2014 White Bear Lake Manitou Days Medallion Hunt

The opening lines welcome all to White Bear Lake for our annual treasure hunt, sponsored by Coldwell Burnet Banker. “Welcome mat” subtly hinted at all of the front doors facing the treasure’s location. “Even the Wisconie” was a playful nod to the Minnesota Vikings mailbox at 3485 Van Dyke Street and the rivalry between the Vikings and Green Bay. In the second stanza, “abandoned ship” referred to the fact that the medallion was not hidden in White Bear Township as it had been in 2013. “Sun rises in the north” narrowed the search area to those public places south of Sunrise Middle School.

White Bear Lake Area Schools were the only schools in the Twin Cities that chose not to close on January 27 during the Polar Vortex. While adults were happy that their children were able to go to school, students were hardly impressed. White Bear Lake High School South Campus was located directly north of the treasure site. The second stanza pointed at the pine trees at the corner of Orchard Lane and Van Dyke Street, whose foliage (needles) stay green year-round. “At the end” referred to the Dead End sign on Van Dyke Street.

“Cup” hinted at the World Cup, underway during the medallion hunt. When looking at Google Maps, one can see that the medallion was hidden on a line between the soccer fields at South Campus and those at Lakewood Hills Park. “Sport is a-plenty around our lair” referred to the many different activities found at both the High School, Manitou Ridge Golf Course, Ice Arena, and Lakewood Hills Park. The second stanza goes further, pointing at the golfing choices in the area: traditional and disc. Hunters were encouraged not to search too close to either one.

“Childs play” referred to the children’s activities at the local YMCA (also: “learn to ask why”). “Perhaps gloves” was a playful hint at how the medallion was concealed – in a coonskin hat – and how one might take pause before touching it. “Discriminating eye” pointed at the Neighborhood Watch sign, from which the medallion was paced into the high weeds. The “island guy running nearby” referred to Monn Avenue. When said aloud (“sound out”), Monn sounds like the Jamaican (“island”) word for “Man.” The second stanza names the importance of water in this year’s hunt as the park is named after Varney Lake. Other ponds surround the site to the south, as does the water park at the YMCA. “Appendage concave” hinted at the arm of Varney Lake that extends southward toward the treasure site.

The first stanza names the intersection near where the medallion was hidden. 
Anthony (“Tony”) Van Dyke, of Holland, is credited with creating the Van Dyke style beard in the 17th Century. And, if you finish the last line you might arrive at “Collards, romaine, kale or Chard.” Therefore, naming Van Dyke Street and Orchard Lane. The entire second stanza was in reference to the coonskin hat in which the medallion was attached. Rebecca was a raccoon adopted by President Calvin Coolidge (“cool leader”) and his wife, Grace. It had been proposed by members of the Administration that Rebecca be served at Thanksgiving (“thankfully”) instead of a traditional turkey in order to show solidarity with the poor. Instead, Mrs. Coolidge insisted on adopting Rebecca as a White House pet. As a footnote, the hat was made of artificial material; no animals were harmed in the making of this treasure hunt.

Varney Lake Park, largely an undeveloped space, consists of one major paved pathway (“place for feet”) that is primarily accessed at the intersection of Elm (“wood”) and Buckbee (buck + bee = “creatures”). “Nightmare,” referred to the movie Nightmare on Elm Street. Along with “Drive” one again arrives at Elm Drive. The second stanza held hints to all of the Ernest (“earnest”) P. Worrell movie hits (Ernest Goes to Camp, Ernest Goes to Jail, Ernest Saves Christmas, Ernest Scared Stupid & Ernest Rides Again). Ernest was played by the late actor Jim Varney.

This clue revealed that the medallion was not at Lakewood Hills Park or South Campus (Mariner High School until 1982). Yet, the medallion was hidden on a line between the soccer fields at those two locations. An aerial view was helpful here.

This clue clearly put the medallion at Varney Lake and suggested that it may be in a remote spot of the park. It also gave away the medallion’s placement inside of a false coonskin hat.

Final hints to the 2014 treasure medallion.