2020 Allison Wonderland Mock Hunt

Submitted by Allison Wonderland on Tue, 02/11/2020 - 10:19 AM

We all get excited each year when the Pioneer Press's medallion hunt comes along. With its big prize and thousands of competitors, it can be quite a thrill. Perhaps a little less so when it expects you to know where a past team doctor for the MN Vikings used to live. But nevertheless we tend to be sad when it is over.

In the meantime there are lots of other hunts that happen during the year all over the Twin Cities and even the state. Some are put on by various cities while others are done by some of our fellow hunters. But I have heard it said that the triple crown of treasure hunting is made up of the Pioneer Press Medallion Hunt, the White Bear Lake city hunt, and the Allison Wonderland Mock Hunt. Perhaps that is because this year will be the 20th year that it has been going on. And thus I would like to go ahead and announce the 2020 Allison Wonderland Mock Hunt. This is a 12 clue hunt with one clue per day. The treasure is a medallion about 2 inches across and half an inch think that will be hidden somewhere on public property in St. Paul. Your job is to decipher the clues and get to the medallion before any other hunter (or park worker!) does.

The medallion is not going to be anywhere that is ruled out by the PP Medallion Hunt (including Indian Mounds). It will also not be indoors, on a body of frozen (or open) water, on a steep hillside, on top of a building, up a tree, inside of anything electrical, nor anywhere else that might make you question if looking there is a good idea. Beyond that, you will have to follow the clues.

The first clue will be issued on Wednesday, March 18th at 5:00pm and each subsequent clue will also be posted at 5pm on this site. There will also be a kickoff party at Joseph's Grill that night starting at 6pm for anyone that would like to go (it's pasta bar night!)

If you would like to register for the hunt, you can do so by getting $10 to me before the release of the 4th clue. Paying me at the kickoff or sending it via Paypal to AllisonWondrland@yahoo.com (remember to "send to a friend") would be the easiest though other methods can be arranged. Registering will make you eligible to win the full prize of $500 (as well as supporting the hunt). But in the spirit of "no purchase required" you can also participate for free and still win $100 if you find it. Registration fees beyond $100 in that case will get donated to another hunt. The winner must return the medallion to claim the prize money.

I think that covers except for this one last, but very important rule: Outside of the clues, never trust the cluewriter! Otherwise good luck!

Hunt Information

Dates

Scheduled Dates

Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Find Date

Friday, March 27, 2020

Finders

Name

Matt Littlefield

Hometown

Apple Valley

Name

Ed Brodie

Hometown

Maplewood

Prize

Maximum Prize

$200

Awarded Prize

$200

Location

General Location

Cherokee Park

Pinpointed Location

Near the Tennis Courts

Concealer

In a low spot in the ground covered with leaves

44.926932, -93.105484

Clues

Clue 1

Published Date

Tuesday, March 17, 2020, 7:00 PM

Whether snow or no, this hunt is a go.
Fresh air and sunshine will do you much good.
To dodge the virus is most desirous
So wash your hands, not just because you should.

You should break your stride, and go catch a ride
To a place of numeric harmony.
Now Saint Paul’s a Twin, but the code to win
Is to call the place a solo city.

The official meaning of the clue.

Washing your hands, and not just because you should is a reference to the medallion being disguised as a clump of dirt which may get your hands dirty. For the rest of the clue, start at the end. If you google “solo city” you will immediately see that is a nickname for a city in Indonesia. The international “code” to “call” Indonesia is 62. “Catching a ride” refers to a bus and of course Route 62. Route 62 makes a stop at bus stop 6262, a place of numeric harmony and the closest bus stop to the treasure.

Clue Rating

Clue 2

Published Date

Wednesday, March 18, 2020, 7:00 PM

Find this bit of lore about forty-four,
By looking at pre-Columbian times.
An endearing site will help set you right
And give direction to these little rhymes.

The official meaning of the clue.

“44” refers to the 44th President, Barack Obama. He graduated from Columbia, but prior to that he went to Occidental College (my alma mater!). Occidental in turn is a term meaning “western”. This is a reference to the “West Side” of St. Paul where Cherokee Park is. The endearing site is the Dearing Mansion near the park which should help confirm which “west” was meant exactly.

Clue Rating

Clue 3

Published Date

Thursday, March 19, 2020, 7:00 PM

The Postal Service might make you nervous
But lots of letters are a useful aid.
How many needed if unimpeded?
Somewhere above forty you’ll have it made.

The official meaning of the clue.

The Postal Service was a band with a hit called “Such Great Heights”, a reference to Cherokee Heights (If you google “The Postal Service” this song comes up right away). The lead singer of that group is also the person behind the band “Death Cab for Cutie”, which might make you nervous. “Lots of letters” are found in books, a reference to the “little library” found in a yard across the street from the area of the hiding spot. “Somewhere above 40” is a reference to the park being above Water St. which is County Rd. 40.

