Waseca County Historical Society History Notes

Volume 34 Issue 3 / Sept 2012 www.historical.waseca.mn.us / LOOK FORWARD TO OUR PAST

ON THE COVER: The Janesville FREE Public Library renovation project is finished! The roof and the founda- tion walls were restored. Did you know that it is on the National Register of Historic Places? Did you know that it is one of the hundreds of Carnegie Libraries built across the nation early in the twentieth century, so that more people would have access to books, education, information. This library represents that effort in our Waseca county community, and it’s celebrating a big birthday this Fall. Read more on page 6.

INSIDE: A Sunday Brunch in Matawan, October 28 / ADA Project delayed / See the Museum Shop’s NEW Vintage Signs / What does “Historic” mean? See page 4 / What is “What Was There”? / Getting ready for our 75th birthday!

1 History Notes is a publication of the Waseca County Historical Society ©2012 Events Calendar Mailing Address: P.O. Box 314, Waseca, MN 56093 Street Address: 315 Second Avenue N.E. Visit: www.historical.waseca.mn.us Phone: 507-835-7700, Fax: 507-835-7811 Follow: www.twitter.com/wasecahistory www.historical.waseca.mn.us Like: www.facebook.com/wasecacountyhistoricalsociety

WCHS 2012 Board of Directors: Jim King, President October 10: WCHS Board Meeting, 6 p.m. Don Zwach, Vice-President Jim Tippy, Secretary October 28: WCHS Annual Meeting & Sunday Brunch Tom Piche, Treasurer Out in the County; at Matawan School house, 11:30-1:30, Rev. Charles Espe $8 per person, PAID reservations due by October 24. Lo- Henry Lewer cated at 20650 67th Street in Matawan, Byron Township. Neta Oelke David Pope November 14: WCHS Board Meeting, 6 p.m. Jerry Rutledge Gary Strenge November 15: GiveMN’s Give-To-The-Max Day, Audra Boyer Rod Searle, Ex Officio ’s Day of Giving, search and support “Waseca Don Wynnemer, Ex Officio County Historical Society”! www.givemn.org Jim Peterson, County Commission Al Rose, City Council December 1 & 2: The Annual Holiday Open House

Staff: has been CANCELED because of the ADA Compliance Joan Mooney, Co-Director/Programs & Research Project delays. But in January we’ll have a lift and new [email protected] main floor bathroom. Come see us in 2013!

Sheila Morris, Co-Director/Development & Exhibits Please be patient, we’ll have a new schedule of events in [email protected] 2013. We will be celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the Pauline Fenelon, Artifacts/Library Waseca County Historical Society now being planned. [email protected] Stand by! Vanessa Zimprich, Artifacts/Website [email protected] February 26, 2013: The 75th birthday of WCHS. Linda Taylor, Researcher February 2013: Annual Ice Harvest at Clear Lake [email protected] and the Sleigh & Cutter Festival Nancy Nelson-Deppe, Bookkeeper [email protected] March, April & May: Spring Luncheons/Lectures WCHS HOURS: Museum, Research Library & Gift Shop Closed Mondays, Open Tuesdays-Fridays, 9-5

First National Bank supports WCHS

We’re proud to be the first “History Partner” in support of the Waseca County Historical Society. FNB has made a three-year pledge to help WCHS to continue to keep and interpret Waseca County history. First National Bank of Waseca, Ellendale and Hope also has a long history in Waseca County. We encourage the entire community to participate at WCHS events, visit their exhibits, explore family genealogy, and become members of an important part of our Waseca County culture and memory. www.fnbwaseca.com

