2001 Pioneer Press Treasure Hunt

Submitted by Joe Medallion (not verified) on Sun, 01/15/2012 - 7:09 PM

Cathi Hogan, a pre-school teacher from Oakdale found the medallion in Como Park. "It is an answer to prayer," she said. Hogan grew up searching for the medallion each year, and said that she was inspired this year by meeting three other people who had found the medal in previous years.

Hunt Information

Dates

Scheduled Dates

Sunday, January 21, 2001

Find Date

Monday, January 29, 2001

Finders

Name

Cathi Hogan

Hometown

Oakdale

Prize

Maximum Prize

$10,000

Awarded Prize

$10,000

Location

General Location

Como Park

Pinpointed Location

Downhill from the park's West Picnic Grounds.

Concealer

Inside an "Iron Man" sock, stuffed into a "Dove" soap box

44.9783, -93.154

Clues

Clue 1

Published Date

Saturday, January 20, 2001, 6:00 PM

Go through the cold and prepare to be bold,
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 official meaning of the clue.

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.

Our Thoughts

The first letters of each line spell out "GOOD LUCK."

Clue Rating

Clue 2

Published Date

Sunday, January 21, 2001, 6:00 PM

There's no need to destroy as you deploy
For the hunt in our wonderful town.
Golf courses and statues you must not annoy,
And please steer clear of all private ground.

The official meaning of the clue.

This clue cautions hunters to stay on public land and avoid golf courses or other areas that could be damaged.

Our Thoughts

One of the usual early "obvious" clues.

Clue Rating

Clue 3

Published Date

Monday, January 22, 2001, 6:00 PM

Circular thinking can be one way of linking
To the treasure that lies out of view.
Your bank account won't be shrinking
If you can figure out this clue.

The official meaning of the 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.

Clue Rating

Clue 4

Published Date

Tuesday, January 23, 2001, 6:00 PM

East and west are part of our test,
Though only one is the proper place.
If this choice leaves you depressed,
Playing might put a smile on your face.

The official meaning of the clue.

"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.

Clue Rating

Clue 5

Published Date

Wednesday, January 24, 2001, 6:00 PM

A man of steel cannot be real,
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 official meaning of the clue.

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.

Clue Rating

Clue 6

Published Date

Thursday, January 25, 2001, 6:00 PM

The prize is at a place with lots of space
Where riding around can be fun
But you'll have to move off base
If you hope to be the victorious one

The official meaning of the clue.

"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.

Clue Rating

Clue 7

Published Date

Friday, January 26, 2001, 6:00 PM

Memory lane, we need hardly explain,
Is the busiest street of all
Think of traveling the old way again
And you might make a big haul

The official meaning of the clue.

"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.

Clue Rating

Clue 8

Published Date

Saturday, January 27, 2001, 6:00 PM

Adding hot cocoa to a cup of mocha
Creates a stirring combination;
Put them together and you'll evoke a
Potentially lucrative location.

The official meaning of the clue.

The first two letters of "cocoa" and "mocha" spell out "Como," directing hunters to the medallion's location.

Clue Rating

Clue 9

Published Date

Sunday, January 28, 2001, 6:00 PM

Vanished tracks in the snow will help you go
To the spot where the treasure lies waiting.
Proceed toward shelter from the opening below,
And with luck you'll soon be celebrating.

The official meaning of the clue.

"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).

Clue Rating

Clue 10

Going just halfway isn't good, they say,
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.

The official meaning of the clue.

"Stay near the middle" refers to Midway Parkway, which is just east of the medallion's hiding place.

Clue Rating

Clue 11

Thinking in twos could yield good news,
So look for objects in pairs.
Double down is a sight you shouldn't lose,
Because our prize isn't far from there.

The official meaning of the clue.

"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.

Clue Rating

Clue 12

Follow a straight line and you'll do just fine
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 official meaning of the clue.

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.

Clue Rating