It was a midnight chat over Zoom that led Josh Ellingson and his friends to find the 2021 Pioneer Press Treasure Hunt medallion on Sunday.
Ellingson, of Apple Valley, was part of the crew that found the medallion last year as well.
That’s about all that was the same: During the pandemic, in a hunt protocol that was reviewed and approved by the Minnesota Department of Health, the Pioneer Press asked that hunting groups limit themselves to three members. We also required masks to be worn and social distancing to be maintained.
This is why Ellingson & Co. weren’t gathered together at the traditional watering hole of treasure hunters to analyze Clue #8 moments after it was published early Sunday.
“Our hunting strategy was different this year, that’s for sure,” said Ellingson. “We were missing our Shamrocks’ time. Instead of meeting at a bar over beers, we discussed clues over a virtual hangout.”
As early as Clue #3, Ellingson & Co. were drawn to White Bear Lake:
No time, old sport, to play and cavort.
Pursue the grail with your schemes!
Out at night? Then follow the light
To cross the way to your dreams.
“It references, ‘No time, old sport,’ which was made famous in ‘The Great Gatsby,’ ” Ellingson says.
Ellingson goes on to explain other references to this Great American Novel in subsequent clues, as well as author F. Scott Fitzgerald’s connection to White Bear Lake.
Why, old sport, you sound like a Fitzgerald scholar!
Not really, he says.
“It came up in our research,” says Ellingson.
Clue 8’s first line — “Get up and go, leave your chateau” — led them to want to dig more at West Park in White Bear Lake.
“There’s a condo there — ‘Chateauguet’ — named after an old resort in White Bear Lake,” Ellingson says.
By 9 a.m. on Sunday, Ellingson — along with teammates Julie Schonhardt of Inver Grove Heights and Zak Rexford of Edina — were digging around at West Park.
“We were convinced it was there,” Ellingson says.
Just like that Great American Novel, they were drawn to the symbolism of the water, inching closer to the lake.
Around noon, as Ellingson dug into the icy snowbank with a garden hoe, the treasure revealed itself.
“I swung and and out popped a little ball,” Ellingson says.
The ball had our Treasure Hunt logo on it and came with a miniature face mask that was labeled: “Medallion.”
“I turned to Zak and said, ‘Oh, my God, we found it!’ ” Ellingson says.
Schonhardt was not there for the big moment — she had gone to pick up some Gatorade.
But Ellingson & Co. will split the proceeds, with an extra $500 “finder’s fee” going to Ellingson per their tradition (Ellingson and his family plan to save the money for a trip — when it’s safe to travel again).
A few hours after their find, the hunting party reunited for the news conference at the park. In addition to the press, other hunters gathered to listen to the story behind the hunt. It was the first time the medallion was ever found at this park.
Lori Swanson, the Pioneer Press vice president of marketing and our Treasure Hunt guru, reminded those gathered: “I’d like you to move six feet apart.”
In addition to the social distancing, the crowd wore face masks as well as their usual parkas and other gear (some carried shovels).
In the distance, ice houses dotted the lake.
It’s always such a lively scene and a fun crowd — even if most of them did just lose out on $10,000 (sorry, guys).
“Thank you, Pioneer Press!” one faithful hunter called out after the conference was over.
It was our pleasure, treasure hunters. See you next year.
Copyright 2021 Pioneer Press.