2 From the Co-Directors . . . Dear Members . . . Technology Changes Every Week Well maybe not every week, but there’s al- s our busy summer comes to an end ways something new to learn about and see the co-directors and WCHS Board A if it will help us tell Waseca County stories would like to thank staff, members and facts better or to more people. One fact and volunteers for stepping up and support- is accepting that history happens every day. ing our activities during one of the hottest Artifacts and information are discovered or summers on record. brought to us every day. And so historical story-telling Speaking of “hot”—this photograph was sent to us and interpretation will never be finished. And others will from John Byron, Cocoa Beach, FL. This is how he re- carry on after us—as long as the WCHS organization, col- members his hometown ties to Waseca—a hot red, sporty lection, museum and library, and the passion of saving our “Beamer”. I bet Floridians mispronounce history stays alive. “W-A-S-E-C-A” when they notice these vanity plates! So how do you want your history? Thanks, John, for sending the photo! Because WCHS needs new and renewing members, we Chautauqua 2012 marked the be- need board and advisory committee ginning of an unrelenting heat wave. members to help us utilize the technol- The weather cooled somewhat for the ogy and social media that a new gener- Waseca County Fair and was perfect ation relies on for interaction. Just a for the Garden Walk. We are looking few years ago we worked just to get forward to fall and all the changes it will bring.

your history on the Internet—indexed, searchable, complete. Now we need to Museum is Getting a Lift frame the stories of our history to give you context and meaning. Next stop Q- The museum will be under construction this fall. The R codes, iPhones and iPads, touch screens and the real ADA project is getting underway, a little late, but defi- thing—the Collection on exhibit. What do you think? nitely will be finished before January 2013. What does Please let us know. that mean for visitors? It means all the exhibits have been put into storage, or they are covered with plastic sheeting. WCHS’ Out-in-the-County Sunday Brunch in Matawan It also means that staff is busy preparing to open when the The Waseca County Historical Society Annual Meeting lift and mainfloor bathroom are finished, with a museum will be held in the restored Matawan school house. This full of exhibits of Waseca County history. This has been a year we will host a Sunday Brunch from 11:30 a.m. to long time coming after so much re-evaluation, re-storing 1:30 p.m. on October 28. The Matawan school house is and planning. the home of the Byron Township Board, and they are gra- ciously co-hosting this event. 3 CO-DIRECTORS’ LETTER / CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 The Cover Story: About Preservation Efforts

What does “historic” really mean?

What qualifies as “historic” when we’re talking about The procedure for getting a property listed on the National houses and buildings? If your house is 50 years or older, Register of Historic Places is to, first, fill out the forms and it meets one qualification for a listing in the National paperwork for the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO); second, they will evaluate and decide if it should be sent on Register of Historic Places, as well as local designation to the National Register. The National Register website is through the Waseca Heritage Preservation Commission. the go-to place for information. It will refer you to our State What is the National Register of Historic Places? Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) located in the Minnesota The administers the National Register History Center. That is where we go for all preservation infor- of Historic Places. The National Register is the official feder- mation. In the 1980s when the program was getting started, al list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects SHPO staff worked with county historical societies all over significant in American history, architecture, archeology, the state to get properties listed. It was at that time that engineering, and culture. National Register properties have Waseca County got 12 properties placed on the Historic significance to the history of their community, state, or the Register. Those were the days! Since then the research and nation. Nominations for listing historic documentation required to nominate properties come from State Historic Criteria for Evaluation a property has greatly increased. It is Preservation officers, from Federal The quality of significance in American history, archi- our experience that the process in- Preservation Officers for properties tecture, archeology, engineering, and culture is pre- volves an evaluation by a historic owned or controlled by the United sent in districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects professional, usually an architect and that possess integrity of location, design, setting, mate- a historian. Then you may want to States government, and from Tribal rials, workmanship, feeling, and association, and: Historic Preservation Officers for consider hiring someone to write the a) That are associated with events that have made a properties on tribal lands. Private significant contribution to the broad patterns of our nomination. individuals and organizations, local history; or WCHS works with the City of Waseca governments, and American Indian b) That are associated with the lives of persons signif- through the Heritage Preservation tribes often initiate this process and icant in our past; or Commission to target certain struc- prepare the necessary documenta- c) That embody the distinctive characteristics of a tures or areas in the city that may tion. A professional review board in type, period, or method of construction, or that represent the work of a master, or that possess qualify for historic recognition. Does each state considers each property high artistic values, or that represent a significant this mean they are eligible for the Na- proposed for listing and makes a rec- and distinguishable entity whose components may tional Register? No, not necessarily. ommendation on its eligibility. lack individual distinction; or d) That have yielded, or may be likely to yield, A good example is the Trowbridge Below, the Ed Herter house on Elm Avenue information important in prehistory or Bandshell. An evaluation was submit- E., was built in the Queen Anne Victorian history. ted to SHPO for National Register con- architectural style in 1906; below, the house in 2012.