Clue Rating

Clue 4

Published Date

Friday, March 20, 2020, 7:00 PM

A secretary most necessary,
The second time through there would be less dross.
For a time but brief he became the chief,
But you’ll still find him under the same boss.

The official meaning of the clue.

This is a reference to James A. Baker who was Secretary of State under the first George Bush and then became Chief of Staff, also under Bush. But he had also been Chief of Staff and Secretary of the Treasury under Ronald Reagan, so under Bush it was his second time serving as both a Secretary and a Chief of Staff. At Cherokee you will still find Baker (St.) under George (St.) on a map.

Clue Rating

Clue 5

Published Date

Saturday, March 21, 2020, 7:00 PM

There’s plenty of land you’ll find near at hand
But crossing the street is quite forbidden.
Stay near to some trees and watch your step please
Or you might stumble on where it’s hidden.

The official meaning of the clue.

Cherokee is a decent sized park, but private property, which is out of bounds, is on the other side of the street. There are trees near the hiding spot and you might actually feel the medallion by stepping on it. It was also hidden in a slight depression which could trip someone up a bit.

Clue Rating

Clue 6

Published Date

Sunday, March 22, 2020, 7:00 PM

If sick, but not sure, you still want the cure.
Also keep plenty of water nearby.
Still no discovery for a recovery
But a marginal treatment gets you by.

The official meaning of the clue.

The Cure is a band whose lead singer is Robert Smith, a reference to Smith St. The nearby water is the Mississippi. “Marginal treatment” refers to the park being on the border of St. Paul.

Clue Rating

Clue 7

Published Date

Monday, March 23, 2020, 7:00 PM

Not at work all day? Find places to play.
Although this is a game where you don’t touch.
Contact is taboo. Whatever you do,
Leaving yourself on the sidelines is clutch.

The official meaning of the clue.

The “places to play” refers to the various places to play sports in the park, but particularly the tennis courts near the treasure as tennis courts have sidelines and the treasure is roughly in line with one of them. Tennis is also a sport without human contact. “Leaving” tells you it is hidden under some leaves. The first letter of each line forms “NACL” which is the chemical formula for salt which is in turn a reference to Morton St. near the park.

Clue Rating

Clue 8

Published Date

Tuesday, March 24, 2020, 7:00 PM

These times are scary, a load to carry,
Yet there is no rigging of the results.
Will you stand whining? Be a star shining?
It’s a lot better to act like adults.

The official meaning of the clue.

“Carry” (Carrie), (the) “stand”, (the) “shining”, “It”, and (Salem’s) “lot” are all scary stories by Stephen King. Both Stevens and King streets are near the park. “Rig” is another name for a truck and “no rigging” refers to a “no trucks” sign near the treasure.

Clue Rating

Clue 9

Published Date

Wednesday, March 25, 2020, 7:00 PM

I bet Uncle Joe knows where you should go.
It’s a most irregular kind of park.
There’s no place to bat, where’s the parking at?
A dolt may think it’s somewhere near Bismarck.

The official meaning of the clue.

Uncle Joe is Joe Biden who is from Delaware, another street near the park. The park has a definite irregular shape to it. The only thing resembling a baseball field has no home plate and there are no parking lots. Some geographically challenged people may think the West Side is in Dakota County just as Bismarck is in a Dakota.

Clue Rating

Clue 10

Published Date

Wednesday, March 25, 2020, 7:00 PM

What will you have wrought if digging for naught?
You really don’t want to be the weak link.
Try taking a stroll, going pole to pole.
You will feel groovy when you start to sink.

The official meaning of the clue.

“Wrought” (iron), “pole”, and “link” allude to fences as there is a fence all around the tennis court by the treasure. Taking a stroll alludes to the nearby sidewalk and walking trail. The area with the treasure sinks down from both the trail and the sidewalk and the medallion is hidden in a slight groove in the ground.

Clue Rating

Clue 11

Published Date

Thursday, March 26, 2020, 7:00 PM

Let me dish some dirt, and yet not quite blurt.
A street name is something that's sure to please
And yet no name hath this critical path.
So such a hint would be just a big tease.

The official meaning of the clue.

This is just a reference to the alley between Delaware and Cherokee, which the treasure is in line with. It also roughly aligns with a series of utility poles which look like a line of big T’s (“big tease”).

Clue Rating

Clue 12

It’s now plain to see the park’s Cherokee,
But go far from any picnic table.
Facing the blue wall, power above all,
Find a groove in the earth if you’re able.

The official meaning of the clue.

This tells you the park and that it is not near the picnic grounds. The blue wall is part of the tennis courts and align yourself with the power lines, then look for the groove.

Clue Rating