“On Friday, Jan. 15, at approximately 5:30 p.m., the infamous lost wrench belonging to Sheldon Smith was safely returned to the Smith-Douglas-More House,” according to a news release from the Dunn Bros. on Eden Prairie Road.
Dunn Bros. and the city of Eden Prairie sponsored the hunt last week.
“Scott and Karen Pedersen and their children Logan, Cooper, Kylie and Macy Pedersen as well as neighbor Kristin Shim located the tool on the ‘island of land’ in the center of Staring Lake’s ice skating rink. Scott says he had given up hunting for the night, set down his hoe and heard a ‘clink,’ and sure enough that noise proved lucky. He said his sons had already looked in the area around the tree but must have just missed it. Scott and his family happily accepted their $200 gift card reward, and we hope they come back to hunt again next year.”
Below are the six published clues from the hunt along with an explanation of their meaning:
Clue #1
Sheldon travelled in Eden all over the parks,
drank coffee at home and went in the dark.
With sunlight all gone he went out so fast,
come seek the prize he lost in the past.
Six more clues are coming your way,
now find it and laugh where you all play.
Clue 1 only sets up the hunt, and clarifies that the wrench will be in an Eden Prairie park.
Clue #2
Put on your best boots “oh don’t cha know”,
tennis shoe sports all covered in snow.
Skates much more useful this time of year,
and if it’s needed a warming house near.
Sheldon boot tracks all over the place,
oh really so many, he walked at this pace.
Round trees, fields and hills on Mr. Smith’s hike,
follow the paths and poke with a pike.
This clue gives some landmarks that can be found at Staring. There is wordplay involving Round Lake and Riley park, but they were tricks. The word round was intended to be an allusion to the ice rink.
Clue #3?
Sheldon saw Patrick and Matthew were fishing?
Having the wrench was what Smith had been wishing.
Rather than show his face of dismay,?
he quickly left and went on his way.
Patrick and Matthew are two Rileys who originally lived on Lake Riley. This clue is intended to say that the wrench is not there.
Clue #4?
Having leisure and skates he left for the ice.?
With Mary in hand, he knew it’d be nice.?
The time you have is little you know,?
so hurry my friend and go go go.??
Clue 4 told the hunters to look near ice rinks. Also, Mary is Sheldon’s wife, a little EP history.
Clue #5?
Sheldon strolled onward for wrenches sake
when he came to cross a beautiful lake.?
From cold blowing wind he lowered his head,
he did not know but it was beet red.?
He show like an arrow, now on the fly,
aiming like you are at the “bulls eye”.?
You see, to some it’s just an old tool,
but not to the finder who’s nobody’s fool.
While many thought that the bulls eye reference meant to go to the archery area at Staring Lake, it meant to suggest the bulls eye pattern of Staring ice skating loop. Also, this park has a lake.
Clue #6
If you're hunting with a friend or looking with a pal,
remember dear old Jonas on the Erie Canal.
The nearby was lake was Caroline in 1854,
now it holds the Captain’s name for all your treasure lore.
To find the magic wrench, to center court come forth,
to the free throw line the farthest to the North.
Shoot the ball in Sheldon’s boots with a perfect touch,
you’re close now to the prize which you love so much.
Jonas Staring was a captain on the Erie Canal before he settled in Eden Prairie. He originally named the lake after his wife Caroline. With this information, you could be sure that Staring was the right park.
If you stood on the basketball court’s free throw line, took a shot and missed just to the right. Your ball would likely have rolled right to where the wrench was laying. It was about a foot or two from the base of a tree in the center of the ice skating loop.
- Clues and explanations provided by the Eden Prairie Road Dunn Bros. in the Historic Smith-Douglas-More House.
Copyright 2010 Soiuthwest News Media.