Treasure Hunt 3 is over

We have had a winner for Treasure Hunt 3 who prefers to remain anonymous. Congratulations to whomever, anyway. The site is, as he/she suggests, the tall tree at Sue's Park at Payne and Rose

This whole Treasure Hunt thing has had a mixed and slow reception. I am not sure if I will continue it. I am thinking of maybe doing something with a fixed time line [one month, maybe] or maybe running two hunts simultaneously, one thought to be simple and one thought to be so obvious that nobody would ever want to be identified as the winner.

I am willing to accept suggestions on the hunt itself as either a comment here or as an email to minnmusic at yahoo. Of course, if you wish to suggest a site, it might be better to use the latter method.

Regardless, it will probably be August at least before I start another hunt.

The clues for Treasure Hunt 3 and their explanations are below.

And congratulations again to our anonymous winner.

Clue Number 1: The Man in Black knew that life was not always easy for everybody.

Johnny Cash sang that “Life ain’t easy for a boy named Sue.”

Clue Number 2 [4/3/08]: Once there were 3 R’s amid a street of bars.

“3 R’s” refers to the Phalen Park elementary school formerly located at the site. “A street of bars” is an allusion to one of the more unfortunate historical perspectives people have had of Payne Avenue.

Clue Number 3 [4/11/08]:

Hammerstein met Rogers, Gamble met Proctor, Bigelow met Brown Bringing culture and soap and telling about it in places all around. Pastor meets social worker meets mortician meets town.

Can somebody please give us the real lowdown?

This first line refers to famous partnerships. The second mentions what they did. The third line refers to the Payne/Maryland Partnership of Arlington Hills Lutheran Church, Merrick Community Services and Bradshaw Mortuary, who along with the City of Saint Paul [Parks Department and Library Agency] are looking at a development which seems to threaten at least some of Sue’s Park. And all the "visioners" that are hired cannot or will not give the straight answer of how much of the Park they want to devour.

Clue Number 4 [4/19/08]: Think of a Catholic haven.
Think of a Lutheran church.
Think of children playin’.
Remember where it hurts.

Maryland was established as a haven for Catholics. Maryland Avenue is nearby. East Immanuel Lutheran Church is cater-corner. “Children playin” alludes to the Arlington Recreation Center across Rose Avenue. The allusion to hurts is a bad pun on Payne.

Clue Number 6 [5/6/08]

A Bluff has both up and down.
And don’t think about a department store.
Forget that street across town
Or a Senator from yore.

None of them matters here.
Put them out of your mind.
Don’t shed for them a tear
And maybe the prize you will find.

Sue’s Park is named for a woman named Dayton, but not one of the Lyman Dayton for whom Dayton’s Bluff and Dayton Avenue were named, nor the departed Dayton’s store or its heir, Senator Mark Dayton. Mourning any of them will not help you find the treasure.

Clue Number 7 [5/18/08]

This is the top of a tree [Surprised?], a threatened tree. Regular readers of this site [both of you] might have extra insights about why this tree was chosen to be placed here.

Sue’s Park is threatened and the tree with it. It has been written about here.

Clue Number 8 [5/29/08]

You don't really think that I could go more than two hunts without having an East Side site, do you?

This verifies that the site is on the East Side.

Clue Number 9 [6/29/08]
Think about Phalen Park.
It’s not in Phalen Park, but that first line is relevant, anyway.

This is an allusion to the Phalen Park School which used to be on the site.

Treasure Hunt 3

Treasure Hunt 3 begins now.

The rules [or lack thereof] are the same as for the first two.

Examine the picture. Study the clue and hit the comments link with your answer.

Clue Number 1: The Man in Black knew that life was not always easy for everybody.

Clue Number 2 [4/3/08]: Once there were 3 R’s amid a street of bars.

Clue Number 3 [4/11/08]:

• Hammerstein met Rogers, Gamble met Proctor, Bigelow met Brown
  Bringing culture and soap and telling about it in places all around.
  Pastor meets social worker meets mortician meets town.
  Can somebody please give us the real lowdown?

Clue Number 4 [4/19/08]:

Think of a Catholic haven.
Think of a Lutheran church.
Think of children playin’.
Remember where it hurts.

Clue Number 5 [4/27/08]:
Clue Number 5 is this larger picture






Clue Number 6 [5/6/08]

A Bluff has both up and down.
And don’t think about a department store.
Forget that street across town
Or a Senator from yore.

None of them matters here.
Put them out of your mind.
Don’t shed for them a tear
And maybe the prize you will find.

Clue Number 7 [5/18/08]

This is the top of a tree [Surprised?], a threatened tree. Regular readers of this site [both of you] might have extra insights about why this tree was chosen to be placed here.

