2015 Portland Rose Festival Medallion Hunt

The phrase "friends can really help" is the only hint in this introductory clue. The Friends is another name for the Quakers, who had a sizable presence in the Newberg area in its early history. This was due to a Quaker minister named William Hobson, who attracted a large number of Quakers from Indiana and Iowa to the Chehalem Valley. They began The Friends Pacific Academy, which later became George Fox University.

The reference is to "Woody" Guthrie, the famed folk singer who was hired by the Department of the Interior in the 1940's to write songs about the Columbia River and the federal dam construction projects. One of the songs was "Roll On, Columbia". This clue tells you to search south of the Columbia River, thus eliminating Clark County.

In May and June of 1843, the Provisional Legislature of Oregon ( a nine member committee) drafted the Organic Laws of Oregon. This included dividing the Oregon Territory into four districts: Twality, Yamhill, Clackamas, and Champoeg. This narrows the possible counties down to Yamhill and Clackamas.

Governor Oswald West established the Oregon beach highway law, preserving public access to Oregon's beaches. This directs you to the west, eliminating Clackamas County.

"This contest" (the Treasure Hunt) was won in 1999 when the medallion was found in McMinnville, the seat of Yamhill County. This confirms what the clues have been leading to, that the county is Yamhill.

The medallion was hidden both west and north of the winding Willamette River. The reference "by the pool" refers to a section of the river called the "Newberg Pool," where the park containing the medallion is located.

The poet is T.S. Eliot, who was born in Missouri but immigrated to England in 1914 at age 25. If you add three between his first two names, you get T3S. Then cut a little droid ( R2D2) in half and add the chemical symbol for tungsten and you get R2W. These are grid coordinates of the Willamette Meridian System. Township 3 South, Range 2 West includes the town of Newberg.

50 years ago, "The Sound of Music" was released. The main character Maria, played by Julie Andrews, opened the movie with the song lyric, "The hills are alive with the sound of music". From the medallion's hiding place, to the west are Red Hills Road, Red Hills Provincial Dining, and Red Hills Market. To the east is Rex Hill Vineyards. Rex is Latin for king.

Newberg was often referred to as "the driest spot in Oregon." Because of the dominant influence of the Quaker population, the town was officially "dry" for much of its early history, meaning the sale of alcohol was prohibited.

The 31 in this clue is the only number in the clues that is expressed as a numeral instead of being spelled out. This is a nod to the recent book about George Bush Sr. entitled "41." Herbert Hoover was the 31st president of the United States, elected in 1928. Being alive 43 years earlier makes it clear that 31 is not an age. Herbert Hoover was orphaned and was sent to live with his uncle, John Minthorn, in Newberg in 1885. The Hoover-Minthorn house is located on 1st St. and River St., across from Herbert Hoover Park.

From the Hoover-Minthorn house on River Street, going south takes you from First Street to 14th Street. The Fourteenth Amendment was the legal weapon George W. Bush used against Al Gore to stop the Florida recount in the 2000 presidential election. The intersection of River and 14th is at the top of the park.

The father of Captain America was named Joseph Rogers, an abusive drunk. (Some biographies of this comic book character have him as dying as a war hero.) Joseph Rogers was an early pioneer in the Newberg area. Rogers Landing Park was named after him, and he had the DLC (Donation Land Claim) on which the park is located.

If you take the path from the top of the hill at the intersection of River and 14th down to the bottom, as the path disappears into the grass you'll be headed straight towards the treasure.

Rogers Landing is a popular boat launch facility. Behind the restrooms and up the hill a short way there are two different tree species that have grown together at the base. The medallion was hidden in a small pouch at the base of those trees.