USA > Vermont > Grand Isle County > History of Franklin and Grand Isle counties, Vermont : With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of the prominent men and pioneers. > Part 48
USA > Vermont > Franklin County > History of Franklin and Grand Isle counties, Vermont : With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of the prominent men and pioneers. > Part 48
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The first Sabbath-school was organized in 1818, and although the ef- forts in behalf of such work have had varied success it has been efficient help in church work. There was quite an increase in the membership of the church about 1864, but in consequence of death and removals only a few members remain.
St. Patrick's Catholic Church .- The Catholic families of Fairfield were first visited by missionary priests in 1830. Among these was Rev. Y. O'Callighan. The first church was built in 1847 under the di- rection of Rev. G. A. Hamilton. Rev. J. McGowan had missionary charge from 1850 to 1855. Rev. Thomas Riordan from St. Albans had
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TOWN OF FAIRFIELD.
charge until 1858, when he located at Fairfield as resident pastor, con- tinuing his labors until his death, October, 1861. The church was then attended by Rev. L. Cam from Swanton until December, 1862. Rev. J. M. Duglsee was then placed in charge of the parish, remaining until June, 1864, and was then succeeded by Rev. G. N. Casey, who remained until October, 1868. Rev. M. McAuley's pastorate continued from 1868 to October, 1879. The parish was then in temporary charge of Father J. S. Michaud, of Burlington, until October, 1880. Rev. A. J. Glynn was then resident pastor until October, 1881, when there was a vacancy until January 1, 1882, at which time Rev. Francis Yoinec took charge, remaining until January, 1884. Rev. P. M. McKenna has been resident pastor from January, 1884, until the present. The new church was built in 1872 by Rev. M. McAuley; it is said to have cost $25,000. The parish contains 180 families, numbering nearly 1,000 people. About $300 was expended in 1889 in repairing and decorating the church edifice.
Trinity Episcopal Church .- This church was organized by Rev. Rus- sell Catlin, of Connecticut, in June, 1803. Nathan Lobdell and Hubbard Barlow were elected wardens, and Maj. Bradley Barlow, clerk. Barzillai Buckley was the first rector in the parish, closing his labors in 1806. In 1808-09 Rev. Charles Stewart, of St. Armand, C. E., and the Rev. Abraham Bronson, of Arlington, officiated occasionally. Rev. J. P. K. Henshaw spent a few months here during 1812-13, and Rev. Parker Adams a few Sundays in 1813. The State Convention of the church met at Fairfield, June 22, 1814, giving the church new zeal, which re- sulted in the confirmation of thirty persons, by Bishop Griswold, and the building of a church edifice in 1815. The church was consecrated September 20, 1818, by Bishop Griswold ; Rev. Stephen Beach, who commenced his labors some time previously, was installed rector, and forty-seven persons were confirmed the same day. In 1822 Rev. Ste- phen Beach left the parish and Rev. Elijah Brainard officiated occasion- ally until July, 1823. Rev. Nathan B. Burgess preached a few months, after which there were no regular services until 1826, when Rev. Moore Bingham took charge of the parish until 1828. He was succeeded by Rev. A. B. Hard in 1829, who resigned the charge in 1831. January 23, 1833, the Rt. Rev. John H. Hopkins, bishop of Vermont, confirmed
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN AND GRAND ISLE COUNTIES.
five persons. Rev. John T. Sabine officiated about one year. Novem- ber, 1838, Rev. John A. Spooner was chosen rector, laboring until 1840. Rev. E. H. Sayles then took charge of the parish and remained until 1843. The following year Rev. Edward F. Putnam succeeded, remain- ing until 1847. January Ist Rev. Richard T. Caddle took charge and continued for one year. Rev. John A. Fitch officiated half of the time from August, 1853, until the following spring. Rev. E. H. Sayles re- turned in 1856 and remained until 1860, when services were suspended in the church and held in the north part of the town in a school-house. July 7, 1861, Rev. Francis W. Smith began to preach in the church, and continued in charge of the parish until December, 1866. A new church was erected in place of the old one in 1864, was opened for public serv- ice January 1, 1865, and was consecr ated by Bishop Bissell, August 31, I868.
