1982 Pioneer Press Treasure Hunt

Submitted by Joe Medallion (not verified) on Fri, 01/13/2012 - 11:44 AM

The hunt returned to Maplewood's Wakefield park. Roland and Roger Taylor, Ronald Juneau, and Mary Cloutier found the puck after the final 11th clue on Friday afternoon.

After severe damage following the 1971 hunt, Maplewood requested that the medallion not be placed there in the future. Once again, severe damage ensued, and the rumor is that someone from the Pioneer Press had to go to Maplewood city hall with a checkbook to cover the damages this time around.

This hunt had the fewest number of clues ever written for a Winter Carnival hunt with 11. If a 12th clue was ever written, no record of it exists.

Hunt Information

Dates

Scheduled Dates

Sunday, January 31, 1982

Find Date

Friday, February 5, 1982

Finders

Name

Roland Taylor

Name

Roger Taylor

Name

Ronald Juneau

Name

Mary Cloutier

Prize

Maximum Prize

$3,000

Awarded Prize

$3,000

Location

General Location

Wakefield Park

Pinpointed Location

Near the sledding hill on Prosperity Ave.

Concealer

Wrapped in a newspaper

44.9974, -93.0336

Clues

Clue 1

Published Date

Saturday, January 30, 1982, 6:00 PM

Been wondering where
to have some fun?
Ramsey county
is the one.

The official meaning of the clue.

The medallion was in Ramsey County.

Clue Rating

Clue 2

Published Date

Sunday, January 31, 1982, 6:00 PM

If you start from the paper
The treasure's home base.
It should take you just minutes
To get to the place.

The official meaning of the clue.

The medallion was 15 to 20 minutes from the Pioneer Press and Dispatch.

Clue Rating

Clue 3

Published Date

Sunday, January 31, 1982, 6:00 PM

You may think some clues are classified
Senseless and don't mean a thing.
Just pick up the prize and be pacified.
You'll bring joy to Boreas your king.

The official meaning of the clue.

The key word was "classified" because the medallion was wrapped in pieces of the classified section made into paper maché.

Clue Rating

Clue 4

Published Date

Monday, February 1, 1982, 6:00 PM

Some who play here
like to slide,
And we found the place
our treasure to hide.

The official meaning of the clue.

This was a double clue, since there were baseball fields and hills for winter sliding in Wakefield Park.

Clue Rating

Clue 5

Published Date

Monday, February 1, 1982, 6:00 PM

It hardly seems appropriate
this time of the year,
But knowing this means
the treasure is near.

The official meaning of the clue.

Summer Avenue, "hardly appropriate", leads to Wakefield.

Clue Rating

Clue 6

Published Date

Tuesday, February 2, 1982, 6:00 PM

Frozen water for figure 8's,
More of the same for the puck.
This little rhyme can help you
So get out and try your luck.

The official meaning of the clue.

There are rinks for both figure skating and hockey in Wakefield.

Clue Rating

Clue 7

Published Date

Tuesday, February 2, 1982, 6:00 PM

There are tables and grills and more summer frills
And trees that weathered the storm.
Figure it out it means a lot.
And you'll be getting warm.

The official meaning of the clue.

Tables, grills, and summer hills indicated a park, but "trees that weathered the storm" was the main clue. The medallion was close to a tree with branches broken by a storm and was visible from the street.

Clue Rating

Clue 8

Published Date

Wednesday, February 3, 1982, 6:00 PM

Syrup from your pancakes
comes from these,
And the making of furniture
is part of their trees.

The official meaning of the clue.

Syrup - maple. Furniture and part of trees - wood. Put them together and you have Maplewood.

Clue Rating

Clue 9

Published Date

Wednesday, February 3, 1982, 6:00 PM

It's just around the corner,
The old saying goes
And it can happen to you
If you look in the snows.

The official meaning of the clue.

Prosperity, as in Prosperity avenue, is what's just around the corner.

Clue Rating

Clue 10

Published Date

Thursday, February 4, 1982, 6:00 PM

Lots of grass
that's not asleep.
Find the treasure
it's yours to keep.

The official meaning of the clue.

"Lots of grass" refers to a field, and the opposite of asleep is awake, hence Wakefield, the name of the park.

Clue Rating

Clue 11

Published Date

Thursday, February 4, 1982, 6:00 PM

A place to slide
Is a place to hide
Near injured tree and road
Lies the treasure lode.

The official meaning of the clue.

"Slide" refers to the sliding hills close to the site and injured tree refers to the tree with the broken branch facing the road.

Clue Rating