Thursday, November 29, 2007

Margaret Fuller School




My mother started school at the Margaret Fuller. The drawing above is an "artist's rendition," and leaves out the considerable slope of Glen road at the actual site. The article says that there was to be six rooms, but if each room has seven windows as described, I can only see four rooms.




This view looks up Glen road towards the front and side of the school. There's a block added to the back of the drawing above that would have doubled the size of the school. Was it built as in the drawing, or as it is today?



Boston Daily Globe April 14, 1892


New Primary School, Jamaica Plain


The school is a six-room building, located on Glen road, Jamaica Plain, within 600 feet of Franklin Park.

The building is a brick one, the outside steps and window sills only are stone. The steps are Italian renaissance, common Eastern brick, laid in Flemish bond, is used for the mass of the building, while the trimmings, such as the flat arches of the windows and the corners, are made of yellow moulded brick.

The whole effect is really pleasing and dignified.

In plan it is very compact and nicely arranged, each room being lighted by seven large windows. The wardrobes also receive light from the outside.

There are three rooms on each floor, with toilet and play rooms in the basement.

The building sits 22 feet back from the street, and the approach to the front door is made by a flight of 11 blue-stone steps.

The entrance is recessed 4 1/2 feet in the reveal of the arch, which is one of the architectural features of the design.

Inside the front door is a marble vestibule, with five marble steps bringing up to the first floor level, which is about eight feet above grade at this point.

From the front door is a central corridor with a schoolroom on each side, and another staircase corridor runs at right angles to two side entrances from the girls' and boys' playgrounds respectively.

Overthe front entrance in the second story is the teachers' room, from which a door leads out upon the wrought iron balcony, from which the school flag is to fly.

The "flushing out system" is used in the toilet rooms in the basement.

The ventilation and heating apparatus is of the indirect radiation type with the act of a fan.

It is nearing completion and will be ready for occupancy this term.

The total cost of the structure will be $39,000 or $110 for each pupil accomodated.

63 comments:

  1. Hello,


    I am actually looking for an old teacher that used to work there. Mr.Dolan, he taught 3rd grade in teh 90's. If you have any info on how to find/contact him please let me know. Thank you again.

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    1. I also had Mr Dolan in the 80's, for 3rd grade and to this day he was my favorite teacher who made a difference in my life. I am now a 3rd grade teacher!

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    2. I had Mr. Dolan for 3rd grade in the 90's as well! One of the greats, for sure.

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  2. Hi, Im also looking to contact Mr. Dolan. Any information would be amazing


    ---john

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  3. I'm the third guy looking for Mr. Dolan... went to school in boston for 6 months. I thought he was sort of a bastard, then again so was I.

    - Derek

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  4. I had mr. dolan. he was a good dude. the worst one was the 5th grade teacher. i cant remember her name. she was aweful. then this really sweet younger woman took over my fifth grade year. ms. woods i think was her name. i remember mrs. robins too. she was my favorite teacher.

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    1. The 5th grade teacher was Mrs. Clayman. She was obsessed with her cat Cassius Clayman and she very clearly hated kids. The kindergarten teacher Mrs. Wellington was just as mean. But at the school fair she would have a pyramid of lollipops game. Mr. Dolan was my favorite teacher. Although he spent a lot of time teaching 3rd graders about the figure skating at the Winter Olympics and the OJ Simpson trial.

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    2. I had Mrs. Clayman as well. She was obsessed with the school lunches. And talked non-stop about her son, Noel. LOL

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    3. I also had my clayman as a sub , and she use to talk about her cat and was so mean . But she always complemented my cursive lol

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    4. I had mrs clayman in 1968 she was pleasant I remember xmas time she taught us about chanukah she even shared picture of her brother in law gene. In 2014 I was a truck driver and I got to meet gene he was a marine and I remember mrs. Clayman telling us about him she was from Newton the clayman all were from there at one time

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  5. @Shane Meltzer...That teacher's name was Mrs. Clayman...Yeah she was a mean one...I had her as a 5th grade teacher...

