I expect to groan at the explanations for clues 4 and 5, but otherwise I don't think they were too bad this year. I reserve the right though to change that sentiment depending on where the hiding spot actually was and what the clue explanations actually say.
I got to the park, shortly after 8... had to walk home, since Carolyn had to use the car to get to work...
JUST got home....
I saw some dude, like 10 feet from me, pick something up, and took FOREVER looking at it.... but then he put his shovel back in the ground, like 10 more times, before taking off....
I thought it was a coincidence.... but now im gonna guess - maybe not... since I checked my watch, shortly after that, and it said 9:38... my watch is about 10 mins fast, too...
Here are the explanations behind the clues that led to the discovery of the Pioneer Press Treasure Hunt medallion for 2009. Clue number 12 did not run, as the treasure was found on Day 11 of the hunt.
1.
Oh great King Boreas, make winter glorious:
Unleash the medallion quest!
We'll be up front: We devote the hunt
To Box, our friend, now at rest
We dedicate this year's hunt to Pioneer Press columnist Don Boxmeyer, a longtime clue-writer and hunt expert who died Aug. 10 at the age of 67. Box was a resident and chronicler of St. Paul's East Side, and he had a special fascination with and affection for the story of Swede Hollow, one of St. Paul's "lost neighborhoods."
2.
Tramping hill and dell, you may hear tell
About the contests waged of yore
Much of the history remains a mystery
Which we hope to bring to the fore
Dell refers to the hollow, and the contests of yore refer to many activities, including ballgames, that took place in Swede Hollow when it was a living community. We emphasize the mystery and history of the area and signal that we will emphasize historical hints.
3.
All we see was done naturally
Water and ice are here
In this harbor of impressive arbor
Approach and have no fear
Refers to creek and icy patches in the park, to the natural processes that created it, and to the large tree that marks the spot where the medallion is buried.
Is it a pig or pitbull, it was argued most fitful,
That looks more lovely in lipstick?
Refers to the RNC in St. Paul in September, when vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin said the only difference between a hockey mom and a pitbull was lipstick. In honor of the RNC, our medallion is decorated with a Pioneer Press bulldog wearing ruby-red lip gloss (assuming the image remained connected to the medallion.) Extra credit to those who derived "Hamm's" from "pig"; Hamm's was the venerable brewery on the edge of Swede Hollow.
5.
It takes all sorts to come and play sports
In this sweet land of fun and frolic
With bower enclosed and the beasts exposed,
You're bound to lose your colic
The deep gulch of Swede Hollow encloses the trees and plant life, while the clearing of parts of the land in the '50s exposed many of the animals — including the humans — who lived there. The key to this clue is "sweet land" — the 2005 movie is about Scandinavian immigrants to Minnesota — some of whom established Swede Hollow in the mid- 19th century. In addition, "sweet" sounds much like "Swede."
6.
The dankness of the vale may your spirit impale:
The setting seems oh so gloomy!
But be brave, you endless knave,
You'll find it really quite roomy.
"Dankness," "vale" and "gloomy" refer to the wet gulch that is Swede Hollow - and encourages those who fear the Hollow as a treacherous ravine to reconsider the open spaces in the park. Also, "dankness vale" and "endless knave" are anagrams for "svenske dalen" (and the alternate spelling, "svenska dalen"), Swedish for "Swedish dale" - what its early inhabitants called the area and where 'Swede Hollow" came from.
7. 'Neath King and Court they once did cavort
As though living in times quite feudal
But time brings change so it's not so strange
To see an owner walk his poodle
Above the squalid settlement of Swede Hollow loomed the Hamm Mansion and the Hamm's brewery, which one historian said created an "almost medieval scene, standing like a baronial castle over Swede Hollow."
8. Saints and sinners, losers and winners,
Sped by at a quickened pace
While the gangster's moll, a German doll
Once played at this star-crossed place
The clue refers to the classic thriller Saint Mudd, "a novel of gangsters and saints" set in Depression-era St. Paul and written by local author Steve Thayer (Don Boxmeyer was a significant early supporter of both author and book). One of the main characters is the beautiful Roxy Schultze, the German doll and gangster's moll, whose origin in Swede Hollow is an important part of the narrative.
9.
One whistled Dixie, so says a pixie,
While another worked stern to stem
Though they never met, it's a darn good bet
Together they'll lead to the gem
Payne Avenue, Maury Street and Margaret Street all border Swede Hollow Park. Payne was named for Rice Payne, who owned much of the land on the East Side - until it was confiscated after he decided to join the Confederate Army; Maury was named for Matthew Maury, a well-known oceanographer of the 19th Century; Margaret Street was formerly Pearl Street (the gem) - not too great a stretch, since "margaret" is derived from the Latin word for pearl.
