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2004 Pioneer Press Treasure Hunt

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Submitted by Joe Medallion on Sun, 01/15/2012 - 19:41
The 2004 Cooler Crew button

What more can you possibly say about the green donut hunt that hasn't already been said? A raccoon ran off with the puck!!!! Eventually though, in the morning hours of the 12th clue, the puck was turned over by Luis and Virginia Ibarra in Phalen Park.

Contrary to popular belief about the city of Maplewood, when you look at the maps of where the find was, the puck was actually in the portion of Phalen sitting in Maplewood. The city can't get upset of course, since it's still St. Paul's parkland.

 
Hunt information
Dates:
First Clue:Sunday, January 25, 2004
Found on:Thursday, February 5, 2004
Finders:
NameHometown
Luis IbarraSaint Paul
Virginia IbarraSaint Paul
Prize:
Maximum Prize:$10,000
Awarded Prize:$5,000
Location:
General Location:Phalen Park
Exact Location:In a wooded area, in the area between Phalen and Round Lakes, not unlike the 2003 location
Concealer:Loose in the snow in a green-iced donut
Related Content
Pioneer Press Originals
Cooler Crew Originals
Treasure Hunt Pictures
Clues
Clue #1
Published on Sunday, January 25, 2004
Say it ain't so, Clueless Joe,
And all who prattle and bark.
Stop yer clue-bashin', if treasure's your passion,
Go you look in an area park.
Explanation:
A playful counter-rip on people who ripped last year's clues, who were ably led by a popular, winter carnival-connected columnist. This clue says the treasure is in an "area park.'' This differs from the usual "city park'' clue, because Phalen is both a city park and part of the county regional park system.
Our Thoughts:
Clueless Joe is a reference to "Clueless" Joe Soucheray. Now, on the one hand, we complained that Marry-Um was too easy and uncreative. Como was too difficult. Prepare yourselves, hunters, for several years worth of park, park, park, park, park, park, park, park, park, park, narrow it down, pinpoint it, style hunts. It's what we got.
 
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Clue #2
Published on Monday, January 26, 2004
Jughead has spoken, look for the token
We'll make it worth your while
Like Archie, you seek an object this week
As green as the Emerald Isle.
Explanation:
In homage to the Archie & Friends comic (No. 78), which was based on the Pioneer Press Treasure hunt, we hid the medallion in an actual, real donut with gooey green icing. In the comic version, the searchers were supposed to find a plastic green donut. They found it among books in a library. Token suggests nearby Arcade Street, and isle refers to island in the park.
 
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Clue #3
Published on Tuesday, January 27, 2004
"Help me!" you say. "Any time. Any day.
It's neither here nor there."
A quite clever device, but beware false advice.
Prank? Perhaps. All is fair.
Explanation:
Take the first word in each line, put them together, and it reads, "Help it's a prank," which refers to our prankish ploy of borrowing the green donut from the Archie & Friends comic book. More importantly, it's an anagram - clever device - for "It's Phalen Park."
Our Thoughts:
More anagrams!!!
 
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Clue #4
Published on Wednesday, January 28, 2004
East Side, West Side, take your honey for a ride
To a stony and sandy place
Come one, come all, ever following the bouncing ball
To the swift belongs the race.
Explanation:
Stony and sandy place refers to all the Depression-era stonework and the beach on Phalen Lake and the sand traps at Phalen's golf course. The medallion is on the West Side of Phalen Lake, and the park is in St. Paul's East Side. Bouncing ball refers to the nearby green handball courts, and ride to the road and bike paths by the lake.
 
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Clue #5
Published on Thursday, January 29, 2004
Go to the place, it's no disgrace,
Where the girls shall be happy to dance
Don't look in the rough, but if you want the stuff
You may have to get dirt on your pants.
Explanation:
The place is the Bible, which is quoted on the old stone monument dedicated to the conservation corps in Phalen. "The girls shall be happy to dance" refers to the beginning of Jeremiah 31:13, the later lines of which are inscribed on the monument. "Shall" hints the Bible reference. The rough line warns hunters away from nearby Phalen and Keller golf courses. Dirt on pants hints that the medallion is on the ground.
 
