No, its not Phalan. Its actually from Conway. The equal spaces are the North Pole and the South Pole and at Conway there are utlity poles running north and south. And if you stand along the north and south (running) poles, and look down the street, you see a "True Value Hardware" sign. So the clue would be referring to the base of one of the poles. Now that's something you would never get sitting at home or looking in a Treasure Hunter's Guide. You're not likely to get it all until you figure out the park. But once you do figure out the park, then you might make sense of the clue, and once you do, you'll know for a fact you're onto something. I wish the hunt was more like that instead of being a crapshoot all the way into the last clue even.
clue #3--- Circular thinking can be a way of linking ---could be the clock in Mears or the comany named Spin on the corner, could have been for a newspaper co--actually like everyone else says "Could have been anything". ice skating, driving around Como lake.
Lies out of view was a good clue that the "riddler" did not even utilize!! at Como it could have been the far picnic grounds near the pavilion, up high (that goes with Victorious meaning on top!)and out of view could have been hidden by the bridges at Lexington Ave. or under the snow in general.
the bank account thoughts were-- on the banks of... like a creek or river. hence -- battlecreek or swede hollow or the red 1st bank in the sky downtown which is out of view from Mears.
figure this out-- figure--skating figure---like numbers , number 1 like 1st bank or 5th and 6th
I agree!!!! We should use our brains more to get us there and when we get there use it some more. I do not like that each clue basically seams to tell us the same thing year after year. I did like the one time at battlecreek when it said right down the side what park it was in besides the rhyme.
or the embankment that is the hill down towards the firepits. stepdogg and i were on to something saturday nite when number 9 was released. we had it placed over in guide zone 7 southwest of the lake. coupla bridges there, the shelter was the original parks dept. hq. these clues, even when you were in the right park, could have pointed anywhere in it.
hey, that was where I was too for a while. until about 4 in the morning on Sunday night. By the bridges and the old trolley bldg. at Lexington and Horton.
east and west though only one is the PROPER place ( I really hate that the "riddler" could not utilize this word too)
proper St. Paul back when St. Paul became a city was known as downtown st. paul the streets were Robert, Wabasha, Minnesota and Sibley.
Wacouta was not proper!! there for the west (sibley st.) would be the correct spot near Galtier!! also if it were Proper St. paul you could say battlecreek because on the east side of the park is Maplewood on the west side is St. paul Proper.
I still haven't figured out where the old trolley bridge was, and I grew up in Como Park and would drive by Lexington and Horton every day for a while! That's where Lexington goes from a two-lane to a one lane, right? And McMurray Field is on the other side of Horton?
ha ha ha ha, youbet I actually did. i really thought it was there for a long time. but do you see how this game should be played out? not just the rhyme but the riddle! It should have substance.
ok, clue #5 --- this one gets me!! to escape the herd. Herd is a collection of animals. hence --mcmurray field or the Como zoo
find a peaceful bird --everyone would automatically guess the dove right? well he could have made it more than that. and this is what I got--- Snowbird (finch) is a bird that takes the cold winter very "mildly" and hides from it's enemies "deep in the snow" in fields. aaaahhhhh---kill the "riddler".
see i told you , you didn't want to get me started. I wanted to participate all week online and could not get this computer thing working, but then we may have all been in the wrong park for a while.
I know I was until the COcoa/MOcha clue. Everything seemed to fit so well elsewhere. So what I learned is that if you're soemwhere and the clues fit really well, you're in the wrong place. Especially if ALL the clues fit.
last year, you wouldn't beleive it! I discussed it with the Camo Crew at Newell park last year by the fire and they couldn't beleive it, they thought it worked. then when the actual meanings came out it was sad and unbelievable.
I have heard about 12 different stories in the last couple of years, all from people who claimed to have an inside source. The one that seems to come up the most often though is that a woman wrote the clues for many years, and that a man has now been writing them for a while. There was a definite change in the rhyme scheme somewhere in the 90's though I forget exactly when.
alot did say Mears but they pointed to many other parks also. So that is what he should have meant, it was dissappointing that it wasn't as challenging as it should be. It should be a good riddle not what it was.