FOR SALE

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FOR SALE

The Leuthold house on Elm Avenue E., as it appeared in 1988, was built by prom- Charles Leuthold house, c. 1898 inent architect in 1900.

sideration by the Waseca Heritage Preservation Commission The Edward Otto Herter House (HPC). The recommendation was that it would not qualify on 615 East Elm Avenue, Waseca, MN the structure alone. We could try again and include all of Trowbridge Park but the HPC had spent considerable time Researched by Linda Taylor and grant funding to conduct the evaluation. The missing piece was state and national Edward Otto Herter started his career in Faribault working for significance. Instead the HPC the Ochs Brothers before coming to Waseca in 1894 at the age of 18. He married Margaret McLin on July 24, 1901, and made the Trowbridge Bandshell their first local designation. The they had two children, Margaret Thelma and George Leonard. City of Waseca Waseca HPC is wrapping up a Ed Herter and Otto Ochs, as partners, operated a department Heritage historic inventory. When com- store on south State Street for five years. In 1913 Herter re- Preservation plete you can view it on the City located to the C. Johnson Hardware building. A huge fire in Commission of Waseca website. The next 1942 destroyed the building and killed one employee.

challenge for the HPC is devel- The Herter house was sold to Waseca attorney, John Les Tlougan, Chair oping a set of Design Guidelines, McLoone, who added a large family room addition on the Ranae Schult based on National Register north east part of the Queen Anne-style Victorian house. Kim Johnson Standards. The guidelines will Jean Byron be the framework needed for Joan Mooney building owners interested in The Charles Leuthold House Robin Terrell preservation. 824 East Elm Avenue, Waseca, MN Patricia Masberg With that said we are featuring Researched by Pat Pearson two magnificent homes in the city of Waseca that are currently Charles Leuthold was a prominent businessman in Waseca. for sale. Neither property is on He and his brothers operated haberdasheries in Minnesota, the National Register, however South Dakota, Iowa and Wisconsin, including the Leuthold we know the rich history of the homes and would like to Brothers Clothing store in Waseca. Leuthold hired prominent share the History with you. architect, Frederick Kees, to design his new home on East We hope the historical significance of these two homes will Elm. The plans were approved in 1898 and the building com- be preserved by the next owners. The HPC has no means of pleted around 1900. stopping any building owner from making changes on their About the Architect: Frederick Kees was born in 1852 and buildings. The only time the HPC does have control is when a died in in 1927. During his lifetime he became building owner receives funding from grants administered by a very successful and nationally known architect. He part- the State Historic Preservation Office. Those repairs or resto- nered with architect Franklin Long from 1884 to 1897. Their rations must adhere to the Secretary of the Interior National firm became one of the most successful architectural firms in Standards For the Treatment of Historic Structures. Minneapolis. Together they designed and built many of the

