lieutenant James and Sarah Hays, William and Beulah Templeton, William and Ann (Templeton) Fearon, John Fearon, Joseph Fearon, Richard "Dicky" and Anna Hays, Matthew Leitch, Patrick Linn, Joseph McCloskey, James McCLoskey and Amos Williams. Other pre-1800 settlers, who chose our area or a nearby loca- tion in our valley, include Cleary and Ann (Gamble) Campbell, Mungo Lindsey, William Montgomery, Jacob Packer, John Spangler, Peter Spangler, George Wantz, Ellis Williams and Job and Hannah (Lam- bourn) Packer.


In constructing a place for the family to live, providing firewood, clearing land and planting and harvesting crops, our early settlers were busy from daylight to dark. The family's first shelter, usually a log cabin, was often enlarged or replaced as the family grew. Local taxing procedures after 1800 were discussed in Chapter I. Prior to 1800 some assessment records indicated the type and size of each home and the number of lights (windows). With very few exceptions the houses were described as log-type, and values ranged upward from twenty-eight dollars.


A very noticeable increase in the population of our township occurred


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between 1800 and 1810. Familiar names among the settlers of this period were: Matthew Allison, a Revolutionary War soldier, who lived in the Nittany Valley portion of our township, and who later served as a Centre County Commissioner; Allen and William Campbell and Jonathan and John DeLong, sons and sons-in-law of Cleary Campbell; Lemuel Farwell, whose given name was carried through many genera- tions of Farwells; Amos, Amos, Jr., Edward and William Williams; Michael and John Kirk, who had lumbering and tanning interests; Patrick and Philip Mullen, the latter having later married Elizabeth Masden, widow of Justus "Yost" Masden; Lieutenant John Philip and Ann (Shippin) DeHaas and the Daniel Davids. Lieutenant DeHaas, son of Brigadier General John Philip and Eleanor (Bingham) DeHaas, came from Philadelphia and settled on a portion of the land holdings acquired by him for military service or else purchased from fellow of- ficers. Daniel David, also a Revolutionary soldier, brought along at least four of his sons, namely Isaac, James, Carpenter and Alexander.


Other settlers of the 1800-1810 period included: William, Samuel and Henry Pletcher, who later joined their kin in the Howard area; Joseph Morrison, who, for many years after the death of his wife, Elizabeth, lived with his son-in-law, James Linn; William, Jacob, William, Jr. and David Reed, the latter two still unmarried in 1810; William and Sarah Miller; Caleb, William, Jr., Robert and Conrad Miller; and James and Nancy (Cryder) Miller, the ancestors of most of our Millers of the present day.


Current local family names that have existed continuously since an ancestor settled here in the early 1800's are surprisingly few. Those that can be identified and the year in which residence began are as follows: Packer (before 1800), Miller (1803), DeHaas (1806), Clark (1813), Lingle (1822), Haagen (1829), Bitner (1830), Linn (1834), Masden (1836), and Johnson (1841). It may be remembered that the Bitner, Linn and Masden settlers referred to here all came from Liberty Township. Several Masdens had crossed over to our area shortly after 1800, but they left no descendants who live here today. The first Johnsons came from England via Farrandsville and the first Lingles came from Linglestown via Mifflin County. Rises and declines over the years in the prevalence of family names is in very clear evidence. In 1880 we had eight Linn families; today we have one. In 1880 we had no Bechdel families in our specific area. In fact as late as 1910 we still had none, except that Lizzie Bechdel, daughter of Jacob and Isabella (Confer) Bechdel, was living with her sister, Dora, wife of Charles Cook. Today we have at least ten Bechdel families. In 1840 we had six Fearon families. Today we have none. In 1860 we had seven Hall families. Today we have none. In 1880 we had one Peter (Peters) fami-


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ly. Today we have more than twenty. Among the once popular names that do not exist locally today we find Hays, Quigley and Ligget.


In early days almost every family was engaged in farming, at least part time. However, there were some full-time, non-agricultural, oc- cupations usually performed by self-employed persons. These jobs in- cluded blacksmith, miller, tanner, weaver, sawyer, distiller, cooper, tailor, shoemaker, carpenter, and stone mason. Persons engaged in these occupations were assessed accordingly. Taxes were also levied against such items as land, buildings, horses, cows, sawmills, yokes of oxen, gristmills, stills, workshops, etc. At various times taxes were levied against gold watches, money at interest and collateral in- heritances. Assessors who served our township from 1801 to 1810 were James Boyd, Casper Richards, William Moore and John Heslet. County commissioners during the same period were John Hall, David Barr, Matthew Allison, Christopher Henney, James Green, Iac Hosterman, John Barron, John Kryder, John Snyder and F. McEwen. Mr. Allison was from our township.


