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When the City Was the Stage

Submitted by Joe Medallion (not verified) on

Public parks were still a big option in decade two, with six of the ten hunts occurring in more open areas. But hunters had a great deal more to think about in the 60s. No, I'm not talking about the political, musical, and generational changes so evident of the times. We'll leave that for a Time/Life Presents... series. Thoughts of medallion hunters were on the implications of a quick repeat of Harriet Island (1960 and 1966), a slightly longer repeat of Highland Park (1961 and 1968), and of hiding the booty near Rondo Street in the early half of the decade and off of I-35E in the later one. Interstate culture was upon the Twin Cities, and with the added bustle, the medallion would soon be relegated to the public park system. That Interstate culture led to 3 of the 10 dig sites from this decade no longer being accessible to future hunters. The sites of the 1962, 1963, and 1969 hunts are now concrete gardens, with the interchange of I-94 and Marion Street/Kellogg Boulevard being built on top of the 1963 site, and Interstate 35E being built over the 1962 and 1969 sites.

In addition, the '60s saw the last hunt at the Fairgrounds. They're off limits for hunters now, because of the public property in Ramsey County rule. Combine this with the fact that Harriet Island has undergone major renovations since the '60s, and you've got half of the dig sites no longer as they were back then.

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