5 CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 “HISTORIC” / CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 CO-DIRECTORS’ LETTER / CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 largest buildings in Minneapolis in the 1880s and 1890s, All WCHS members are invited to vote at the very including the first Minneapolis Public Library (1884), Masonic brief business meeting; but all members of the public Temple (1888), and Courthouse (1888- are invited, too, but you must RSVP. Just call to make 1906), Lumber Exchange (1888-1890), Flour Exchange a reservation—507-835-7700 by October 24, cost is (1893-1897), Kasota Block (1884), and many warehouses, $8.00 per person. churches and private residences. It is interesting to note that the Lumber Exchange building was the first skyscraper in The Matawan school retained original floors, woodwork, Minneapolis and one of the first fire-proof buildings in the blackboards, maps, benches and tables. Come and see! A country. Many of these projects and others are on the Nation- history of the building and the restoration process will be al Register of Historical Places. presented at the meeting. The address of Matawan Frederick Kees’ work can also be found outside of Minnesota. He School is 20650 67th Street in Matawan. designed the Hennessy Building (1897-1898) in Butte, Montana. A tour of this building, among others, was conducted during a special event named “Twin Cities Architects in Montana” by the Montana Preservation Alliance (MPA) in August of this year. The Minnesota OnOnOn-On---goinggoing Historical Markers Project Chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians joined the MPA on Former WCHS Board member, Dan Swenson, has been con- this week-end long tour of buildings in the National Historic Districts ducting a search for Waseca County historical markers, plaques of Butte and Helena. After their part- and event sites all over the county. nership dissolved in 1897, Frederick He needs your help with completing Kees practiced on his own until 1899, this project, so that we can offer yet when he formed a partnership with another historical record and refer- Serenus Colburn. It is in this two-year ence information to the public. Dan period that the plans were drawn for has found over 153 such markers. the Charles Leuthold house in Waseca. WCHS supports Dan in this effort, as Because of the historical significance we also want stories, narratives, any on a local, state and national level, information to add to the record of this home is worthy of local historic these sites. They may be official or preservation designation and inclusion unofficial. Please contact WCHS if on the National Register. Only the se- you have a recommendation that cond family to own the property was might be on your farm, in your town- Lawrence and Leta Clemons. The ship, along side the road, out in the Clemons raised ten children in this woods. Many such markers are house. The third property-owners are home-made and may be grown over . Mark and Pat Pearson who purchased Let us know what you know. in December 2002. The property is for Eventually we may create a GPS map sale once again. online to more easily locate each Update on Janesville site. Did you know there was a mark- er in Courthouse Park that marks Public Library where the stagecoach trail once was? It’s finished! The long-awaited pro- CALL US, 507507----835835835835----7700770077007700 ject to replace the roof and repair the foundation walls was finally completed over the summer. It’s a Carnegie Library built in 1912, and it has been on the National The marker indicating the site where the first white family settled, the Register since 1982. The funding came from the Minnesota His- Sutliefs in St. Mary Township. torical Society Capital Grants-in-Aid with matching funds from the City of Janesville. Sara Britton, Administrative Assistant in the City office spear-headed and tackled that grant application, and supervised the work. WCHS cheered her on! Watch for news of a 100th Birthday Party-Ice Cream So- cial for one of the most beautiful buildings in the county, now preserved for another hundred years! 6 What was there? Check it out . . . www.whatwasthere.com

We want to bring a website to your attention. Visit and enter “Waseca, MN” and view the historic photographs that have been entered so far. What’s fun about this is that it is linked to Google Maps and GPS. Click on one of the thumbnail photos. The historic photo displays. Then click on “Details” and you get a brief narrative about it. Click on “Street View” and Google Maps will show you what the site looks like now. The added feature is the “fade slide” that will fade the old photo (like a ghost) and let you see what is on the site today. Reverse the “slide” and you see the historic photo once again, seeing “what was there” long ago.

This is a free website. You must register and log-in to add your own photographs. The WCHS staff is adding more photographs as we have time. We want to upload our Waseca County’s Historic Register sites. We’ve encountered just two problems. 1) The Google Map may not have captured your “site” to be able to experience the then and now effect; and 2) we can only enter photos that we have! There are photographs we don’t have of some significant sites. This then and now effect works best on a desktop or laptop computer, but there is an app version for smart phones and tablets. You must own and/or have copyright privilege of any photographs you upload. Write what you know. The other really cool experience is driving on a trip somewhere else, go on this website or app, and the map will show the brown dots that indicate there is a historic photo and info near you. Tap on the dot and “wow!”

Waseca County Cemeteries Indexed Krassin, Prairie Peace, Radloff, Mycue, Wilton, LeSueur River Lutheran, St. Peter Lutheran, St. Ann’s Catholic, Since the 1990s, volunteers have been photographing and and Calvary/Waseca. indexing our Waseca County cemeteries. Each grave has Recently, Sharon Allen turned in the results been photographed and is available at the Bailey-Lewer of almost 10 years of her work on 13 Waseca County Library for all to see when they visit. When the project cemeteries. The data and images are digitally stored on began under the direction of Marga- CDs and are indexed. The cemeter- ret Sinn, it was decided that photo- ies include: Immanual-Freedom, graphing each stone was the best Alma City, Smith Mill, Cedar Hill, way to save them for posterity. Ka- St. Paul’s Evangelical, Zoar’s, First ren and Bill Lechner, Jeanette Lutheran, St. Joseph’s Community, Krause, Jean Lundquist, Linda Tay- St. John Evangelical Lutheran, lor, Bethel Bentley, Joanne Hintz , Otisco-Lemond, Calvary/New Betty Goodrich, Mary Lou Wester- Richland, St. Olaf and Neil’s Farm. lund and Margaret Sinn have con- Sharon has also been diligently tributed time on this project. Their working on Woodville Cemetery work includes the following ceme- for the last 10 years; it’s almost teries: North Waseca Lutheran, ready to hand in. We deeply appre- Bethel Methodist, Immanuel Meth- ciate the dedication this project has received from our odist, Peddler’s Grove, St. John Lutheran, Minske, Kanne, volunteers for over a decade. Cemetery resources are St. Jarlath, Dusbabek, Ebenezer, Janesville, Vista Luther- used regularly by visitors to the Bailey-Lewer Research an, Vista Mission, Neil’s Farm, Roesler Farm, Pioneer, Library. END 7 The Museum Shop is open and