Additional Families 1800 to 1810


William Beaty and family, Michael and Mary (Helman) Brickley - moved to the present Liberty Township area before 1810, Allen Campbell and family, William and Elizabeth (Parsons) Campbell, Samuel and Mary (McGhee) Clark, John and Rhoda (David) Counsil, David Courter and family, John and Mary Donnell - he died around 1813, Jesse and Elizabeth (Johnson) Hall - left area - returned dur- ing 1840's, Samuel Hall and family, Jacob Hess and family, Thomas Holland and first wife, James and Susanna Huff, William and Sarah Miller, Alexander Morrison and family, Joseph and Elizabeth Mor- rison, Michael Myers and family, Moses and Hannah (Packer) Packer, John and Elizabeth Quay, Jacob and Magdalene Runner - later moved to Liberty Township, Samuel Saxton and family, Edward Wil- liams and family, William and Elizabeth Williams and Mathias and Jane Wagner.


Additional Familes 1810 to 1820


Samuel and Lettie (Mckibben) Askey, James Boyd, Jr. and family, Thomas Boyd and family, Benjamin Clark and family, John Clark and family, William, Sr. and Elizabeth Clark, William, Jr. and Sarah (Hays) Clark, Jonas and Nancy (Gunsallus) Confer, Nicholas Crispen and family, Jonathan and Elizabeth (Orner) Daughenbaugh, Alex- ander and Mary David, Carpenter David and family, John P. and Han- nah (Morrison) DeHaas, Edward, Sr. and Ann (Connor) DeHaas, Wil- liam and Mary "Polly" (Connor) DeHaas, James DeLong and family,


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Gilbert Hays and family, Samuel and Susan (Smith) Hays - she died in 1848 - and second wife, Deborah (Reeder) McDonald Hays - mar- ried May 26, 1857, Henry and Joanna (Fredericks) James, Abner Mc- Closkey and family, Nathan McCloskey and family, Hugh and Isabell (Hays) McFadden, John Montgomery and family, Daniel and Margaret (Frey) Nestlerode, Levi Packer and family, John Quigley and family, William T. and Elizabeth Reed, Michael and Susan (Smith) Rogers, David and Mary Rorabaugh - came from Liberty Township, Michael and Mary (Clark) Quigley, Henry Snyder and family and Enoch Williams and family.


Additional Families 1820 to 1830


Christian and Nancy (Dice) Bitner, Hugh Caldwell - ran away and married in 1823, Samuel and Mary (Leitch) Clark, Stephen Clark and family, Buckman Claflin and family, Abraham and Nancy (Rogers) Courter - married October 12, 1824 and later moved to Liberty Township, Campbell and Elizabeth (Kunes) DeLong - later returned to Liberty Township, Joseph and Nancy Galbraith - later moved to Liberty Township, George and Mary (Barger) Haagen, Jesse and Elizabeth (Starns) Harleman, John Harleman and family, Isaac Harvey and family, Robert and Letitia (Packer) Hays, James Hays and family, William and Ann (Barner) Huff, Thomas and V. Holcomb, Samuel and Rebecca (Courter) Knepley, Daniel Krouse and family, Paul and Mary (Spohn) Lingle, John and Sarah (Miller) Lingle and Simon and Susanna (Kunes) Lingle.


Also Andrew, Jr. and Barbara (Leathers) Linn - this family, ex- cepting two oldest daughters, later moved to Bristol, Ill., Thomas and Rachel Linn, Joseph and Agnes McCloskey, Jacob Miller's widow, Ann, and family, Eli and Ann (Thomas) Packer, John and Sarah (Confer) Packer, Reuben Packer and family, John Reed and family, Jeremiah and Susanna (Bitner) Rockwell, Jeremiah Shearer and fami- ly, Andrew and Mary (Orner) Smith, Thomas and Eleanor (DeHaas) Stevenson, Peter and Mary Sullenberger - moved to Liberty Township in 1827 and John and Elizabeth Wagner.


Additional Families 1830 to 1840


Abraham and Mary (Leathers) Bitner, John and Susan (Orner) Bitner, Christian and Eliza Fawcett (Kirk) Bollinger - married July 17, 1821, Samuel and Mahala Brickley - later moved to Howard area, James and Eliza Britton, James Chatham - later married Henrietta DeHaas, David and Eliza Clark - later lived at Mill Hall, Valentine Confer and family, William Courter and family, John and Martha (Linn) Crispen, Thomas and Hannah (Morrison) Crispen - married


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March 22, 1832 - second wife was Fayette, James and Ellen (Baird) David, James Fearon and family, Robert and Sarah (Hays) Fearon, William and Elizabeth (Bechdel) Fearon, Elisha and Lydia (Berry) Graham - married August 18, 1831 - moved to Liberty Township in 1836, James Graham and family and Samuel Graham and family.




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