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    1. Hey Diana...I remember you, hope all is well with you. I chilled with Michy and Glenda I lived behind the school in the brick buildings. In paleta donw the hill.Not sure if u remember.

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  6. Mrs. Clayman What a Character! Miss her though..I really Liked Miss Laterze or was it Mrs. Powers..

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    1. I had Mrs. Clayman in the 5th grade. A year prior in the 4rth grafe I had Miss Laterze who was my favorite, She got married while I was a student of hers. The whole class did a movie for channel 2 ROBIN HOOD shot in the Arnold Arboretum and behind the school in the woods. I would love to see it sometime.

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    2. I am trying to remember if I had Miss Harris for 4th grade or Miss Laterze, now. I know my 4th grade teacher married the principal at the Rooservelt school.

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    3. Hi My name is Larry,
      You had Ms Laterz in the fourth grade, Ms Harris in the 5th and depending on how old you are you had Ms Clayman in the 6th Grade, she was a beast. Thank God they changed the school system and I had sixth grade at Roosevelt in Roxbury. Stepping back, We had Ms Fortune in the 3rd grade and Ms Mclaugllin in the second (not sure about that one) and Ms Divine in Kindergarten, dont know about first grade. Ms Laterz eventually married Mr Powers who was a teacher and vice principal at Roosevelt.

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    4. Late 60's, wasn't first grade teacher Miss. Madden? Mr. Jackson and his scarf around his neck in fourth. Miss Loughran in fifth.

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  7. I too had Ms.Laterze think her room was in the
    basement....ahhh what childhood memories
    at that school

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    1. I had Ms.Laterz who later married and became Mrs.Powers.She had play money and we could save up and buy candy.. lol 1972-1973

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    2. My God I remember that, we were in the same class, I was the Indian kid who didn't talk much

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  8. I am looking for Mrs. Taylor! she was the best !!!

    @ Shane Meltzer, it was Ms. Woodard :) she was awsome! She is actually teaching at another elememtary school in Jamaica Plain, I belive the Hennigan ..

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  9. I also had Mrs Clayman for 5th grade her classroom was the first room to the left after you entered the building from the Glen road entrance. She was ok also wore green glasses and had two son's howie and I cannot remember the other sons name the sons would show up every once in a while and she would make them pass out cookies

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    1. Hi I am pretty sure Mrs Clayman´s ohter son´s name was Noel Noel Clayman

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  10. This may well be hopeless: I'm looking for Mr. Jackson, who taught 4th grade in 1967 and saved my life...

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    1. Wow I remember Mr. Jackson I too was there in 1967-70. Ms.White was my 4th grade teacher, she took all the girls to her home on Beacon Hill girls field trip and we all made day juicy hamburger over looking Beacon Street downtown. Love You Me White.

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    2. He saved mine, too…. Did you find him?

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  11. THE YEAR 1963 WHERE THE GIRLS HAD SEWING..BOYS WENT FOR WOODWORKING ON FRIDAYS ..ROOSEVELT SCHOOL SIXTH GRADE..REMEMBER PHIL. CONSTI.. JOHNNY FONSECA JOHN G. DANNY MEYERS, KEVIN MCGOVERN. MYRON, PETER PAYLOR, BILLY MALOVICH.. CHARLIE AMBROSE. OLGA POPKIN SHE WAS THE ANGEL BLOND BEAUTIFUL AND NEVER FORGET THE WHIP ..THREE ON EACH HAND BY MISS SHAUNASEY FOR OUT BURST IN THE CLASS ROOM . THOSE DAYS.. IS THE TIME THAT STOOD IN MANY MEMORIES.. INNOCENTLY WE WERE BAD.