stocked with more Vintage Personalized metal signs! ey’re fun for decorating dens, cabins, lobbies, porches, and family rooms! New selections arriving soon in time for early holi- day shopping. e WCHS Museum Shop is open during regu-

lar hours, Mary Lou Denn won the Tues-Fri, 9-5. “Clear Lake” vintage boat cushion at last July’s Chau- tauqua Survey drawing! Thanks, Mary Lou, for partic- ipating!

MORE PHOTOS FROM LAST SUMMER . . . COUNTY FAIR, CHAUTAUQUA, PARADES!

8 Thanks! Members, Donors & Volunteers!

As of June 1-Sept 30, 2012 Fredrick, Pam Jerabek, Barbara by Margaret Ewert Space does not allow print-ing entire Galvin, Carroll & Grace Joecks, Judy In memory of Bethel Perkins membership list. These are quarterly Gasner, Eunice McDonough, Shawn by Donna Fostveit new/renewed members, donations, Gauger, Barb Mittelsteadt, Gary In memory of Jean Mittelsteadt acknowledgments. Grable, Suzanne Pancerzewski, C.G. by Norma Witt Graham, Barbara Pettengell, LuEllen by Donna Fostveit Our Lifetime Members Guentzel, Richard Poppe, Lisa In memory of Dr. Leland West * New in 2012 Gutfleisch, John & Tracy Roberton, Karen by Donna Fostveit Allen, Mary Halvorson, Michael & Jean Sersland, Carol In memory of Louis Kopischke Britton, Joe & Marjorie Hand, Larry Simpson, James by Donna Fostveit Brown Printing Harguth, Char Walker, Lynn In memory of Vern Moe Brown, Wayne “Bumps” Hoffman, Betty L. Weed, Al by Donna Fostveit Brynildson, Gladys Hoversten, Pearl Wendland, Diane In memory of David Krampitz Cooper, Gus Hoversten, William & Patricia by Sylvia Krampitz & family Corchran, Liz Hunter, Robert 2012 Appropriations Rec’d: by Gene & Kathy Rosenthal Dahl, Robert M. Jeddeloh, Irene Blooming Grove Township In memory of John “Buster” Kaupa Fette, Leo J. & Shirley Johnson, Cynthia Vivian Township by Donna Fostveit First National Bank Johnson, Judeen O. Woodville Township In memory of Wayne “Bumps” Brown Fitzsimmons, Francis M. Johnson, Maureen Iosco Township by Donna Fostveit Fostveit, Donna Kelly, George New Richland Township by Rod & Ruth Searle Gerding, Dr. James & Josephine King, Jim & Barb Freedom Township by Henry & Phyllis Lewer Gores, Marjorie L. Kinney, Linda Wilton Township In memory of Marilyn Lau Haley, Sharon L. Krienke, Warren St. Mary Township by Henry & Phyllis Lewer Hecht, Sigri Larson, Tink Alton Township In memory of Dave Gehloff Horner, Margaret Lewer, Henry & Phyllis Byron Township by Gene & Kathy Rosenthal Johnson, Ronald J. McIntire, Betty Otisco Township Meyer, Marlene Thanks to Volunteers this Summer! Kopischke, Gerald & Barbara* Janesville Township David/Penny Anderson Lewer, Henry & Phyllis* Miller, Al & Donna City of New Richland Morrissey, Mike Audra Boyer Markus, Richard City of Waseca Dawn Briggs McCarthy, George B. & Jean M. Nelson-Deppe, Nancy Waseca County Norman, Beverlee Shanae Bursham Moriarty, Dorothy Barb Cliff Oelke, Neta Penny, Tim & Sandy Restricted Grants Rec’d