Clue Number 8 [5/29/08]

You don't really think that I could go more than two hunts without having an East Side site, do you?

Clue Number 9 [6/29/08]
Think about Phalen Park.
It’s not in Phalen Park, but that first line is relevant, anyway.

D.N. Berg wins Treasure Hunt 2

Treasure Hunt 2 is now over.

D.N. Berg has identified the second Treasure Hunt Picture as being a picture of Newell Park. More specifically, it is a picture of part of a roof of a picnic pavilion there, but our judge has deemed his answer sufficient.

D.N. Berg has now won the Treasure Hunt for the second time. Maybe if he makes it three in a row, we’ll have to call it the Capitol City Musings D.N. Berg Memorial Treasure Hunt or something.

The hunt is now closed and I will soon post the clue explanations and stop allowing comments there. You can add comments on this hunt or the hunts in general to this post.

I intend to start the next Capitol City Musings Treasure Hunt in about a week, so keep watching. And for now, let’s make sure that we all congratulate Mr. Berg

Treasure Hunt 2 -- Clue 8 added

Clue No. 8 has been added.

link

Treasure Hunt 2, Clue 7 has been added

Treasure Hunt 2, Clue 7 has been added.

Treasure Hunt 2 -- Clue 6 added

Treasure Hunt 2, Clue 6 has been added:

http://ccmusings.blogspot.com/2008/02/treasure-hunt-2.html

Treasure Hunt 2 Clue #5

The fifth clue has been added for Treasure Hunt 2.

http://ccmusings.blogspot.com/2008/02/treasure-hunt-2.html

Treasure Hunt 2

I am cheating a bit. I had hoped to do the second Treasure Hunt with a certain picture, but my camera is refusing to let me take it. [Technology is not my strong point. Maybe nothing is.]

So I will recycle the last, unsolved hunt from Capitol City Cacophony with its first four clues.

This means that the picture was taken in Autumn 2003, but aside from the change of seasons, there should not be any changes which would confuse you.

The four clues that appeared then are listed below. In a few days I will add anther if needed.

Good luck to all!

Clue #1: People going up need support to get there;
it does not hurt to have support when going down, either.

Clue #2: Justice demands an equitable perspective.

Clue #3 Look for a park with a sheep in it

Clue #4. It is in the Tenth Ward. This may help those of you who remember where Saint Paul's wards are. If you don't, ask a cab driver.where the "North Long Hill" is. If you are a cab driver who knows his/her wards, you have just received two clues.

Clue #5. [2/17/08] Minimize confusion. Look down to your right. And if what you see is not public domain, please tell me.

Clue #6. [2/23/08]

Before the weather gets too hot
Let’s thicken this plot.
Think of the factors.
Signature roles for two actors,

There may be burning and there may be fight.
Wars are not wars and not always polite.
But in peacetime and war we need to meet.
Use this clue, but do not cheat.

And it won’t hurt to be covered.

Clue #7 [2/29/08]

Nason, Edmund, Wheeler, Englewood, Lafond, Lincoln
All streets. I know what you’re thinkin’
Guess the connection.
Remember the sheep.
You can win. The others can weep.

Clue #8 [3/7/08]

A farmer needed water and his pump would bring up nothing. He checked and found that his pump was not defective.

What did he need?

THE CLUES EXPLAINED

Clue #1: People going up need support to get there;
it does not hurt to have support when going down, either.
Newel posts can help give support using stairs. There is nothing really symbolic here about going up or down, just an allusion to one of the most ancient ways of actually going up or down, the stairway.

Clue #2: Justice demands an equitable perspective.
An “equitable perspective” is a “fair view.” Fairview Avenue runs alongside Newell Park. “Justice” also refers to Pierce Butler, a local lawyer who was an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court.

Clue #3 Look for a park with a sheep in it
In the middle of “Newell” is the word “ewe.”

Clue #4. It is in the Tenth Ward. This may help those of you who remember where Saint Paul's wards are. If you don't, ask a cab driver.where the "North Long Hill" is. If you are a cab driver who knows his/her wards, you have just received two clues.

The Tenth Ward is the area of our city roughly west of Lexington and north of University Avenue. Some may have confused ‘ward” with “city council district” which is easy to understand since Council offices, web site, most news articles, and other things usually confuse the two. But the wards predate the way we elect our Council and show up in a variety of other legal contexts.

“North Long Hill” refers to that area of our city west of Lexington and north of Summit Avenue. It is a term used in the taxicab industry. There may be other historical context. Refer to my 2/18/08 post below.

Clue #5. [2/17/08] Minimize confusion. Look down to your right. And if what you see is not public domain, please tell me.

