1958 Pioneer Press Treasure Hunt

Submitted by Joe Medallion (not verified) on Thu, 01/12/2012 - 10:15 AM

Found by the brother and sister team of Pete Denisson and Minette Nelson underneath the Highway 61 overpass of the creek between Phalen and Keller Lakes in Maplewood. This hunt must not have been associated with the carnival, having started some three weeks after the traditional hunt timeframe. It's made obvious in the first lines of the first clue.

Hunt Information

Dates

Scheduled Dates

Thursday, February 13, 1958

Find Date

Tuesday, February 18, 1958

Finders

Name

Pete Denisson

Hometown

Saint Paul

Name

Minette Nelson

Hometown

Saint Paul

Prize

Maximum Prize

$2500

Awarded Prize

$2500

Location

General Location

Keller Park

Pinpointed Location

Under the Highway 61 bridge between Phalen and Keller Parks

Concealer

In a gallon of milk frozen around the medallion

45.0005, -93.0642

Clues

Clue 1

Published Date

Thursday, February 13, 1958, 12:00 AM

King Boreas we will cease to mourn
Since the treasure hunt is now reborn.
We're glad to be back, we must confess.
Ramsey County's a pretty good guess.

The official meaning of the clue.

Tells that the medallion is hidden in Ramsey County.

Our Thoughts

This clue also touches on the fact that the hunt is taking place after the overthrow of Boreas.

Clue Rating

Clue 2

Published Date

Thursday, February 13, 1958, 4:00 PM

We apologize for the hunt's delay,
But we've hid the loot in a different way.
To find the coin you must be clever,
But shall we say "Better late than never."

The official meaning of the clue.

Tells hunters it is a coin hidden in a way that called for an unusual technique to find it.

Our Thoughts

And also pointed out the hunt's late start this year.

Clue Rating

Clue 3

Published Date

Friday, February 14, 1958, 12:00 AM

Veteran hunters need not be warned
That private property should be scorned.
If you want to get in on the catch,
Read the clue in tonight's Dispatch.

The official meaning of the clue.

Tells hunters to avoid private property.

Clue Rating

Clue 4

Published Date

Friday, February 14, 1958, 4:00 PM

The time is nigh, the place is near
Some of these clues may not be clear.
But pick a spot and search it well.
The road to riches these clues tell.

The official meaning of the clue.

It revealed the treasure was hidden not far from St. Paul, and that a pick might be needed to hunt it out. The line "some of these clues may not be clear" was a reference to the milk that had been poured over the area where the medallion was hidden in the ice.

Clue Rating

Clue 5

Published Date

Saturday, February 15, 1958, 12:00 AM

If you're lazy and need a car,
It will help you just so far.
There's no need for long forced marches,
But still you'll have to use your arches.

The official meaning of the clue.

"Arches" was the key word, which told it was necessary to walk to find the trove and near the arches of a bridge.

Clue Rating

Clue 6

Published Date

Saturday, February 15, 1958, 4:00 PM

While a structure of stone is a usual clue,
Again this year there's one in view.
There're houses too, where people live,
How much more are we to give?

The official meaning of the clue.

The "structure of stone" was an outdoor fireplace in the Ramsey County picnic grounds. The clue also mentioned nearby homes.

Clue Rating

Clue 7

Published Date

Sunday, February 16, 1958, 12:00 AM

It's natural in the Northern state,
That winter's product holds live bait.
Hidden in something cold and white
Lying there but out of sight.

The official meaning of the clue.

Revealed that the medallion was in either ice or snow and couldn't readily be seen.

Our Thoughts

Or milk.

Clue Rating

Clue 8

Published Date

Monday, February 17, 1958, 12:00 AM

Don't be stumped and don't despair,
There are trees nearby the treasure's lair.
They're not too close as you'll discover,
The treasure has another cover.

The official meaning of the clue.

"Stumped" was the key word here, referring to stumps in the treasure area. The clue also told of nearby trees and pointed both to the bridge and ice as extra covers.

Clue Rating

Clue 9

Published Date

Monday, February 17, 1958, 4:00 PM

The road above can not be seen
For winter travel they keep it clean.
And from the spot you seek today,
There's more above than the Milky Way.

The official meaning of the clue.

Indicated that a spot under a bridge was the hiding place. It pinpointed it further by stating the road was kept open during the winter. "Milky Way" was a reference to the milk that had been poured over the hiding area.

Clue Rating

Clue 10

Published Date

Tuesday, February 18, 1958, 12:00 AM

Numbers can mean an awful lot,
Seven will help you find the spot
To get this figure subtraction won't do,
Addition's the way to solve this clue.

The official meaning of the clue.

"Seven" and "addition" were the key words, meaning that adding the six and 1 from Highway 61 further pinpointing the bridge location.

Clue Rating

Clue 11

If you want to find the bounty
Look for a spot owned by the county.
It's frozen of course the water we mean.
Now we've got you on the beam.

The official meaning of the clue.

It told the medal was in ice in a county owned area. There also was a reference to a beam, referencing a bridge.

Clue Rating

Clue 12

North of the border is the place you seek,
The water referred to before is a creek,
And from the land you must turn,
Now we've given you clues to burn.

The official meaning of the clue.

"North of the border" meant the treasure site was north of the city of St. Paul. It also tells you it is near a creek and "burn" is a reference to the medallion being frozen in ice.

Clue Rating

Clue 13

Beneath the ice is the place to seek
Next to a rock in a frozen creek.
A bridge is important to this scheme.
Look beneath it to find your dream.

The official meaning of the clue.

Indicated the medallion was buried under a bridge in ice near a rock in a frozen creek.

Clue Rating