1999 Clues
Found by Aaron Niedorf after 11 clues at Conway Park, a brand new addition to the list of hiding places. He dug around for about an hour the day before and spent a mere 15 minutes at Conway with two friends (Mark Drobinski and Chad Pack) on the day of the find. The treasure was wrapped in a crocheted holder and situated in line with four trees and a bench near a softball backstop, close to the corner of Conway and Ruth Streets.
Clue 1
Published on Jan. 24, 1999
The time for fun has now begun
In our hunt that's open to all;
But if you don't want to be outdone,
Look only on public ground in St. Paul.
A park is the spot but a golf course is not,
So please don't disturb a fairway or green.
Follow this advice and you won't be caught
Wasting your time at the wrong scene.
In our hunt that's open to all;
But if you don't want to be outdone,
Look only on public ground in St. Paul.
A park is the spot but a golf course is not,
So please don't disturb a fairway or green.
Follow this advice and you won't be caught
Wasting your time at the wrong scene.
Our Thoughts: Says not to even consider looking at a park with a golf course. Past years have indicated that you're at the right park when a golf course is mentioned, but this year it says you're "at the wrong scene" altogether if you start digging at Highland, Phalen, or Como, for starters. There's also a "No Golfing" sign on one of the backstops at Conway.
Clue 2
Published on Jan. 25, 1999
Flying downhill can be quite a thrill
And a popular outdoor attraction,
But your chances of winning are nil
If you get too close to the action.
And a popular outdoor attraction,
But your chances of winning are nil
If you get too close to the action.
Our Thoughts: Basically, stay away from the sledding hill at Conway Park. It could also be interpreted as a note to stay away from the big slide built at Como Park for the 1999 Winter Carnival.
Clue 3
Published on Jan. 26, 1999
Numbers keep score and adorn the front door;
Now do your best to figure these out:
A nine and a five and somewhere a four,
Get them right and you'll shout.
Now do your best to figure these out:
A nine and a five and somewhere a four,
Get them right and you'll shout.
Our Thoughts: 459 Ruth Street is the solid address marker for "adorn the front door;" the addition of a nearby baseball scoreboard also helps the Conway cause.
Clue 4
Published on Jan. 27, 1999
Studying the past can be quite a blast,
But there's value as well in the new.
If you're willing to be an iconoclast,
The treasure might belong to you.
But there's value as well in the new.
If you're willing to be an iconoclast,
The treasure might belong to you.
Our Thoughts: "Well in the new" brought the lanterns out to Newell, but all for naught. the key here was "iconoclast," a challenger of held beliefs or any of several "rebel" definitions. A rebel would certainly start shoveling snow at a park the medallion's never been hidden in, namely Conway.
Clue 5
Published on Jan. 28, 1999
If you're yearning for something worth learning,
You might be very near your goal.
So try to be smart and discerning,
And your treasure chest could end up full.
You might be very near your goal.
So try to be smart and discerning,
And your treasure chest could end up full.
Our Thoughts: There's a library onsite and a hockey rink in case a digger wanted to pick at "learning" or "goal."
Clue 6
Published on Jan. 29, 1999
A man of fame offers a useful name
That can be found in many a tome.
Figure out how these clues fit in our game,
And you just might bring the treasure home.
That can be found in many a tome.
Figure out how these clues fit in our game,
And you just might bring the treasure home.
Our Thoughts: The man of fame in many a tome is Babe Ruth, whose name fits both the adjacent street of Ruth, the fact that he played a "game," and that "home" is easily associated with baseball.
Clue 7
Published on Jan. 30, 1999
Somewhere in here there's a clue quite clear
If you think first of trees in a line.
From this a name will appear
That could lead you to a valuable sign.
If you think first of trees in a line.
From this a name will appear
That could lead you to a valuable sign.
Our Thoughts: "Trees in a line" is a "Woodrow" as in Woodrow Wilson. Wilson is a street which borders Conway. Also, lots of nice, clear lines were dug along tree paths at Conway, and for good reason as the medallion was hidden along a line. Thus, this is a multifaceted, clever-as-hell clue.
Clue 8
Published on Jan. 31, 1999
Round and white and stretched quite tight
Is the covered quarry you seek.
Not far from you and within your sight
Is a glowing translucent peak.
Is the covered quarry you seek.
Not far from you and within your sight
Is a glowing translucent peak.
Our Thoughts: The medallion was hidden in a crocheted piece of white cloth, and the "translucent peak" is a reference to the lighted triangular glass skylights atop a visible portion of Sun Ray shopping center.
Clue 9
Published on Feb. 1, 1999
Keep out an eye for water on high;
This could be an excellent clue.
A large red object high in the sky
Will also help to orient you.
This could be an excellent clue.
A large red object high in the sky
Will also help to orient you.
Our Thoughts: "Water on high" is a water tower in the vicinity. The red object is the 3M sign, which beams brightly at night. The word "orient" is meant to get hunters to the east side of town.
Clue 10
Published on Feb. 2, 1999
What's in a name is today's little game;
As a pointer it could be unsurpassed.
Two men share it one and the same;
A crooner goes first and a funny man last.
As a pointer it could be unsurpassed.
Two men share it one and the same;
A crooner goes first and a funny man last.
Our Thoughts: This is the clue that brought out the mongrel hordes. Conway Twitty and Tim Conway.
Clue 11
Published on Feb. 3, 1999
Seeing a thing twice can be quite nice
While you're hunting for our prize.
So as you search amid snow and ice
Look for two frozen places of equal size.
While you're hunting for our prize.
So as you search amid snow and ice
Look for two frozen places of equal size.
Our Thoughts: This is a pretty strong reference to the hockey rinks on the Conway premise. It doesn't pinpoint the "X" spot, but it was really only a matter of time before the crowd of thousands would turn all the snow over in this relatively small park.
Clue 12
Backstops and bleachers could serve as teachers
To make you wealthy and wise.
Align some steel and four woody features
And you'll narrow in on our prize.
The door at 459 Ruth will line you up with the truth
In the recreation area known as Conway.
So go out now and paly the sleuth,
And you could earn a very large payday.
To make you wealthy and wise.
Align some steel and four woody features
And you'll narrow in on our prize.
The door at 459 Ruth will line you up with the truth
In the recreation area known as Conway.
So go out now and paly the sleuth,
And you could earn a very large payday.
Our Thoughts: The pinpointing "X" spot, which was never necessary.
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!