If you look up the word Newell in the dictionary it means a circular staircase. It could have been put back there, but the "riddler" had no means of this meaning.
I am always up for a good game and challenge but this last one made you feel like "why not just stay home until it says the name of the park" there was no depth, no substance. Our city is not only historical but we have sooo many great things going for us--mayor coleman and his fireworks, harriet island, River Center. I guess I don't like the lack of substance. it could be more geared tword who we are and St. Paul not clues that could put it in any park in any city anywhere in the world.
that clue #5 was bad --- no one wanted to believe the sock thing. that clue went from anywhere from superman/ george reeves/ george latimer (with the Mcknight foundation and rebuilding of lowertown area) to Mcknight in battlecreek to the statue at Como of the boy and the wolf.
1990- Think of a kingdom With Boreas at the helm. The treasure you seek Is right in this realm.
1991- The treasure will be found In a saintly city, Just find our medallion You'll be sitting pretty.
1992-The first treasure clue Is for one and for all. You've got to believe It's here in St. Paul.
1993-This is the start of something big, It's a really fun beginning. Our treasure hunt is under way, And it's cash that you'll be winning.
1994- Find the treasure at your leisure, The search really is a lark. But while enjoying winter's pleasure, Remember to look in a park.
1995- Befitting the season, there's a reason To begin your search without fail. Your reward could be mighty pleasin' If you unravel our treasure tale.
1996- Come one, come all to the medallion ball, Our hunt for the Treasure is free. You'll do best to stay in St. Paul And avoid private property.
In 1995 there is a definite change in rhyme scheme and style, one that persists to the present. I'd say the previous writer did their last hunt in 94 and 95 was the beginning of the era of this cluewriter.
Battlecreek and magnet school there was perfect too-- along with back in 1939 there was a "towering monster" made of steel for skiing in battlecreek.
#6 lots of space ---parking lot with spaces --battlecreek, como Como was the first park to be purchased from thecity for $100,000 on something called the big spaces ammendment thing (don't quote me on the exact name of the ammendment but had to do with lots of space)
riding around I thought of riding around Como lake way back when it was one way around the lake, and also the round fountain near the pavillion. merry go round at como. I thought of the "rings" firepits briefly on Sunday night and the trolly thing too. (used to hang out at the "rings" and the "dutch oven" as a teenager.
move off base --didn't actually mean that you need to completely stay off the field. just away from the bases hence-- snowbird in the field.
Its possible though there was a different writer from the other two in 93 and 94. The clues those two years are slightly longer and not quite as to the point. Yet they're not quite as poetic as what we start to see in 95.
when i got this clue Sunday night I really thought this was the spot but it was very dark and no sign of anyone digging (everyone seamed to be up in the west park)
Memory lane (instead of old beulah) I thought of Lexington when it used to go near the pavillion but they rerouted it.
traveling the old way would pertain to that road back when it was the actual only way into Como park in the 1870's by dirt road.
I heard one story that its a different person every time. Looking at this, I don't believe that. It seems to indicate that the same person wrote them for a long time. Look at this clue from 1971: Several towers of blinking lights Over treasure area lie. Winter scene of picturesque sights In shapes of every size.
Yet the year before, it was written in Limericks, but that was the only time. So I would guess we had the same writer from 1971 to 1993 at least.
at least we were in the correct park. Monday morning about 4 4:30 I was only 300 yards approx. away so not as close as previous years but better then the other side of the park or worse yet...wrong park. got back to the park at 9:45 and Cathi had already left for downtown.
No, when I went to Como, I went to the West Picnic Grounds. At least I finally did something right this year. But I know at one point a lot of people were thinking the old way referred to Lexington's old route between the pavilion and the water falls.
my dad had worked for the pioneer press backin the early 80's (he passed away in 94) and he said that noone ever knew who the writer was. that would be a big secret to keep don't you think? It is like if you murdered someone wouldn't you burst and tell someone? We still looked for it even though he worked there (computer programmer).