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    1. YES...CLASS OF 63 FORGOT.. WALTER ROSENSKI..GREAT DRAWING ARTIST...BILLY M.. REMEMBER WE STARTED IN 1957 IN KINDERGARTEN, MISS GREEN.MISS BOLS 1ST MISS PAZOLLO 2ND MISS HEFFERMAN 3RD MISS MADDEN 4TH MISS MAC AFELLA 5TH MISS LOCKREEN..WHEN YOU ENTERED 6TH GRADE ..WE WERE SPECIAL, THE SENIORS OF THE SCHOOL, PLAYED BOMBARDERMENT IN THE... BACK YARD EVERYDAY AT LUNCH. AND A WEEKS SUPPLY OF MILK COST .12 TO .15 CENTS. NOW AS WE ARE OLD... A SMILE, THOUGHT, OUR YOUTH...REALTY I TREASURE.GOD BLESS ALL WHOM I HAVE KNOWN..MAYBE SOMEDAY WE WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO DO IT ONCE MORE.

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    2. Wow! I too remember this wonderful school.
      I lived on Woodside Ave and could view the school from our 2nd floor apt.
      I had Miss Heffernan for second grade.
      Miss Pazzola for third I believe.
      Miss Macavella ( my favorite teacher of all time ) in the 4th grade
      Miss Madden in the 5th
      And Miss Shaugnessy in the 6th.
      And Miss Lockren I think was the 5th grade also and taught us our XMas carrols on the stairways facing each other.
      I remember some names listed here such as Charlie Ambrose, the rat-hand I experienced ONCE by Shaugnessy and boy O boy did she have a good right hand with that whip!
      Great fun playing dodge ball in the back of the school and one of my best friends was Tommy Salami whom both he and I were "Milk Monitors" at lunch time.
      Great days there.

      Dan Skapinsky

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    3. Wow! I too remember this wonderful school.
      I lived on Woodside Ave and could view the school from our 2nd floor apt.
      I had Miss Heffernan for second grade.
      Miss Pazzola for third I believe.
      Miss Macavella ( my favorite teacher of all time ) in the 4th grade
      Miss Madden in the 5th
      And Miss Shaugnessy in the 6th.
      And Miss Lockren I think was the 5th grade also and taught us our XMas carrols on the stairways facing each other.
      I remember some names listed here such as Charlie Ambrose, the rat-hand I experienced ONCE by Shaugnessy and boy O boy did she have a good right hand with that whip!
      Great fun playing dodge ball in the back of the school and one of my best friends was Tommy Salami whom both he and I were "Milk Monitors" at lunch time.
      Great days there.

      Dan Skapinsky

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  12. A few other names of classmates I remember: Paul Cotter, Joey Trudel, Horace Ryder, Diane Piantadosi, Anntonett Fonseca, Jane Manson

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    1. in the above reference...paul cotter was in later years.. my best friend ...lived on garland st. great baseball player.. and he could hit the long ball. once, beat me in a bike race for a dime.... I believe he was the class in 1961...where race, religion, believes did not matter.. we all sang Christmas songs. now that were are old, we smile and think those magic moments..... slowly start fading away in time

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  13. I'm class of 89-93. I remember Mr Landers 2nd grade, Mr Dolan 3rd, Ms Divine and her young TA 4th, Mrs Clayman 5th then another teacher took over. I forgot her name but she was blonde and was very nice. Yes Mr Dolan class had the most fun, we did a play about Hollywood with Shirley Temple and Betty Boop. Principal was Mr McLaughlin. I wish I can meet some of my friends. Sophal Kan

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  14. I too remember fondly my years (late 60's) at the Fuller. Anyone else remember the custodian, I think Mr. Crabtree, letting us shovel coal into the furnace?

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    1. Mr.Duffy was the principal and his Children attented Matget Fuller too. His son was s bully.

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    2. It was Mr. Cribby and yes he let me shovel coal!

      BTW I had Miss Geary and Miss Wellington for kindergarten and Miss Madden for 1st grade - LOVED THE FULLER!