Other church organizations have had places of worship, one at North Fairfield, formerly occupied by Baptists and afterwards by Adventists and Methodists; and one at East Fairfield, where there was a church erected in 1866 by the combined efforts of Methodists and Universalists.
William Arthur preached at North Fairfield for a few years subse- quent to 1829, and during his pastorate his son, Chester A. Arthur, who became one of the chief magistrates of our nation, was born and named in honor of Chester Abel, then a prominent physician of Fairfield.
Military .- Fairfield has always been loyal to our country's cause, sac- rificing much for national perpetuity and honor. Fifty-five volunteers, Captain George Kimball commanding, were stationed at Swanton in 1813 for the protection of the frontier, and nearly as many more under Benjamin Wooster, as captain, volunteered to go to Plattsburgh on the I Ith of September, 1814. Daniel D. Tompkins, governor of New York, appreciating the heroic conduct of Captain Wooster and his men, pre- sented him an elegant Bible and inscribed on one of the blank pages the following:
" ALBANY, April 21, 1815.
" REVEREND SIR:
". As a memorial of my veneration for your distinguished, noble, and patriotic conduct on the 11th of September, 1814, and of my grateful sense of the eminent benefits which the State and Union have derived from your example and exploits, I request your acceptance of
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TOWN OF FAIRFIELD.
this sacred Volume ; and, by you, to convey to your brave associates the assurance of my high estimation of their patrotism and signal serv- ices. DANIEL D. TOMPKINS.
"To the Rev. Benjamin Wooster, Fairfield, Franklin county, Ver- mont."
In Captain Wooster's reply he assured the governor that "should such a day as the IIth of September, 1814, ever return while we have life, the same men, nay more, will appear in the field as volunteers from Fairfield."
Volunteers from Fairfield stationed at Swanton, 1813 : George Kim- ball, captain ; Aaron Burr, lieutenant ; William Felton, ensign ; Daniel Morse, sergeant; Benjamin H. Farmer, Benjamin Ayers, Thomas Potter, Joseph Ladd, James Johnson, Reuben Brown, William Ovitt, Abel Johnson, Joseph M. Potter, Warren Chafy, Jeremiah Meachum, Warren Danforth, Samuel Johnson, Allen Pratt, Samuel W. Morris, Eli W. Bush, Philitus Sweetland, Samuel Hedge, Isaac Bigelow, Simeon Darling, Hiram Fassett, Asa Ladd, jr., Zebulon Leach, John Follett, John B. Mitchell, Wait Hopkins, Samuel Alford, Samuel Corliss, Brinton Freeman, Nehemiah Phillips, William Sanders, Thomas Martin, Jabez Keep, Thomas Hall, David Jewett, David Mitchell, Joseph Wright, Nathaniel B. Beardsley, Abial Hibbard, James Stone, jr., John Johnson, George Peckham, Matthew Beach, John Bradley, James Converse, L. Lockwood, Benjamin F. Barnes, Lyman Leach, John Sheldon, Hub- bell Mitchell, Eli G. Hemenway, privates.
Only a part of the names of Captain Wooster's company engaged at Plattsburgh, September 1I, 1814, are obtainable. Those found are : Benjamin Wooster, captain; Joseph Soule, O. Sherwood, Luther Wright, Eli Sherwood, Elias Sherwood, Thomas Taylor, Salmon Soule, Aaron Burr, J. Soule, John P. Wright, Daniel Read, Anson Buck, Zotman Sherwood, Timothy Soule, Samuel Payne.
In a preceding chapter will be found the roll of enlisted men belong- ing to their respective regiments and companies who were engaged in the civil war of 1861. The town paid $325 as bounty money in 1863 and $1,000 in 1864, and furnished four commissioned officers and 193 en - listed men.
Town Clerks of Fairfield and the Date of their Election .- Edmund
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN AND GRAND ISLE COUNTIES.
Town, 1791 ; J. D. Farnsworth, 1801 ; Benjamin Wooster, 1813 ; J. D. Farnsworth, 1814; Joseph Soule, 1824; A. G. Soule, 1864; W. H. Fairchild, 1864.