I guess this will be alot for Scribe to read when she gets back online. I need to do a couple of things too. But I will be back soon. You have some great points about the clue writers. like everyone ele say ..."all I'm saying..." ha ha ha is that there needs to be more substance. make a riddle a riddle, simple with some heart of our city in it but not easy! talk with you soon. Me2
Hi Kids, Hi Crazy. Was off reading messages in my singles club. Maybe you two should check it out, though most of the people in it are in the over 25 crowd.
Me,yup that was alot to read! But I agree with you completely.There were some very good theories out there this hunt as well as in the previous years.....I'm just convinced that we hunters are a wee bit more intelligent than the clue writer gives us credit for! I wish we could get a hold of him/her and make a recommendation for the writing of the clues! I don't think they really realize thats one of the parts of this hunt that is the most fun!
No, its not Phalan. Its actually from Conway. The equal spaces are the North Pole and the South Pole and at Conway there are utlity poles running north and south. And if you stand along the north and south (running) poles, and look down the street, you see a "True Value Hardware" sign. So the clue would be referring to the base of one of the poles. Now that's something you would never get sitting at home or looking in a Treasure Hunter's Guide. You're not likely to get it all until you figure out the park. But once you do figure out the park, then you might make sense of the clue, and once you do, you'll know for a fact you're onto something. I wish the hunt was more like that instead of being a crapshoot all the way into the last clue even.
clue #3--- Circular thinking can be a way of linking ---could be the clock in Mears or the comany named Spin on the corner, could have been for a newspaper co--actually like everyone else says "Could have been anything". ice skating, driving around Como lake.
Lies out of view was a good clue that the "riddler" did not even utilize!! at Como it could have been the far picnic grounds near the pavilion, up high (that goes with Victorious meaning on top!)and out of view could have been hidden by the bridges at Lexington Ave. or under the snow in general.
the bank account thoughts were-- on the banks of... like a creek or river. hence -- battlecreek or swede hollow or the red 1st bank in the sky downtown which is out of view from Mears.
figure this out-- figure--skating figure---like numbers , number 1 like 1st bank or 5th and 6th
But what I want to know is what clues were there that referred to the REAL hiding place that weren't printed under the official explanations?
I agree!!!! We should use our brains more to get us there and when we get there use it some more. I do not like that each clue basically seams to tell us the same thing year after year. I did like the one time at battlecreek when it said right down the side what park it was in besides the rhyme.
or the embankment that is the hill down towards the firepits. stepdogg and i were on to something saturday nite when number 9 was released. we had it placed over in guide zone 7 southwest of the lake. coupla bridges there, the shelter was the original parks dept. hq. these clues, even when you were in the right park, could have pointed anywhere in it.
Hello Everybody :) How is everybody?
hey crazy. for the record. i am at work now :)
It was just plain BAD this year. I think the "riddler" was to interested in a good rhyme then a good riddle!!!
Ares- Must be ruff ya can play around all day at work *pouts*
hey, that was where I was too for a while. until about 4 in the morning on Sunday night. By the bridges and the old trolley bldg. at Lexington and Horton.
crazy, you'll notice that i haven't posted much since this morning :)
ok am i on clue #4?
east and west are part of our test---you will like this one
east and west though only one is the PROPER place ( I really hate that the "riddler" could not utilize this word too)
proper St. Paul back when St. Paul became a city was known as downtown st. paul the streets were Robert, Wabasha, Minnesota and Sibley.
Wacouta was not proper!! there for the west (sibley st.) would be the correct spot near Galtier!! also if it were Proper St. paul you could say battlecreek because on the east side of the park is Maplewood on the west side is St. paul Proper.
