1977 Clues
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Clue 1
Published on Jan. 30, 1977
The fun begins
The coin is down
It's out there somewhere
To be found.
Our Thoughts: "The coin is down" is a basic clue that tells diggers that the medallion is on the ground. Clues like these may seem mundane, but they can help to save trees.
Clue 2
Published on Jan. 30, 1977
Trees and fun
Are waiting here
Find the spot
The treasure's near.
Our Thoughts: "Trees and fun" This tells there are trees in the area plus swings and things for fun.
Clue 3
Published on Jan. 31, 1977
Against the sky
A touch of green
Look around
It can be seen.
Our Thoughts: The green dome of the Cathedral can be seen on the skyline from the treasure site.
Clue 4
Published on Jan. 31, 1977
A baseball team
Is made of nine,
Take away one
You'll do just fine.
Our Thoughts: "Nine, take away one" leaves eight and at the treasure site there are eight trees in the immediate vicinity.
Clue 5
Published on Feb. 1, 1977
A couple of places
To park your car
One is near,
One is far.
Our Thoughts: Forepaugh's parking lot is across the street and the Civic Center ramp was off in the distance.
Clue 6
Published on Feb. 1, 1977
No one can say
We're a backward town
But it looks that way
Where the treasure's to be found.
Our Thoughts: The "St. Paul Hotel" sign on top of the hotel reads backwards from the treasure site.
Clue 7
Round and round
The site it goes,
And where it stops
Nobody knows.
Our Thoughts: Refers to Irvine Street, which surrounds Irvine Park.
Clue 8
Something old,
Something new
It's all around
For you to view.
Our Thoughts: Forepaugh's Restaurant was new at the time, and the houses in the area are some of the oldest in St. Paul.
Clue 9
Mirror, Mirror
On the walls
You're in plain sight
And stand so tall.
Our Thoughts: The mirrored Northern Federal building located downtown was seen easily from the site.
Clue 10
Puppies have them
And kittens, too.
A sound-alike word
Is a revealing clue.
Our Thoughts: Puppies and kittens have four paws. Again, with the Forepaugh's reference. Perhaps they paid to get plugged. Something to consider, eh clue writer(s)?
Clue 11
A sailing ship
Like days of yore,
It's on the box
You're looking for.
Our Thoughts: An Erik cigar box with an old Viking ship on it contained the medallion.
Clue 12
Irvine Park
Is the place to scoot.
Join the crowd
And find the loot.
Our Thoughts: This gives the park where the treasure is located.
Clue 13
In the northeast clearing
At Irvine Park
A crumpled package
Is the treasure mark.
Our Thoughts: A crumpled Erik cigar box is on the ground in the clearing between eight trees. Therein lies the medallion.
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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!
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