1965 Clues
All who seek treasure admitted free.
The medallion is hidden, of this news be glad.
In St. Paul our city a prize to be had.
Your job is to search and not to dream.
There are circling reads that bend and wind,
A clue to bring action, the prize to find.
As they smooch the lovely girls and smudge them with their lips.
Some distance from the hiding place and high up in the air,
Are stacks, that pour forth sooty smoke by more than just a pair.
Giving flashing directions by day and by night.
Should this hunt seem too tricky don't loudly complain,
But just use your head and your temper restrain.
Away from private property we direct all to stay.
Of scenic beauty we surely can boast,
Slopes with tall trees are seen most.
Aids to safety and cleanliness each one reminds.
Follow the commands of Great Boreas our king,
Family fun and reward he has promised to bring.
Covering letters and numerals with snow;
Leotards, snuggles or red flannels or wool,
May ease the effort for that long last pull.
Searching for chests for loot galore,
Many clues were used to mark the spot,
But never a place where police work a lot.
Give pleasure to students on vacation from schools.
Buttons, balloons and gay Ice Capades,
Lend laughter and fun to winter parades.
Many pictures are taken of couples just married.
A bridge can be seen in an easterly direction.
There for your safety, convenience and protection.
Recreational facilities in number abound.
There is a structure for refreshment and rest,
Where players and spectators can feel at their best.
Come locate a plaque and the quest will end.
One hundred paces due east from the mark,
Mary will rhyme with the name in the park.
That's heavy as lead and will help solve this case.
At Como walk east from the Larry Ho plaque,
One hundred paces, the booty to track.
During the 1990’s, the St Paul Pioneer Press opened online discussion forums. These forums were called Water Coolers. The forums had discussion topics related to sports, politics, news, and current events. Each year, the Pioneer Planet – the online section of the Pioneer Press – opened a discussion forum as a media for hunters to discuss the clues for the Winter Carnival Medallion Hunt.
During the earlier years, one might find a few hundred posts during the hunt. As more hunters had computers, those numbers jumped. From 1997 to 1998, the number of posts increased from the hundreds to the 5-digit thousands. It was during the 1998 hunt the Cooler Crew was born.
The community spirit and teamwork displayed in the Pioneer Press Medallion Hunt thread was inspiring. The group of hunters found themselves at the end of a hunt not wanting to let go of new friendships and the camaraderie found on the Water Cooler board. The idea emerged to do what anyone would do in the middle of winter in Minnesota. A picnic in Cherokee was planned - the first Rehash Bash!