Villages and Hamlets .- East Fairfield, originally called " Puddle Dock," is a growing village in the southeast part of the town, on the St. Johnsbury and Lake Champlain Railroad, which does considerable business in shipments of butter, potatoes, and live stock.
W. S. Soule has a well stocked store of general merchandise, and H. M. Wells successfully conducts a similar business. There are several other houses doing business in groceries, flour, feed, etc. The Isham block contains a hall and several offices. The Isham House is the only hotel. R. S. Read manufactures lumber and shingles, and supplies Connecticut and other manufactories with hardwood lumber. Burton & Rodee have a grist-mill, which, as well as the saw-mill, has good water-power on Black Creek. Oscar J. Merrill operates a creamery, which is in part supplied by two other separators in the town ; he has nearly forty patrons. Marble monuments and headstones are furnished by J. C. Pringle. E. B. Sturges has coffins and furniture. There is a union church and a school of two departments.
Fairfield Center, beautiful for situation, is near the central part of the town and Fairfield River ; it has Congregational, Episcopal, and Catholic churches, a town house and school building, two stores, postoffice, one hotel (the " Franklin County House)," saw and feed-mill, and several fine residences.
St. Rocks is a hamlet on the outlet of Fairfield Pond; it has a creamery, H. N. Burr's saw-mill, a wagon shop, blacksmith shop, and a few dwellings.
East from St. Rocks and in the northern part of the town is Pumpkin Village, which is not a village at all, but a community of intelligent and successful farmers, among whom may be mentioned the venerable H. Morey and Hollis N. Sherwood. Towards the northeast corner of the town is North Fairfield, abbreviated to Norfalk, which has a union church, school, cemetery, and a farming community. Between Norfalk and Fairfield Center is Shenang, having both a location and a name. In the eastern part farmers obtain a supply of seed-corn when the crop fails elsewhere, and they call the place Egypt. L. Newton is the mod- ern Joseph. Young Ireland, " Lost Nations," and " Across the Swamp" are localities well known to residents of the town.
513
TOWN OF BAKERSFIELD.
CHAPTER XXVI.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BAKERSFIELD.'
T HIS town is situated in the southeastern part of Franklin county. It is fifteen miles from .St. Albans, the county seat. It originally consisted of 10,000 acres of land, granted by the state to Luke Knowl- ton, February 28, 1787, and known as Knowlton's Gore or Grant. January 24, 1791, this grant was deeded to Joseph Baker. At an ad- journed session of the General Assembly of the state it was voted that this grant be called and known as Bakersfield, after Joseph Baker, the first settler. The secretary was ordered to make out and execute a charter of incorporation.
October 29, 1794, an act was passed by the General Assembly ap- pointing a committee to alter the lines of several towns, among those specified being Bakersfield, Fairfield, and Smithfield. The last named town laid west of Bakersfield. In accordance with this act Smithfield was divided, a part being joined to Bakersfield and a part to Fairfield ; also that portion of Fairfield lying south of Bakersfield Common was an- nexed to Bakersfield, October 31, 1798, and a tract of land lying north of Bakersfield, known as Knight's Gore, was annexed to it. Afterwards a part of this gore, in straightening the town line, was joined to Enos- burgh. October 25, 1799, a part of Coit's Gore on the southeast was annexed. The area of the town at present is about 24,000 acres.
The first settler was Joseph Baker. It is not known in what year he came to town, but some time before he took a deed from Knowlton. There were only three other families here before 1794, when three other families came. From 1794 to 1800 others came, so that at the taking of the first census of the town in 1800 the population was 222. Among those who came previous to 1800, who were active in the business affairs of the town, were Joseph Baker, Stephen Maynard, Jonas Brig- ham, Jeremiah Pratt, Luke Potter, Jonathan Farnsworth, Joshua Barnes, Oliver Houghton, William Perkins, Joseph Barrett, Moses Start,
' By O. G. Start.
65
514
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN AND GRAND ISLE COUNTIES.
Ephraim Maynard, Uriah Brigham, Amos Cutler, Solomon Davis, Sam- uel Cochran, and Aaron Smith.
