2001 Pioneer Press Treasure Hunt
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Or you won't find the secret item.
Our beloved St. Paul is the place for gold;
Dig elsewhere and you'll search ad infinitum.
Last year at Newell our fate was most cruel;
Unfortunately the game ended too soon.
Come now and prepare for a much tougher duel;
Keep on your toes or you'll hunt until June.
The clue informs hunters that the medallion is located in St. Paul and wishes them good luck while noting that last year's hunt, which ended at Newell Park, was unusually short.
The first letters of each line spell out "GOOD LUCK."
For the hunt in our wonderful town.
Golf courses and statues you must not annoy,
And please steer clear of all private ground.
This clue cautions hunters to stay on public land and avoid golf courses or other areas that could be damaged.
One of the usual early "obvious" clues.
To the treasure that lies out of view.
Your bank account won't be shrinking
If you can figure out this clue.
"Circular thinking" refers to various circles -- Cafesijan's Carousel, the fire pits, the old pony riding ring, spinning amusement rides -- that are near the medallion's hiding place.
Though only one is the proper place.
If this choice leaves you depressed,
Playing might put a smile on your face.
"East" and "west" refer to the east and west picnic grounds at Como Park. "Playing" is a reference to the playground by the west picnic grounds, where the medallion was hidden.
But another has plenty of mettle.
Look for his name around our deal,
And you'll be in very fine fettle.
To escape the herd find a peaceful bird
Somewhere deep in the snow.
Our treasure is boxed inside the word,
And that's what you need to know.
The medallion was wrapped in a sock with an "Ironman" label. Thus the reference to "mettle" (a pun on "metal") and "a man of steel." The "peaceful bird" is a dove. In addition to being wrapped in a sock, the medallion was hidden inside a package of Dove brand soap.
Where riding around can be fun
But you'll have to move off base
If you hope to be the victorious one
"Lots of space" refers to Como Park, one of the largest public spaces in St. Paul. "Riding around" refers to the rides at the small amusement park north of the medallion's hiding place. "Moving off base" tells hunters not to look on any baseball fields in the park.
Is the busiest street of all
Think of traveling the old way again
And you might make a big haul
"Memory lane" refers to Beulah Lane, a street south of the medallion's hiding place. Parts of the street have been closed off and are thus only a memory. But the key clue here is to "think of traveling the old way again." This refers to the old streetcar displayed by the west picnic grounds.
Creates a stirring combination;
Put them together and you'll evoke a
Potentially lucrative location.
The first two letters of "cocoa" and "mocha" spell out "Como," directing hunters to the medallion's location.
To the spot where the treasure lies waiting.
Proceed toward shelter from the opening below,
And with luck you'll soon be celebrating.
"Vanished tracks in the snow" are the old streetcar tracks that once ran south of Horton Avenue near the treasure site. The "opening below" refers to an underpass, its span now gone, along these tracks. Finally, this clue directs treasure hunters to go from the underpass toward "shelter" (the picnic shelters in the west picnic grounds).
But we think you should stay near the middle.
Do this and you'll have a picnic today
As you try to decipher this riddle.
"Stay near the middle" refers to Midway Parkway, which is just east of the medallion's hiding place.
So look for objects in pairs.
Double down is a sight you shouldn't lose,
Because our prize isn't far from there.
"Thinking in twos" points hunters to the pair of trees and the two picnic tables near which the medallion was hidden. "Double down" refers to two south-facing playground slides that served as guideposts to the treasure's location.
In discovering where treasure abounds
The line goes southeast from two slides to a sign
For Como Park's West Picnic Grounds
Ninety paces or so from the slides where kids go
You'll find two picnic tables close together
Pick a spot nearby to dig in the snow
And your life could soon change for the better!
The clue provides detailed directions to the medallion, which was located about 90 paces southeast of the children's playground, on a line toward the sign on Horton Avenue for the west picnic grounds.