Prail, Bob & Jan Gary Deml Rethwill, W.H., Jr. ADA Compliancy Project: Charles/Kathy Espe Roundbank Reak, Bonnie MHS Legacy grant, $48,185 Roesler, Robert Diane Forsythe Rutledge, Jerry & Linda WAF grant, $1,000 Donna Fostveit Searle, Rod & Ruth Rogers, Clinton Chautauqua 2012: Rosenthal, Kathleen Barbara Gauger Sheeran, Betty & Bob PLRAC, $960 Mary Sue Gerdts Smith, Keith & Wilda Routh, Warren Sanders, Wayne R. Larry/Jan Hofmann Strand, Mel Unrestricted Donations Rec’d Harlan Holmquist Swenson, Virginia Scheffler, Charlene Don & Margaret Wynnemer Schultz, Harlan Jody Johnson Tippy, Jim & Moira Barbara Herme Karl Jones Wendland, Helen Starkey, Brenda Blooming Grove All-in-One Fund Sutlief, JoAnn Barb Kiesler Webber, Wendy Itron Employees’ Book Sale Jim/Barb King Wick, Bruce & Lorraine Sutter, Dorothea Exxon-Mobil Foundation Tetzloff, Jim Morgan King Winegar, Sharlene & George LDS Elders Wynnemer, Don & Margaret Tlougan, Les & Karen Restricted Donations Rec’d Waggoner, Linda Jean Lundquist For Eco-Bus at Chautauqua: Nancy Nelson-Deppe Renewed Members Welch, Eugene Waseca Community Education Wildgrube, Barb Hannah & Caitlin Parkinen Allen, Sharon Waseca Lakes Association Eileen Peterson Amsrud, Mary Wildgrube, Bev For the Frank & Barbara Good- Wright, Myrna Tom Piche Blume, Marilyn speed Endowment Fund: Ron/Pat Purcell Bohmbach, Vivian Youngberg, Katie By bequest from Dorothy Moriarty Youngberg, Henry Chase Robinson Buesing, Orville Laura Rohde Buum, Karen & Marty Youngberg, Oliver History Partner Pledges Sydney & Spencer Sather Calvert, Connie First National Bank, 2011, 2012, Rod/Ruth Searle Cypher, Lynda New $100 Sustaining Member 2013 Jeddeloh, Irene Gary Strenge Dettmer, Matt & Abby Suburban Furniture’s Aaron & Tim, Dobberstein, Gary & Deb Gasner, Eunice Memorials, Restricted Halvorson, Michael & Jean Linda Thornton Dressler, Paul & Carol In memory of Dr. Leland West Jim Tippy Dunn, Dave & Melissa to the WCHS Endowment Fund New Members Twylla Vetsch & Girl Scouts Evers, Craig & Linda by Rod & Ruth Searle Henry Youngberg Ewert, Margaret Albrecht, Louis P. Elsner, Arlene Katie Youngberg Forrest, Helen (Sally) M. Memorials, Unrestricted Don Zwach Forsythe, Diane Fritz, Loren In memory of Lavern Ewert Fox, Jim & Elaine Horne, Anita 9 NON-PROFIT Waseca County Historical Society U.S. POSTAGE

315 2nd Avenue N.E. / P.O. Box 314, Waseca, MN 56093 PAID WASECA, MN 56093 PERMIT 41PERMIT 41 www.historical.waseca.mn.us CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED In 2013—Celebrating 75 Years

Membership Renewal Date

Waseca County Historical Society & Byron Township Board Out-in-the-County Brunch & WCHS ANNUAL MEETING Sunday, October 28, 2012

11:30-1:30 PM / Matawan School, 20650 67th Street in Matawan PAID RESERVATIONS DUE October 24, $8 per person, call 507-835-7700 to reserve. Space is limited. Call NOW to reserve.

JOIN US!

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