I still haven't figured out where the old trolley bridge was, and I grew up in Como Park and would drive by Lexington and Horton every day for a while! That's where Lexington goes from a two-lane to a one lane, right? And McMurray Field is on the other side of Horton?
Me2, I'm guessing you spend a lot of time in Mears Park?
leaves you depressed--depressed means low hence lowertown
depressed in battlecreek or mcmurray field is down in the park and so is the trolley area at Como near Lexington and Horton.
playing might put a smile on your face --- west playground area at battlecreek, mcmurray field or Iris park at the checkerboard tables.
ha ha ha ha, youbet I actually did. i really thought it was there for a long time. but do you see how this game should be played out? not just the rhyme but the riddle! It should have substance.
a man actually past me at Mears Park (I had a 3 pronged sharp tool in my hand) and he asked me if i was "workin". oh, my god.
ok, clue #5 --- this one gets me!! to escape the herd. Herd is a collection of animals. hence --mcmurray field or the Como zoo
find a peaceful bird --everyone would automatically guess the dove right? well he could have made it more than that. and this is what I got--- Snowbird (finch) is a bird that takes the cold winter very "mildly" and hides from it's enemies "deep in the snow" in fields. aaaahhhhh---kill the "riddler".
that is right, Lexington turns into 1 lane at that corner. If you drive north from that corner on Lexington then it would be on your immediate right.
But the real question is what have you learned from all this? Would you still interpret the clues the same way next year?
see i told you , you didn't want to get me started. I wanted to participate all week online and could not get this computer thing working, but then we may have all been in the wrong park for a while.
well, do you ever know if they change the "riddler" to someone new? last year I thought they did, i thought they had an actual company do it.
supposedly, this guy has been writing for the past 10 years. well he needs to retire.
I know I was until the COcoa/MOcha clue. Everything seemed to fit so well elsewhere. So what I learned is that if you're soemwhere and the clues fit really well, you're in the wrong place. Especially if ALL the clues fit.
last year, you wouldn't beleive it! I discussed it with the Camo Crew at Newell park last year by the fire and they couldn't beleive it, they thought it worked. then when the actual meanings came out it was sad and unbelievable.
lol
I have heard about 12 different stories in the last couple of years, all from people who claimed to have an inside source. The one that seems to come up the most often though is that a woman wrote the clues for many years, and that a man has now been writing them for a while. There was a definite change in the rhyme scheme somewhere in the 90's though I forget exactly when.
alot did say Mears but they pointed to many other parks also. So that is what he should have meant, it was dissappointing that it wasn't as challenging as it should be. It should be a good riddle not what it was.
If you look up the word Newell in the dictionary it means a circular staircase. It could have been put back there, but the "riddler" had no means of this meaning.
I am always up for a good game and challenge but this last one made you feel like "why not just stay home until it says the name of the park" there was no depth, no substance. Our city is not only historical but we have sooo many great things going for us--mayor coleman and his fireworks, harriet island, River Center. I guess I don't like the lack of substance. it could be more geared tword who we are and St. Paul not clues that could put it in any park in any city anywhere in the world.
I definitely agree with that sentiment. Though one does have to avoid getting too specific or you'll give it away right away.
that clue #5 was bad --- no one wanted to believe the sock thing. that clue went from anywhere from superman/ george reeves/ george latimer (with the Mcknight foundation and rebuilding of lowertown area) to Mcknight in battlecreek to the statue at Como of the boy and the wolf.
but they still all pointed to alot of different parks and contained substance if that was what he really meant --but he didn't!
Compare these first clues:
1990- Think of a kingdom With Boreas at the helm. The treasure you seek Is right in this realm.
1991- The treasure will be found In a saintly city, Just find our medallion You'll be sitting pretty.
1992-The first treasure clue Is for one and for all. You've got to believe It's here in St. Paul.
1993-This is the start of something big, It's a really fun beginning. Our treasure hunt is under way, And it's cash that you'll be winning.
1994- Find the treasure at your leisure, The search really is a lark. But while enjoying winter's pleasure, Remember to look in a park.