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    3. Among all my happy Fuller memories, unfortunately there is one bad one seared into my memory like it was yesterday. I think it was in mid to late sixties. During dismissal, I remember a boy ran down the front stairs, out into the street and was hit by a car. I was so scared as I ran home. Does anyone remember this and know if he was ok?

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  15. does anyone remember clarence mckay 1961-1962 4th grade miss macaviller class.

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    1. YES I REMEMBER CLARENCE MCKAY...IN THOSE DAYS HE WAS THE TOUGH BOY YOU STAYED AWAY FROM...ALWAYS READY FOR A FIGHT... IF FACT ONE DAY WAITED AFTER SCHOOL...FOR A FIGHT ...I WENT HOME THE OPPOSITE WAY... TO AVOID IT...ITS OVER 55 YEARS AGO ..NEVER FORGOTTEN THAT DAY.. I PRAY THAT HE HAD A GOOD LIFE..FOR I KNOW THAT WE ALL HAVE CHANGED FOR THE GOOD ....... FATHER TIME MADE SURE.

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  16. DOES ANYONE REMEMBER BILLY MALOVICH CLASS OF 1963...JOHNNY FONSECA.....KEVIN MCGOVERN.... PETER PAYLOR...CHARLIE AMBROSE...LINDA POWERS...OLGA POPKINS...PHIL CONSTANTINO......JOHN G......DANNY MAYERS...WALTER RO. IS ANYONE STILL ALIVE OR ANYONE KNOWS WHAT HAS BECOME OF US ..ALL....MAYBE THE SIMPLE ANSWER IS.. NOBODY CARES ABOUT THE PAST.OR TREASURES TIME AS A SPECIAL MOMENT YOU CAN REFLECT AND SMILE.AS THIS WAS ONCE....... UPON A LOVELY TIME IN LIFE.

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    1. I remember Charlie Ambrose and his brother Danny.
      Just got through looking at the old neighborhood via Google earth....my how it's changed.
      Is the Margaret Fuller school still standing?
      Stay well.
      Dan Skapinsky

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    2. Hello Dan, I remember you and your twin sister well. I remember all those kids names. Johnny Fonseca was my neighbor on Williams St. Johnny Fonseca lives in California and I keep in touch with him. I have also talked with Kevin McGovern who lives in Maryland and retired from the post office. Paul Cotter used to be on Facebook and I talked with him in the past.

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  17. 1986-1991 where my years had Mrs. Revliotti first grade, Ms. Conners 2nd, and my favorite Ms. Taylor 3rd, Mr.devine 4rth, and mean Ms.Clayface I mean Clayman lol.... forever yelling 5th. Did phantom of the opera with Mr. Dolan , I was the costume designer for the play....miss the fun fairs...old class mates, Jason Cross, Tanya cross, Coreen Weinstein, Marilyn Escobar, Fred Gerald, Madelyn Ruiz, Sonia Oyola, Mario Chapiro, William Hernandez,
    jaquelin Gonzalez just to name a few..........

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    1. Hi Madelee. Latin? You went to the Irving after? I do remember a girl coming into Mr. Dolan class to help with costume for the Hollywood play. Might of been you. Lots of good memories in that school with fun field trips everywhere. Logo competition at Madison High came in 2nd place. Can't remember anyone last name but there was Pierre, Ronald, Lemuel, Teeda, 3 Jennifer's, Alex, Andrew, Jessica, and Isaiah. I'm Sophal aka Paul

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  18. Hey Paul cant quite remember who u are but name does ring a bell...yes I'm Puerto Rican and yes I dod help Mr. Dolan with costumes for Phantom of the opera play, yes I dod go to Irving as well as Mary E Curely....always wondered if he is alive still and well.

