1999 Pioneer Press Treasure Hunt

Submitted by Joe Medallion (not verified) on Sun, 01/15/2012 - 6:19 PM

Found by Aaron Neidorf after 11 clues at Conway Park, a brand new addition to the list of hiding places. He dug around for about an hour the day before and spent a mere 15 minutes at Conway with two friends (Mark Drobinski and Chad Pack) on the day of the find. The treasure was wrapped in a crocheted holder and situated in line with four trees and a bench near a softball backstop, close to the corner of Conway and Ruth Streets.

Hunt Information

Dates

Scheduled Dates

Sunday, January 24, 1999

Find Date

Wednesday, February 3, 1999

Finders

Name

Aaron Neidorf

Prize

Maximum Prize

$10,000

Awarded Prize

$5,000

Location

General Location

Conway Rec. Center

Pinpointed Location

Across the street from 459 Ruth St. in the Northwest corner of the park

Concealer

Inside a crocheted pouch

44.9553, -93.0147

Clues

Clue 1

Published Date

Saturday, January 23, 1999, 6:00 PM

The time for fun has now begun
In our hunt that's open to all;
But if you don't want to be outdone,
Look only on public ground in St. Paul.

A park is the spot but a golf course is not,
So please don't disturb a fairway or green.
Follow this advice and you won't be caught
Wasting your time at the wrong scene.

The official meaning of the clue.

States that the medallion is hidden in a public park in St. Paul but is not on a golf course.

Our Thoughts

Says not to even consider looking at a park with a golf course. Past years have indicated that you're at the right park when a golf course is mentioned, but this year it says you're "at the wrong scene" altogether if you start digging at Highland, Phalen, or Como, for starters. There's also a "No Golfing" sign on one of the backstops at Conway.

Clue Rating

Clue 2

Published Date

Sunday, January 24, 1999, 6:00 PM

Flying downhill can be quite a thrill
And a popular outdoor attraction,
But your chances of winning are nil
If you get too close to the action.

The official meaning of the clue.

Reveals that the medallion is not located near the sledding hill at the east end of Conway Park.

Our Thoughts

It could also be interpreted as a note to stay away from the big slide built at Como Park for the 1999 Winter Carnival.

Clue Rating

Clue 3

Published Date

Monday, January 25, 1999, 6:00 PM

Numbers keep score and adorn the front door;
Now do your best to figure these out:
A nine and a five and somewhere a four,
Get them right and you'll shout.

The official meaning of the clue.

The numbers 9, 5, and 4 can be found in a house address (459 Ruth St.) used in a later clue to pinpoint the medallion's location.

Our Thoughts

The addition of a nearby baseball scoreboard also helps the Conway cause.

Clue Rating

Clue 4

Published Date

Tuesday, January 26, 1999, 6:00 PM

Studying the past can be quite a blast,
But there's value as well in the new.
If you're willing to be an iconoclast,
The treasure might belong to you.

The official meaning of the clue.

Many treasure seekers "study the past" in hopes that previous hunts will help them predict where the medallion might be hidden. This year, however, there was "value in the new" because the medallion was concealed at Conway Park for the first time. Therefore, a successful hunter had to be an "iconoclast" someone willing to break the old mold by searching in a new place.

Our Thoughts

"Well in the new" brought the lanterns out to Newell, but all for naught.

Clue Rating

Clue 5

Published Date

Wednesday, January 27, 1999, 6:00 PM

If you're yearning for something worth learning,
You might be very near your goal.
So try to be smart and discerning,
And your treasure chest could end up full.

The official meaning of the clue.

The Conway recreation complex includes a public library, which attracts people "yearning for learning." The library is also near a "goal" at one of the park's two outdoor hockey rinks.

Clue Rating

Clue 6

Published Date

Thursday, January 28, 1999, 6:00 PM

A man of fame offers a useful name
That can be found in many a tome.
Figure out how these clues fit in our game,
And you just might bring the treasure home.

The official meaning of the clue.

This clue points to the medallion's location near Ruth Street. The "man of fame" is Babe Ruth, whose name can be found in "many a tome" at the Conway Branch Library". Ruth, of course, played a "game" in which the object was to reach "home".

Clue Rating

Clue 7

Published Date

Friday, January 29, 1999, 6:00 PM

Somewhere in here there's a clue quite clear
If you think first of trees in a line.
From this a name will appear
That could lead you to a valuable sign.

The official meaning of the clue.

The key phrase here is"think first of trees in a line". Trees in a line could also be called a "wood row", which refers to the "first" name of an American president, Woodrow Wilson. This in turn leads to "a valuable sign" - the name of Wilson Avenue, which runs along the south side of Conway Park.

Our Thoughts

Lots of nice, clear lines were dug along tree paths at Conway, and for good reason as the medallion was hidden along a line. Thus, this is a multifaceted, clever-as-hell clue.

Clue Rating

Clue 8

Published Date

Saturday, January 30, 1999, 6:00 PM

Round and white and stretched quite tight
Is the covered quarry you seek.
Not far from you and within your sight
Is a glowing translucent peak.

The official meaning of the clue.

There are two clues here. The first tells treasure seekers that the medallion is sewn into a piece of white cloth. The other clue refers to the illuminated triangular elements that are part of the design of Sun Ray Shopping Center, which can be seen from Conway Park.

Clue Rating

Clue 9

Published Date

Sunday, January 31, 1999, 6:00 PM

Keep out an eye for water on high;
This could be an excellent clue.
A large red object high in the sky
Will also help to orient you.

The official meaning of the clue.

"Water on high" refers to a large water tank mounted atop one of the buildings at the 3M Co. campus, which is just east of Conway. Park. "A large, red object in the sky" is the 3M sign atop the company's headquarters. The word "orient" provides another clue, alerting treasure seekers to the fact that the medallion is located in the far eastern part of St. Paul

Our Thoughts

More likely the "water on high" is the water tower on McKnight Road just east of Sun Ray Center. Much more visible.

Clue Rating

Clue 10

Published Date

Monday, February 1, 1999, 6:00 PM

What's in a name is today's little game;
As a pointer it could be unsurpassed.
Two men share it one and the same;
A crooner goes first and a funny man last.

The official meaning of the clue.

The two men who share the same name are Conway Twitty (the "crooner" who "goes first" and Tim Conway (the "funny man last").

Our Thoughts

This is the clue that brought out the mongrel hordes.

Clue Rating

Clue 11

Published Date

Tuesday, February 2, 1999, 6:00 PM

Seeing a thing twice can be quite nice
While you're hunting for our prize.
So as you search amid snow and ice
Look for two frozen places of equal size.

The official meaning of the clue.

Indicates that the medallion is hidden not far from the two outdoor hockey rinks at Conway Park.

Our Thoughts

It doesn't pinpoint the "X" spot, but it was really only a matter of time before the crowd of thousands would turn all the snow over in this relatively small park.

Clue Rating

Clue 12

Backstops and bleachers could serve as teachers
To make you wealthy and wise.
Align some steel and four woody features
And you'll narrow in on our prize.

The door at 459 Ruth will line you up with the truth
In the recreation area known as Conway.
So go out now and play the sleuth,
And you could earn a very large payday.

The official meaning of the clue.

Pinpoints the medallion's location at Conway Park across from the house at 459 Ruth Street, near "backstops and bleachers" and "four woody features" (a line of four trees).

Clue Rating