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Clue #6
Published on Friday, January 30, 2004
Take your bow, don't aim low,
Be steady on your feet
Take a stand with your fiery band
And prepare for the coming defeat
Explanation:
Street clues and topographical hints. "Don't aim low" refers to medallion's location just down from a ridge and "stand" to the trees where the medallion is hidden. Band, bow and stand suggests Sherwood Forest of Robin Hood and his merry band, which in turn leads you to Sherwood Avenue near the park. The park is one of few to have an archery range. Coming defeat suggests failin' - the aural equivalent of Phalen.
Our Thoughts:
See and this is where we're really getting obscure. Yes, Sherwood runs into the park. About a mile and a half away from it in the opposite direction. Street clues like this become increasingly common throughout the first decade of the new millennium.
 
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Clue #7
Published on Saturday, January 31, 2004
Still up a creek? Here's where to peek,
Though be wary to avoid a wet drop
This is no foolin' - monster fish are schoolin'
Not far from the wintry crop.
Explanation:
Creek refers to nearby Phalen Creek. Wet drop warns hunters away from the recently open water on Lake Phalen where ice castle blocks - the wintry crop - were harvested. Monster fish are on the mural on the side of the lakeside center. Phalen allows fishing.
 
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Clue #8
Published on Sunday, February 1, 2004
Tilt at a windmill, hunt till a standstill
A plump pitcher may hold you at bay
Look it's quite likely not far from old lakely
"What a bunch of malarkey!" you say.
Explanation:
All clues refer to names on the 1986 Ice Palace monument near the medallion site in Phalen Park. Tilt at a windmill refers to "Don Quixote," the book about an errant knight who fights windmills by Miguel de Cervantes. Cervantes is a name on the monument as well as Plump, Pitcher, Likely, Lakely and Malarkey. "Old lakely" hints that we are talking about a name and suggests the lake.
 
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Clue #9
Published on Monday, February 2, 2004
Go take a risk, we threw the disk
Where it seems you're far from succeedin'
Unless you are blind, the treasure you'll find
Among plants that are unfit for weedin'.
Explanation:
Throwing the disk conjures ``frisbee,'' which leads to nearby Frisbie Street. Far from succeedin' would again be "failin.'" Blind refers Helen Keller, whose last name is part of Phalen-Keller Regional Park. Not fit for weedin' puts you near the medallion hidden by a wildflower area.
Our Thoughts:
Frisbie Street? Not even close. While it's on the right end of the park, it terminates a good 5 blocks before it reaches the park. At least Keller was relevant. But the way this clue writes we can tell we're in for another mosh pit hunt like 2003.
 
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Clue #10
Published on Tuesday, February 3, 2004
What could be bolder than killing a soldier?
A crime both evil and grim.
Accused of the deed, but soon after freed
So we name a park after him!
Explanation:
Old settler Edward Phelan was accused of killing a soldier, but later freed. The creek and the park were named after him, and his name apparently had more than one spelling.
 
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Clue #11
Published on Wednesday, February 4, 2004
Who can measure the lust for the treasure
Between lakes is a donut to own.
Up and then down, not square but round,
Look for the windows of stone.
Explanation:
The donut is located between Round Lake and Phalen Lake. It is in hilly terrain. A nearby pump house had its windows closed with stone.
 
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Clue #12
Published on Thursday, February 5, 2004
You will be nifty if you remember fifty
The number that leads to the zone
You should be in Phalen. Stop the regalin'.
And go to a bridge made of stone.

It's down Phalen Drive, and should you arrive
Across the street from the golf clubhouse, observe:
The pastry you'll find by leaving the old palace behind
Cross the bridge, on the path, make the curve.

All your hunting hours lead to a sign for wildflowers
Across the path from a picnic table.
Table and sign form a line, with which you must align
Head up the hill if you're able.

Fifty large paces, you're off to the races
From the path to some tumbledown woods.
If you stay on the line, on a side-hill you'll find
Under fallen trees, a green donut, with the goods.

Inside this confection lies plastic perfection
But remember, to keep the hunt credible.
The hunt's heart and soul is inside the donut's hole
It's valuable - but definitely not edible!
Explanation:
Gives directions to a stone bridge across Phalen Drive from the golf course club house. Puts hunters on the path and to a wildflower sign. Asks hunters to align themselves with the sign and a picnic table across the path. Says to go up the hill 50 large paces, staying on this line. On a side hill, under fallen-down woods, the green donut, with the medallion slipped into the donut hole, will be found. A clarifying note that the donut, sitting in snow and dirt and leaves, should not be eaten.
 
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