The town was organized and the first town meeting held March 30, 1795. The notice or warning for the meeting was signed by Jonas Fisk, a justice of the peace of Cambridge, Vt. This meeting was called at the dwelling house of Joseph Baker. Meetings were called at the same place until there was a school-house built, after which they were called to meet there. The officers elected at this time were: Town clerk, Stephen Maynard ; selectmen, Jonas Brigham, Joseph Baker, Ste- phen Maynard; constable, Amos Cutler ; hay warden, Jeremiah Pratt. The only business done at this meeting, besides electing officers, was to vote to keep the swine shut up from the 20th of May to the 20th of October. The same vote was taken at subsequent town meetings for several years. After doing the business mentioned the meeting ad- journed to a fixed day. The first freeman's meeting was held Septem- ber 6, 1796. Votes were cast at this meeting for Thomas Chittenden for governor. Jonas Brigham was elected town representative to the General Assembly to be held at Rutland.
During the time the embargo law was in force there was consider- able feeling against the law and its enforcement, and against the deputy collector for this town, as will be seen by the following :
A special town meeting was called to meet October 12, 1813. Arti- cle 2d of the warning was to take into consideration the peculiar state of affairs both public and domestic, "as regards the rights and interests of the citizens and inhabitants of this town, and adopt such measure or measures in relation thereto as in the opinion of this town the public good and the interest of the town shall require." It was voted to appoint a committee to take into consideration the conduct of Captain Samuel Cochran, deputy collector, and report. Colonel Silas Hazeltine, Joseph Barrett, David Wright, Dana Bailey, and John Dunn were appointed. The meeting adjourned for half an hour. The committee's report was accepted and adopted, which was as follows :
" Gentlemen : Your committee have taken into consideration the busi ness of their appointment, and beg leave to submit the following address to be presented to Cornelius P. Van Ness, as a result of their delibera- tions :
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TOWN OF BAKERSFIELD.
" Sir : The inhabitants of Bakersfield, duly convened in town meeting, wish for the indulgence respectfully to represent to you, that whereas Captain Samuel Cockran is said to be a deputy collector under you, and it is generally received by the people to be a serious evil, And extremely improper that the said Samuel Cockran should hold the office. It is an evil because the said Samuel Cockran is considered a man wanting in can- dor, truth, honor, and honesty, and it is improper as he often wantonly stops travelers on whom no suspicion of violating the law can rest, and treats some with great violence, and threatens their lives with arm in his hands in the day-time, when considered lawfully pursuing their business, and in the night patrols our streets and roads, and lurks about our dwelling houses and other buildings, with deadly weapons, to the great disturb- ance of the peace and quiet of the people, and to the injury and dis- grace of the country-much of which appears evidently to have been done under the influence of prejudice, and from partial and base motives. In short we consider the said Samuel Cockran as the most unfit and unqualified person for this office that can be selected. For these reasons we have full assurance from your high sense of honor, your candor, your moderation, and your ardent desire to protect the just rights of individuals, to promote in the best manner the peace and tranquility of the people, and to do equal and impartial justice to every class of citizens, that you will have the goodness to remove the said Samuel Cockran from the said office, and appoint some suitable person to be intrusted with the said office. In compliance, Sir, with this request, you will fullfil the just expectations of your fellow citizens.
" Voted, that the address be signed by the Moderator of the meeting, and the Town Clerk."
The action of the town in regard to the War of 1812-15 will be seen in the following copy of the record of a town meeting held September 12, 1812. Article 2d of the warning was to " take into consideration the ex- posed situation of this town, on account of the present state of war with the inhabitants of the province of Canada, and to consult and adopt such meas- ure or measures for the benefit and defence of this town as may be thought best calculated for the purpose aforesaid." After considering this article it was voted that every person who would provide himself with a good firearm should be furnished with one-fourth pound of powder, balls and
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN AND GRAND ISLE COUNTIES.