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  19. Came across this as I was reminiscing about my time student teaching at Fuller School in Mrs. Devine's class. I was there in her class for part of the year in 1990-1991 and then again in 1991-1992.I still have a lot of the little cards and pictures that the kids gave me. I loved it there!
    When I was there I was Miss Wallace 😊

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  20. I was a student here back in 86 to 89..Mr sterling was my teacher nice school miss JP

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  21. does anyone remember rick defilippo was there until 1963 in miss shaunnesey 6th grade room

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  22. I went there I believe from 84 to 88. Had Miss Duckworth for 2nd grade, Miss Taylor for 3rd, Mr McGuire for 4th and Clayman for 5th. Clayman was extra nice to me. Made me her teachers pet. Even having my desk against her desk. She wasn't so nice to my older siblings especially my brother Jonathan. At the time I had a different last name then my siblings so she didn't know I was related to them. Thank god because she probably wouldn't have been as nice haha

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  23. I attended the Margaret Fuller School from 1963-1966. Does anyone remember the 2nd grade teacher who was Dutch and wore wooden shoes? She was so very kind. I remember recess -- children had been misbehaving, so we were made to walk with a partner in a large circle around the school yard for what felt like an endless time. I remember another time I slipped out of the school yard during recess with a boy I knew -- we crouched low under the wall along Glen Road. Then we ran down to the store on the corner of Washington Street. Didn't buy anything, but it was loads of fun. I remember being in big trouble later, lol.

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  24. Any old-timers out there? I went to the Margaret Fuller School for kindergarten in 1947-48...yes, you read that right, 1948. I lived on Rossmore Rd and walked to school everyday. My favorite memory is making butter...churning cream in a mason jar...and then spreading it on crackers for an afternoon snack. It was fun!

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  25. I attended the fuller 1999-2003 , I would’ve graduated from the fuller in 2004 but the school closed down dude to budget issues . I had ms. Wellington for kingergarden , I for get 1st grade and 2nd grade 3rd grade was ms Taylor . 4 th grade was ms day 5th would’ve been ms Woodard . But I also had ms clayman occasionally when she filled in as a sub . Miss those days

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  26. I sat behind Maureen Casey 6th Grade Miss Shawnessy. She had rattan's in a water jar in the clothes closet and decorated my hand with blood blisters. She used to smoke with janitor on the stairs to the basement.

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  27. I went to the Fuller from 1975 to 1980. It’s funny that two teachers that were mentioned as being mean were my favorite teachers, Mrs. Wellington and Mrs. Clayman ! I also loved Mrs. Flynn who left after she had a baby. She taught first grade. Does anyone remember the four food groups on the lunch room walls? I painted those. Lol

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  28. Hi Yes I too was in Mrs Flynn´s first grade class Mrs Clayman was a very good teacher,despite her being known for being "mean" She was strict,as a teacher should be,no no-nonsense,but never mean Thanks for posting

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  29. I also never thought Miss Wellington as mean

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  30. Does anyone remember David Boring? he was in Miss Hammond´s fifth grade class while I was in Mrs Clayman´s I remember David Boring had a brother Robert("Bobby) we were classmates since kindergarten

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  31. Does anyone know of Mrs Zubkov?? She was kindergarten 1 When the K1 classroom was in the basement

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  32. I rememebr Miss Zubkov was a younf ,blonde who wore glasses I remember her from 1969,when I entered K1 up until the mid 70s I thinlk Not exactly sure up until when

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  33. I remember Danny Myers. I lived on Olmstead st but went to Lourdes. I was great friends with his brother Johnny Myers. Goid Ole Days in Jp

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  34. Forgot my name. Deborah Mclellan

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  35. Hi everyone does anyone remember Ms.Perez for 1st grade I’m trying to find her. I had Mrs.Wellington for kindergarten she was so nice. Can’t say the same for ms.clayman

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  36. I attended the Margaret Fuller from kindergarten to 6th grade along with my dear sister. 1964-70? I forget my kindergarten teachers name but I remember the rest. Miss pezullo miss Madden for my sis. Miss heffernan, miss fortune who’d hit your hand for not paying attention, (with a peeled branch from the woods in the back of the school) Mr Jackson, Mrs Clayman and Mrs Shaunessy? Those were the days!!

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