1995- Befitting the season, there's a reason To begin your search without fail. Your reward could be mighty pleasin' If you unravel our treasure tale.
1996- Come one, come all to the medallion ball, Our hunt for the Treasure is free. You'll do best to stay in St. Paul And avoid private property.
In 1995 there is a definite change in rhyme scheme and style, one that persists to the present. I'd say the previous writer did their last hunt in 94 and 95 was the beginning of the era of this cluewriter.
Battlecreek and magnet school there was perfect too-- along with back in 1939 there was a "towering monster" made of steel for skiing in battlecreek.
#6 lots of space ---parking lot with spaces --battlecreek, como Como was the first park to be purchased from thecity for $100,000 on something called the big spaces ammendment thing (don't quote me on the exact name of the ammendment but had to do with lots of space)
riding around I thought of riding around Como lake way back when it was one way around the lake, and also the round fountain near the pavillion. merry go round at como. I thought of the "rings" firepits briefly on Sunday night and the trolly thing too. (used to hang out at the "rings" and the "dutch oven" as a teenager.
move off base --didn't actually mean that you need to completely stay off the field. just away from the bases hence-- snowbird in the field.
victorious one -- on top
Its possible though there was a different writer from the other two in 93 and 94. The clues those two years are slightly longer and not quite as to the point. Yet they're not quite as poetic as what we start to see in 95.
Yes I see it. I want that person back.
was that you you said that you were behind the old trolley depot near Lexington and Horton? near the torpedo and almost under the bridges?
when i got this clue Sunday night I really thought this was the spot but it was very dark and no sign of anyone digging (everyone seamed to be up in the west park)
Memory lane (instead of old beulah) I thought of Lexington when it used to go near the pavillion but they rerouted it.
traveling the old way would pertain to that road back when it was the actual only way into Como park in the 1870's by dirt road.
I heard one story that its a different person every time. Looking at this, I don't believe that. It seems to indicate that the same person wrote them for a long time. Look at this clue from 1971: Several towers of blinking lights Over treasure area lie. Winter scene of picturesque sights In shapes of every size.
Yet the year before, it was written in Limericks, but that was the only time. So I would guess we had the same writer from 1971 to 1993 at least.
at least we were in the correct park. Monday morning about 4 4:30 I was only 300 yards approx. away so not as close as previous years but better then the other side of the park or worse yet...wrong park. got back to the park at 9:45 and Cathi had already left for downtown.
No, when I went to Como, I went to the West Picnic Grounds. At least I finally did something right this year. But I know at one point a lot of people were thinking the old way referred to Lexington's old route between the pavilion and the water falls.
my dad had worked for the pioneer press backin the early 80's (he passed away in 94) and he said that noone ever knew who the writer was. that would be a big secret to keep don't you think? It is like if you murdered someone wouldn't you burst and tell someone? We still looked for it even though he worked there (computer programmer).
Good day everyone. Welcome to the board Me2
I guess this will be alot for Scribe to read when she gets back online. I need to do a couple of things too. But I will be back soon. You have some great points about the clue writers. like everyone ele say ..."all I'm saying..." ha ha ha is that there needs to be more substance. make a riddle a riddle, simple with some heart of our city in it but not easy! talk with you soon. Me2
thank you for the welcome. Allison Wonderland and I have been really shootin the breeze. but I need to take a break, be back in a bit.
Hey Kids!
Hi Kids, Hi Crazy. Was off reading messages in my singles club. Maybe you two should check it out, though most of the people in it are in the over 25 crowd.
Hey Med Kids,50!
Me,yup that was alot to read! But I agree with you completely.There were some very good theories out there this hunt as well as in the previous years.....I'm just convinced that we hunters are a wee bit more intelligent than the clue writer gives us credit for! I wish we could get a hold of him/her and make a recommendation for the writing of the clues! I don't think they really realize thats one of the parts of this hunt that is the most fun!
So Scribe, are you going to do my Mock Hunt then?