flints proportionate, from the town stock, to be done by and under the direction of a committee of safety. " Voted, to have a Committee of Safety consisting of six persons." The following named persons were chosen a committee : Colonel Hazeltine, Major Parker, Captain Wilkin- son, Jeremiah Pratt, Captain Billings, Uriah Brigham. At a subsequent meeting it was voted to appropriate $50 to purchase powder, balls, and flints to complete the town stock, agreeable to the requisition of the law of the state, and more if thought expedient; also to direct the select men to procure a suitable chest, with lock and key, to contain the town stock of ammunition. Bakersfield furnished twenty-two volunteers for the War of 1812-15 who were at the battle of Plattsburgh, September I I, 1814. Mr. Hiram Smith, a veteran of this war, and who was wounded at Plattsburgh, is now living in this town in his ninety-ninth year. The town furnished for the war of the Rebellion, in 1861-65, 145 men, three of whom were commissioned officers, namely : Merritt Williams, captain Company G, Thirteenth Regiment; John S. Tupper, first lieutenant Company A, Third Regiment; and Charles M. Start, first lieutenant Company I, Tenth Regiment.
Ecclesiastical .- There are at this time, 1890, three churches in Bak- ersfield : one Congregational, one Methodist, and one Roman Catholic. The principal facts worthy of notice in the religious history of the town are as follows: In the notice for town meeting to be held March 9, 1801, an article was inserted : "To see if the town will vote to grant money as a sum, to be paid in produce, to hire preaching three months." " Voted not to raise any money to hire preaching." A similar article was in the warning for town meeting in 1802, but the town voted against raising any money for preaching. At a special town meeting called for that purpose, held June 14, 1804, it was voted "to give to the Rev. Samuel Sumner1 an invitation to settle with us in the gospel ministry, and that his salary be $100, to be paid in marketable wheat, and the use of twenty-five acres of the ministerial land." There was no organized church in town until 1811, when the Congregational church was formed July 4th. This was done after the examination of the state of relig- ion here by a committee appointed by the Northwestern Consociation.
' There are no records to show just how long the Rev. Samuel Sumner continued to serve the town as a gospel minister, but the final settlement with him was effected on the 24th day of June, 1813.
517
TOWN OF BAKERSFIELD.
The organization was made with eleven members. The following named persons were examined by the committee and approved as fit to become members : Josiah Sheldon, Jeremiah Pratt, William Perkins, Joseph Ross, Ezra Allen, Daniel Stebbins, Lydia Perkins, Hannah Hazeltine, Margaret Start, Elizabeth Ross, Lydia Allen. The church had no regular preaching until 1822, when Rev. Elderkin Boardman was ordained and settled over the church. There being no building in town large enough for the occasion the exercises were held on the common. Meetings were held by the church in the old town house, situated near where Thomas Hooker now lives. After the new town house was built they occupied that until the meeting-house was built, near the old town house, which was about the year 1831 .. This house was called the Old North Meeting-house. In 1849 a new church was erected on the south side of the common, and since known as the South church. The min- isters who have been settled over the church or supplied the pulpit since its organization are Elderkin Boardman, 1821-26; Samuel Perry, 1827-28; S. G. Tenney, 1831-34; Mr. Bachelder, 1838-39; Thomas Canfield, 1840-45; Daniel Warren, 1847-54; C. W. Piper, 1855-61; G. Frederick Wright, 1862-72 ; Richard Hicks, 1872-77 ; J. K. Fuller, 1877-79; A. Parker Solandt, 1890.
There was a Methodist class formed in town about the year 1806. The first house of worship of this society was the chapel which was built in connection with the academy on the south side of the common. They occupied this until the time the house they now occupy was built, at the north end of the village, in 1854 ; it was dedicated November 14th of the same year.
The Catholic church purchased the old Methodist chapel in 1867, and afterwards the upper part of the building which was formerly used as an academy. Soon after they purchased the Methodist chapel. This society never has had but one resident priest. The Rev. P. Savoui lived here a while. Since that time the church has been supplied by the priest from Fairfield Center, coming here once a month. This parish includes a part of Fairfield.