10.
Tho' hills abound it's on level ground
A rivulet gurgles by
The answer's meshing with a beer refreshing
In the midst should seekers vie
Explanation: The medallion is not placed on a hillside, but on a level spot. It is near a small rivulet. It's hidden in a park (Swede Hollow) associated with Hamms, "the beer refreshing.'' It's in the middle of the hollow — not on either end.
11.
At the base of a big tree collect a fee
It rests not far from the weeds
Who finds the spring will be able to sing
Eureka! And thanks to the Swedes
Explanation: The medallion is hidden near a large tree, not far from some weeds, near the running spring waters, in Swede Hollow on St. Paul's East Side.
12.
A trail you follow to the center of Swede Hollow
Where water oft runs free
Twenty-five steps marches you toward the arches
Look toward the creek and a big bare tree
Toward the tree you glide, on the brewery side
You'll find it sitting just so
The puck is wed with lips that are red
And sleeps in a mound of fresh snow
Explantion: Puts hunters in Swede Hollow park on St. Paul's east side. Directs them to a spring that runs across the walking path — when it isn't too cold — and from there, 25 steps toward the double-arches under 7th Street. A large tree is visible in the direction of the creek.
On the "brewery side" of the base of the tree — the side facing the old brewery works — the puck was planted. It's only decoration this year, if it survived the hunt, is a taped-on picture of the Pioneer Press bulldog with its lips painted red.
I got to admit I'm a litte relieved. I was just waiting for my hubby to wake up (he work nights) to go down there and make use of a few hours of daylight. My arms are killing me.
I LOVED THIS HUNT. This has been my favorite park for years. I'm so glad they finally hid it here to show people what a gem this is.
The clues were awesome also. We haven't clues this good since Boxmeyer did the 2005 summer flag hunt.
Anyone want to go tonight anyway? Who is with me? I'm celebrating. Clean CT results today!
found silver wire rimmed glasses on the night of Jan. 26th/27th in Swede Hollow park. Contact 651-227-4453.
WOO-HOO!!!
What they found was "true love" in hollow.
Now get on task. Enough of these negative waves!
Any one want to join in thats were there at
Pretty ugly chick.
Sorry about that. :wink:
I can't be anywhere until 4:30 at least - where's the pity party?
651-228-5547
Just found the post. :frown:
I'm still going to Yarusso's!
(There has got to be a faster way SLOG through this stuff!)
Props to all the help and coordination with Leela and RB....fun times with fun peeps!!
I will be in Litchfield on Sunday for one of my nephews BDAY partys.......
Keep in touch homies!
R
The funny thing...
"the treasure has been found... Swede Hollow... Happy Hunting"
There must be another puck!
I got to the park, shortly after 8... had to walk home, since Carolyn had to use the car to get to work...
JUST got home....
I saw some dude, like 10 feet from me, pick something up, and took FOREVER looking at it.... but then he put his shovel back in the ground, like 10 more times, before taking off....
I thought it was a coincidence.... but now im gonna guess - maybe not... since I checked my watch, shortly after that, and it said 9:38... my watch is about 10 mins fast, too...
Now to get all my stuff back in order and move on :smile:
1.
Oh great King Boreas, make winter glorious:
Unleash the medallion quest!
We'll be up front: We devote the hunt
To Box, our friend, now at rest
We dedicate this year's hunt to Pioneer Press columnist Don Boxmeyer, a longtime clue-writer and hunt expert who died Aug. 10 at the age of 67. Box was a resident and chronicler of St. Paul's East Side, and he had a special fascination with and affection for the story of Swede Hollow, one of St. Paul's "lost neighborhoods."
2.
Tramping hill and dell, you may hear tell
About the contests waged of yore
Much of the history remains a mystery
Which we hope to bring to the fore
Dell refers to the hollow, and the contests of yore refer to many activities, including ballgames, that took place in Swede Hollow when it was a living community. We emphasize the mystery and history of the area and signal that we will emphasize historical hints.
3.
All we see was done naturally
Water and ice are here
In this harbor of impressive arbor
Approach and have no fear
Refers to creek and icy patches in the park, to the natural processes that created it, and to the large tree that marks the spot where the medallion is buried.
4.
Even those in detention during
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our recent convention,
Heard a politically hip chick
Is it a pig or pitbull, it was argued most fitful,
That looks more lovely in lipstick?
