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1956 Pioneer Press Treasure Hunt

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Submitted by Joe Medallion on Wed, 01/11/2012 - 23:42

The treasure chest was found in a hollow log in Como Park after just eight clues by Harold Mantoen, Miss Lee Kosek, and Dale Ulmer. Harold was a strapping 26-year-old railroad machinist at the time, Miss Kosek was his 29-year-old girlfriend, and Dale his 7-year-old nephew whom he promised to take treasure hunting. What a guy—popular with the older women and the favorite uncle.

Hunt information
Dates:
First Clue:Saturday, January 28, 1956
Found on:Thursday, February 2, 1956
Finders:
NameHometown
Harold MantoenSaint Paul
Leonora KosekSaint Paul
Dale UlmerSaint Paul
Prize:
Maximum Prize:$2500
Awarded Prize:$2500
Location:
General Location:Como Park
Exact Location:Near the Old Stone Fireplace
Concealer:Inside a Hollow Log
Clues
Clue #1
Published on Sunday, January 29, 1956
Today begins the annual hunt,
Another wonderful Carnival stunt.
So go abroad and find the bounty,
We always hide it in Ramsey County.
Explanation:
"Ramsey County" were the only meaningful words.
 
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Clue #2
Published on Monday, January 30, 1956
The button you buy means more than pleasure;
It can add more dough to Boreas' treasure.
St. Paul is the boundary of your quest
If you would find the treasure chest.
Explanation:
The word button referred to the polar bear on the carnival button and the bears at Como Zoo. The second clue also confined the search to St. Paul.
 
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Clue #3
Published on Monday, January 30, 1956
The treasure's nook, well hid from view,
On public property waits for you.
Our safety rule must be repeated:
No danger's involved where it's secreted.
Explanation:
"Nook" meant the treasure was hidden in a recess and "On public property." The word "secreted" emphasized how well it was hidden from view.
Our Thoughts:
Secreted? Where exactly has it secreted and what specifically has it secreted?
 
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Clue #4
Published on Tuesday, January 31, 1956
A body of water lies in the distance,
Out of sight but still of assistance.
Unless a thaw should cause a trickle,
Seeing water's not worth a plugged nickel.
Explanation:
"A body of water lies in the distance" meant Lake Como, and "plugged nickel" referred to the plugged log.
Our Thoughts:
Plugged we get. Nickel, not so much.
 
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Clue #5
Published on Tuesday, January 31, 1956
We hope we are fair in the way we play;
We try to hint without giving away.
But if more help is what you need,
Wheels and boxes we will concede.
Explanation:
The words "fair" and "way" together meant the fairways at Como Golf Course. "Wheels and boxes" pointed to the Northern Pacific railway yards.
Our Thoughts:
You always have to love a word play clue. And this one is a two-fer.
 
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Clue #6
Published on Wednesday, February 1, 1956
A dirty finger points to the sky;
It's not on the spot, but stands nearby.
And if your eyes are really keen,
A second look will show you green.
Explanation:
A "dirty finger" was the smokestack at St. Paul workhouse and "a second look will show you green" indicated the cupola atop the workhouse.
Our Thoughts:
A cool landmarking clue.
 
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Clue #7
Published on Wednesday, February 1, 1956
Near the spot, fifty yards or so,
Runs a road covered with snow.
Trees surround the treasure's site;
This should make you work all night.
Explanation:
The "road covered with snow" was an old railroad bed, and the "work" once again referred to the workhouse.
Our Thoughts:
The "road" specifically was the old Como-Harriet Streetcar line whose right-of-way ran very near the treasure site.
 
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Clue #8
Published on Thursday, February 2, 1956
Bugs at times crawl near the spot;
Generally pests, they now mean a lot.
A woodsman skilled in nature lore
Would be a help and not a bore.
Explanation:
"Bugs at times crawl near the spot" meant box elder bugs. A box elder bush was near the treasure site. And "bore" again referred to the hollow log.
Our Thoughts:
Combine this with "Wheels and boxes" from above and you've got an awesome box elder reference. Without them, the bugs could really be anything.
 
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Clue #9
The water referred to in number four clue
Is a famous name that means much to you.
In order to get a bit more specific,
The water's a lake and not the Pacific.
Explanation:
The "water" and the "famous name" both meant Como.
Our Thoughts:
This is the only example of a clue we can find that references another clue in the same hunt.
 
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Clue #10
A structure of red is not too far,
About ninety degrees from the Polar Star.
Get out your compass, we suggest,
It will help you find the treasure chest.
Explanation:
"The structure of red" 90 degrees "from the polar star" meant the workhouse was east of the treasure site.
Our Thoughts:
But 90 degrees could also mean west, couldn't it?
 
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Clue #11
Stones are near the treasure site,
Cemented together to hold them tight.
This time of year you'd stay away,
But that's not true on a summer's day.
Explanation:
"Stones" referred to an old stone fireplace near the treasure site.
Our Thoughts:
We like the stone fireplace reference due to its proximity to the treasure. But wouldn't you think that "this time of year" you'd want to be closer to a fire place than on a summer's day?
 
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Clue #12
Two names could mean an awful lot,
In helping you to find the spot.
One is Dutch, you will agree,
Part of the other is on T.V.
Explanation:
"Two names" referred to Van Slyke ("one is Dutch") and Beulah Lane. "Part of the other is on T.V." referred to a television show titled Beulah
Our Thoughts:
Interestingly enough, a lot of people nowadays call the fireplace a "Dutch Oven".
 
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Clue #13
A crossing was built not far away
To serve the needs of another day.
Near the place there is a knoll,
Nearer still there is a hole.
Explanation:
The "crossing" was an old street car crossing "to serve the needs of another day". The "knoll" painted a small hill west of the workhouse and "hole" pinpointed a low area at the base of the knoll as well as hinting at the hole in the long.
Our Thoughts:
Nice. Several landmarks to zero in on the treasure site near the end of the hunt.
 
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Clue #14
From an acorn this once grew,
And it means a lot to you.
Now dead and lying there dismembered,
To someone it will be long remembered.
Explanation:
"From an acorn this once grew" meant of course, the oak stump in which the treasure chest was secreted.
Our Thoughts:
There's that word secreted again. What exactly secreted the treasure here?
 
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Clue #15
The trunk of a dead tree helps mark the spot,
But the log lying near is really hot.
Look for a plug which pulls away;
This can be your lucky day.
Explanation:
"The trunk of a dead tree" referred to a tree which had fallen near the log containing the chest. The "plug which pulls away" meant the end of the log which covered the chest.
Our Thoughts:
A pin-pointer clue.
 
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