Schools .- The first action taken by the town in regard to schools was at a town meeting, November 21, 1796. At this meeting it was voted to divide the town into two districts, and that the dividing line be south
518 HISTORY OF FRANKLIN AND GRAND ISLE COUNTIES.
of Jeremiah Pratt's, to be called the North and South districts. In 1800 the town was again divided into districts, adding what was called the East district. The first school taught in town was by Foster Paige, in the winter of 1796-97. The first school-house was built of logs, and was located north of the village near where Albert Rice now lives. As the population increased the town was still further divided into districts and provision made for schools. There are now thirteen school districts. In 1840 what has since been called the South Academy was built by subscription; the Methodist Society contributed, and afterwards owned and occupied the first floor of the building as a chapel. Jacob S. Spald- ing was the first principal of the academy, and held the position twelve years. After Mr. Spalding left L. O. Stevens was chosen principal, and remained two years. He was followed by James A. McLauflin, who remained two years. In 1844 another academy was built, by those who opposed the location of the first, at the north end of the village on the hill north of the hotel. From 1840 to 1852 Bakersfield was noted for its schools. Some of the time there were over 300 pupils in attendance. Rev. H. J. Moore was the first principal of the North Academy; he held the position for several years. This school was early in its history placed under the control of the Troy Conference of the Methodist Episcopal church. From 1852 to 1878 the interest in higher education declined. The South Academy building has been sold to the Catholic society, who bought the lower part of the building from the Methodist society, and is not occupied at present. The North Academy was deeded by the stockholders to the Methodist society. A part of the building is now used for a hall by the Merritt Williams Post, G. A. R. In 1877 Peter Bent Brigham, a resident of Boston, Mass., and a native of this town, died and left by will to his native town $30,000 to be in - vested in a permanent fund, and known as the Brigham School Fund, and the income thereof to be expended for educational purposes, either for district schools or for a school of a higher grade, as the town might direct. The question as to how the money should be used soon began to be agitated, some taking the ground that it should be divided among the school districts, others that it should be used for a high school.
January 12, 1878, Mrs. Sarah B. Jacobs, of Boston, sister of Peter Bent Brigham, proposed to the town that if they would use the income of Mr.
7
der Bent Brigham
519
TOWN OF BAKERSFIELD.
Brigham's bequest for a high school she would give the town $5,000 to- wards erecting a suitable school building. February 4, 1878, Mrs. S. Jane (Brigham) Kendall, of Boston, niece of Peter Bent Brigham, proposed to the town to give $2,000 for a school building on the same conditions that her aunt, Mrs. Jacobs, had proposed to give $5,000, with the further condition that some appropriate notice of her late uncle be taken in the school on the anniversary of his birth, namely, February 4th. Also on February 4, 1878, Mrs. Roxana B. Hankinson, of Boston, proposed to the town to give $1,000 towards erecting a high school building; this last gift was afterwards increased to $2,000. This gift was also on the same conditions as that of her aunt, Mrs. Sarah B. Jacobs. At a town meeting held February 7, 1878, it was. voted to accept the bequest of Peter Bent Brigham, and to hold and use the same for the purpose named in his will, and none other. At this meeting appropriate reso- lutions were passed expressing the appreciation of the people of the gift, and to a faithful fulfillment of the conditions of the bequest, also resolutions of thanks to the donors of the building fund, and also to for- ever use the income of the Brigham School Fund in the maintenance of a high school in Bakersfield. At the regular town meeting held March 5, 1878, the town voted that we establish and forever maintain one central or high school, for advanced pupils, and for such pupils as may attend the school from other towns, on the terms and for such tuition as the prudential committee shall determine upon. A pruden- tial committee was elected at this meeting, and empowered to employ teachers and regulate the terms and qualifications on which scholars shall be admitted. F. G. Nutting, O. G. Start, and J. Barnes were elected pru- dential committee; H. F. Brigham, H. R. Start, and A. L. Hall were elected building committee. There being a disagreement among the peo- ple of the village as to the location of the building a special town meet- ing was called, at which it was decided by a large majority to allow the donors of the building fund to locate it, which they did, where it now stands. The job to build the house was let to I. D. Sweett & Fawfaw, of Richford, Vt., for $7, 167.20. The building was completed early the next winter. Mrs. Jacobs made other gifts of money sufficient to finish and furnish it. The whole amount of gifts for building and furnishing was $10,350. In November, 1878, the executors of Mr. Brigham's will paid
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