Refers to the RNC in St. Paul in September, when vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin said the only difference between a hockey mom and a pitbull was lipstick. In honor of the RNC, our medallion is decorated with a Pioneer Press bulldog wearing ruby-red lip gloss (assuming the image remained connected to the medallion.) Extra credit to those who derived "Hamm's" from "pig"; Hamm's was the venerable brewery on the edge of Swede Hollow.
5.
It takes all sorts to come and play sports
In this sweet land of fun and frolic
With bower enclosed and the beasts exposed,
You're bound to lose your colic
The deep gulch of Swede Hollow encloses the trees and plant life, while the clearing of parts of the land in the '50s exposed many of the animals — including the humans — who lived there. The key to this clue is "sweet land" — the 2005 movie is about Scandinavian immigrants to Minnesota — some of whom established Swede Hollow in the mid- 19th century. In addition, "sweet" sounds much like "Swede."
6.
The dankness of the vale may your spirit impale:
The setting seems oh so gloomy!
But be brave, you endless knave,
You'll find it really quite roomy.
"Dankness," "vale" and "gloomy" refer to the wet gulch that is Swede Hollow - and encourages those who fear the Hollow as a treacherous ravine to reconsider the open spaces in the park. Also, "dankness vale" and "endless knave" are anagrams for "svenske dalen" (and the alternate spelling, "svenska dalen"), Swedish for "Swedish dale" - what its early inhabitants called the area and where 'Swede Hollow" came from.
7. 'Neath King and Court they once did cavort
As though living in times quite feudal
But time brings change so it's not so strange
To see an owner walk his poodle
Above the squalid settlement of Swede Hollow loomed the Hamm Mansion and the Hamm's brewery, which one historian said created an "almost medieval scene, standing like a baronial castle over Swede Hollow."
8. Saints and sinners, losers and winners,
Sped by at a quickened pace
While the gangster's moll, a German doll
Once played at this star-crossed place
The clue refers to the classic thriller Saint Mudd, "a novel of gangsters and saints" set in Depression-era St. Paul and written by local author Steve Thayer (Don Boxmeyer was a significant early supporter of both author and book). One of the main characters is the beautiful Roxy Schultze, the German doll and gangster's moll, whose origin in Swede Hollow is an important part of the narrative.
9.
One whistled Dixie, so says a pixie,
While another worked stern to stem
Though they never met, it's a darn good bet
Together they'll lead to the gem
Payne Avenue, Maury Street and Margaret Street all border Swede Hollow Park. Payne was named for Rice Payne, who owned much of the land on the East Side - until it was confiscated after he decided to join the Confederate Army; Maury was named for Matthew Maury, a well-known oceanographer of the 19th Century; Margaret Street was formerly Pearl Street (the gem) - not too great a stretch, since "margaret" is derived from the Latin word for pearl.
10.
Tho' hills abound it's on level ground
A rivulet gurgles by
The answer's meshing with a beer refreshing
In the midst should seekers vie
Explanation: The medallion is not placed on a hillside, but on a level spot. It is near a small rivulet. It's hidden in a park (Swede Hollow) associated with Hamms, "the beer refreshing.'' It's in the middle of the hollow — not on either end.
11.
At the base of a big tree collect a fee
It rests not far from the weeds
Who finds the spring will be able to sing
Eureka! And thanks to the Swedes
Explanation: The medallion is hidden near a large tree, not far from some weeds, near the running spring waters, in Swede Hollow on St. Paul's East Side.
12.
A trail you follow to the center of Swede Hollow
Where water oft runs free
Twenty-five steps marches you toward the arches
Look toward the creek and a big bare tree
Toward the tree you glide, on the brewery side
You'll find it sitting just so
The puck is wed with lips that are red
And sleeps in a mound of fresh snow
Explantion: Puts hunters in Swede Hollow park on St. Paul's east side. Directs them to a spring that runs across the walking path — when it isn't too cold — and from there, 25 steps toward the double-arches under 7th Street. A large tree is visible in the direction of the creek.
On the "brewery side" of the base of the tree — the side facing the old brewery works — the puck was planted. It's only decoration this year, if it survived the hunt, is a taped-on picture of the Pioneer Press bulldog with its lips painted red.
Everyone at Yarussos right now. I'm going soon.
I got to admit I'm a litte relieved. I was just waiting for my hubby to wake up (he work nights) to go down there and make use of a few hours of daylight. My arms are killing me.
I LOVED THIS HUNT. This has been my favorite park for years. I'm so glad they finally hid it here to show people what a gem this is.
The clues were awesome also. We haven't clues this good since Boxmeyer did the 2005 summer flag hunt.
other anagram...
now i get this... :frown: