2012 White Bear Lake Manitou Days Treasure Hunt

“Back to the beginning” referenced the historical placard near the site showing the original plat of White Bear Lake. Furthermore, with the undeniably important role of the railroad in the founding/settling of White Bear Lake, the depot is a first among firsts. “Stare your competition in the eye” was a playful mention of a large sign sporting our business competitor, seen to the north of the site. “Get down to business” hinted at surrounding downtown businesses.

The first line reminds hunters that the treasure was not hidden below ground. People were also asked not to disturb bushes, ornamental plants, benches, etc., that are seen in the downtown area. The third and fourth lines pointed to the fact that the medallion was embedded in a fake stone made with model clay and rolled in mud (tipped off with “crafted protector,” “rock star,” and “embed”). “Banners majestic” referred to the many American flags flying around the site and “others domestic” to those celebrating the community of White Bear Lake. Finally, “scatter of arbor” pointed to a variety of trees found near our chosen spot.

The first stanza referred to the Civil War Memorial at the intersection of 2nd Street and Clark Avenue. The statue faces the north although our brave soldiers went to fight in the south. Although Minnesota was one of the newest in the union, it was the first to commit troops to the Union cause. The remainder of the clue pointed at the WPA stone flagpole north of the Memorial. As stated, the landmark is in rough shape. On it can be found a placard naming it a WPA project from FDR’s New “Deal”. When sitting at the flagpole, one could easily see White Bear Lake down Clark Avenue. People used to camp in the boulevard along Clark Avenue.

The first stanza was dedicated to Cup N Cone, located just west of the medallion’s location. The first letter of each line spelled out “Cup N” and the geometrical area of a cone (“shapely design”) was carefully tucked into the clue with 1/3! · r2 · height; one will see “third of pie,” “are squared” and “height” in the verse. “Stay awake” and “life’s too short” in the second stanza referenced to Caribou Coffee’s motto of “Life’s is short. Stay awake for it.” “Chin” referred to LeeAnn Chin, a restaurant near the medallion’s location. “Money signs” pointed to Premier Bank and US Bank signs, seen from the site.

The “name that can scare” referred to dentist Sarah Boo whose clinic is located southwest of the treasure. “Smile” hinted at her profession. “Faces that can’t see and hands that can’t feel” referred to the clock tower outside of White Bear Lake City Hall. The last line of the first stanza puts the medallion within one mile of City Hall (we didn’t want to make it too specific for you). “A lot of space” referred to the spacious parking lot between the Historical Society and shops. We counted 127 spaces. “Over six score” would be 120+ spaces. “Citizens bold ensured new and old” was in reference to the fight put up by citizens to protect Cup N Cone in the midst of redevelopment at 4th Street and Highway 61 (a “prime” number).

The first stanza finally revealed that the medallion would not be found in a park but on other publicly owned land. The second half of the clue told hunters to find the missing word. The second and fourth lines do not rhyme like all of the other clues. If you’re up on your oldies, you noticed that the last two lines are lyrics from Petula Clark’s “Downtown” – which is the missing word. Downtown rhymes with “crown.”

We, the clue writers, hid the medallion on the night of a wedding reception at Manitou Station. This put the medallion within “a short walk” from that restaurant. “Rectangle,” “white,” and “dirtied by skids” referred to the crosswalks for pedestrians looking to cross Highway 61. The gazebo, an “open building,” designed by White Bear Rust Architects, was within view of the medallion. The last line hints at the statue near the gazebo of a mother bear and her cubs.

The first line of this clue was in reference to the change in ownership of the building across the street: Decoy’s restaurant (whose logo had two ducks on it) to the very-Irish (“shamrocks”) Jameson’s bar & restaurant. Jameson’s is very near Subway (“the underground”). “Surrender your voice” hinted at Ursula’s Wine Bar & Café. Ursula is the name of the sea witch in “The Little Mermaid.” She took Ariel’s voice and in exchange gave her legs to walk on land (“run aground”). “Beads” hinted at The Bead Gallery, located across a parking lot from the treasure site. The last two lines referred to Chez Arnaud, a nearby French bakery.

“Wood and gravel” were in reference to the railroad tracks (the ties and gravel surrounding them). “Bustling road”
pointed at Highway 61 and the stoplights mentioned are those found at Highway 61 and Fourth Street. The last
stanza again hints at this year’s important tie to the railroad with “track,” “clickety-clack.” The last line referred to
lyrics from the song “I’ve been working on the railroad.”

Provided final details to the medallion, hidden in a fake stone near the White Bear Lake Historical Society.