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1960 Pioneer Press Treasure Hunt

Submitted by Joe Medallion (not verified) on

Roger Tollefson found this year's medallion in the west end of Harriet Island after the 6th clue. This four-day hunt was the shortest hunt to date, having been found after only six clues.

Hunt Information
Dates
Scheduled Dates
Saturday, January 30, 1960
Find Date
Wednesday, February 3, 1960
Finders
Name
Roger Tollefson
Hometown
Saint Paul
Prize
Maximum Prize
$2500
Awarded Prize
$2500
Location
General Location
Harriet Island Park
Pinpointed Location
In the woods in the west end of the park
Concealer
In the heel of a rubber boot

44.9356, -93.0995

Clues
Clue 1
Published Date
Saturday, January 30, 1960, 6:00 PM

It's time for the annual hunt to begin.
Twenty-five hundred you can win.
Boreas' treasure hides near a bend.
Locate it and your search will end.

The official meaning of the clue.

Gave two key words - "hides" meaning the medallion was not in the open and "bend" referring to a bend in the Harriet Island road.

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Clue 2
Published Date
Sunday, January 31, 1960, 6:00 PM

Confine your search to public land.
No danger is present where you'll stand.
The spot you seek is in the city.
You can find it if you're witty.

The official meaning of the clue.

"Public land", "no danger", and "city" all pointed to a piece of public property - Harriet Island.

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Clue 3
Published Date
Sunday, January 31, 1960, 6:00 PM

Trees are scattered here and there,
Picnics too, when skies are fair.
We know you're thankful for this clue,
Spotting the treasure is up to you.

The official meaning of the clue.

"Trees" and "picnics" also pointed to a piece of public property - Harriet Island.

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Clue 4
Published Date
Monday, February 1, 1960, 6:00 PM

Alphabetize your way to fame.
If you want to win the game.
Eighteen in order solves this clue.
That's really being good to you.

The official meaning of the clue.

"Alphabetize" and "18 in order" referred to the letter "R", the eighteenth letter of the alphabet. This was a double hint because the medallion was hidden in a rubber under a tree branch shaped like the letter "R".

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Clue 5
Published Date
Monday, February 1, 1960, 6:00 PM

Water or ice is always near.
South of it you must veer
Within 100 yards from the nearest road,
Waiting for you is the treasure lode.

The official meaning of the clue.

"Water or ice" meant the Mississippi River, "south of it" placed Harriet Island south of the river and "within 100 years from the nearest road" revealed that the medallion was hidden just that far from the road on the island.

Our Thoughts

Kind of vague, but it makes sense if you study the meandering river and think about where parks are located along it. Also could have been a reference to Water St.

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Clue 6
Published Date
Tuesday, February 2, 1960, 6:00 PM

Smokey plumes may fill the air.
Easily seen from the treasure's lair
Finding the treasure is quite a trick
But keep on searching until you click.

The official meaning of the clue.

Contained two key phrases - "smokey plumes" and "easily seen". They refer to the smoke from the Northern States Power Co. High Bridge plant, easily visible from the treasure site.

Our Thoughts

Ahh, our old, oft-mentioned friend, the NSP smokestack.

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Clue 7

A road and a bridge play their usual role,
Doubled they'll help you achieve your goal.
Number 10 marks the spot.
When you see it you are hot.

The official meaning of the clue.

Added four words to the puzzle - "road", "bridge", and doubled" mean the Wabasha Street bridge and High Bridge, and the two Harriet Island roads leading to the treasure; "number 10" is the size marking on the heel of the rubber.

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Clue 8

First look at the number of this clue,
A building has that many towers in view.
It's useful still but not the same,
As when it bore a different name.

The official meaning of the clue.

Places the treasure within view of the Federal Courts Building, formerly the post office, which has eight towers.

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Clue 9

Deserted sport fields lie nearby,
It's a different story in July.
When skis are for water and not of snow,
You could be spending the treasure dough.

The official meaning of the clue.

"Deserted sport fields" are the Harriet Island softball and baseball fields.

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Clue 10

All modes of travel pass this way,
But one is seldom used today.
This need not stop you in your search,
If you look afar you'll see a church.

The official meaning of the clue.

"All modes of travel" meant the river, highway, railroad, and plane routes that run near the island. "Church" tells you the St. Paul Cathedral is visible from the island.

Our Thoughts

On an interesting side note, a professor at the University of Minnesota named John Adams has taught a wonderful class called "Geography of the Twin Cities" for years, and in his assigned tour of St. Paul, he points out the abundance of transportation modes in this area. But he has you looking at it from Indian Mounds, a much more obvious view. We wouldn't be surprised if there were a few diggers up yonder hill.

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Clue 11

Approach from the east and you will see,
A lazy R formed by a tree.
Within its shadow, lying low,
A brass medallion hides its glow.

The official meaning of the clue.

Again refers to the R-shaped tree branch, and it's called "lazy" because the "R" is on its side. "Hides" repeats the hint that the medallion was not lying in the open.

Our Thoughts

Had the hunt lasted this long, assuming you were in the right park, this should have been a gimme.

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Clue 12

Be sure you're looking near a ramp,
Through brush and weeds you'll be damp,
On two sides are water but don't be misled,
This doesn't mean what it seems to have said.

The official meaning of the clue.

"Ramp" is the Harriet Island boat ramp, and the water "on two sides"suggests the Mississippi River and Water Street.

Our Thoughts

Kind of a neat little word play early in the history of the hunt.

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Clue 13

A feminine name will bring you near
The treasure's hiding place this year.
Protective covering from rain and snow,
Conceals the medallion worth all that dough.

The official meaning of the clue.

Gives you "feminine name" - Harriet - and "protective covering" - the rubber again.

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Clue 14

Robert Louis Stevenson wrote a book,
Its title tells you where to look
Today the treasure we'll reveal,
Is hidden in a rubber's heel.

The official meaning of the clue.

Referring to Robert Louis Stevenson's "Treasure Island" brings out island to add to Harriet.

Our Thoughts

So they gave us the exact location early on in the hunt, with the lazy R shaped tree branch. These last two clues just serve to confirm the park.

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