This refers to the map posted on the lower right of all CCM pages which is a map of Ward Ten.

Clue #6. [2/23/08]

Before the weather gets too hot
Let’s thicken this plot.
Think of the factors.
Signature roles for two actors,

There may be burning and there may be fight.
Wars are not wars and not always polite.
But in peacetime and war we need to meet.
Use this clue, but do not cheat.

And it won’t hurt to be covered.

One actor could be either Alan Alda or Donald Sutherland, for whom both Hawkeye Pierce could be labeled a signature roll. The other would be Clark Gable for whom the role of Rhett Butler could also be so labeled.

Pierce and Butler would refer to Pierce Butler Route on the northern side of Newell Park.

“Wars are not wars” refers to the Korean Conflict which was never really polite. “Not always polite” refers to the uncivil Civil War. These were the settings for the signature roles noted.

And it won’t hurt to be covered states what should be obvious in the picture, that it is a picture of a roof.

Clue #7 [2/29/08]

Nason, Edmund, Wheeler, Englewood, Lafond, Lincoln
All streets. I know what you’re thinkin’
Guess the connection.
Remember the sheep.
You can win. The others can weep.

The first letters of these streets spell “Newell.” There is a second reference to the “ewe” in “Newell.”

Clue #8 [3/7/08]

A farmer needed water and his pump would bring up nothing. He checked and found that his pump was not defective.

What did he need?

What he needed was a “new well.”

Thanks again to all who participated. The next hunt should be up around one of the St. Patrick’s Days.

Treasure Hunt One Over – Winner Announced, Clues Explained

Congratulations to D.N. Berg [no neighborhood listed] who, at 1:00 p.m. today, February 7, successfully finished Treasure Hunt One by writing, “It is the High Bridge taken from Shepard Rd.”

To be more precise, it was taken from the old Shepard Road, mainly because it is easier to stop and take a picture from there than it is from the new Shepard Road.

Anybody who knows D.N. Berg should make sure to echo our congratulations.

Now that the site of the Treasure has been identified it is in order to explain the clues.

Clue One read:

Go long, fellow.
Whether you are tall or a shorty
Work hard.
Call it forty.

“Go long, fellow” is a reference to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, two of whose most famous works were “The Village Blacksmith” and “The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere.” Revere was a silversmith. Blacksmiths and silversmiths can be hard working people and Smith Avenue is, of course, the street which runs on the High Bridge.

“Call it forty” refers to Xcel Energy whose plant was next to where the picture was taken from, “XL” being the Roman numeral for forty.

Clue Two read:

It’s no joke
Think of a Hardy Oak
And if you’re old and not rich
You might fill some small sibs' niche.

“Hardy Oak” refers to Gabriel Oak, the protagonist of Thomas Hardy’s Far from the Madding Crowd, who at the book’s beginning is a shepherd.

“If you’re old and not rich/ You might fill some small sibs’ niche” refers to the Little Sisters of the Poor whose residence for the aged sits up on the bluff nearby below the bridge above the point where the picture was taken from.

Treasure Hunt Two should be posted next week.

Treasure Hunt One Clue Two posted

The second clue for Treasure Hunt One has been posted.

Remember the rules and Good Luck!

Treasure Hunt One

The ruies for the CCM Treasure Hunt are few, because when you really get down to it there is neither treasure or prize available.

I will put up a picture. It will be a picture taken in Saint Paul, a picture which would not have required anybody to intrude upon private property and which I believe can be duplicated by pretty much anybody with a camera. But you don’t need to submit your own picture to win. That would defeat the purpose of a stay inside where it is warm and there are no mosquitoes or other things to bother you.

I will ask something about the picture. Usually I will be asking what it is or where it was taken from or both.

I will give a clue. The clue might be in sentence-form or doggerel or cryptic words or maybe another picture or the same picture cropped less closely. If you think you know the answer you reply in the comments box.

The first person to reply correctly becomes known as the winner. After I get a few winners, I may even establish a special page listing them and which they can refer their friends and enemies to to demonstrate how utterly intelligent they are.

If there is no winner after a few days I will put up another clue.

I know there is at least some interest in this since somebody already took an incorrect guess on this one before I even put up what the question is.

THE FIRST TREASURE.

For this one, the winner should be able to tell me what is pictured and from where it was taken.

Clue Number One

Go long, fellow.
Whether you are tall or a shorty
Work hard.
Call it forty.

Clue Number Two [2/6/08]

I had hoped to have a few more wrong answers before going to Clue Two, but here it goes:

It’s no joke
Think of a Hardy Oak
And if you’re old and not rich
You might fill some small sibs' niche.

Good luck to all.

Annoncement -- Treasure Hunt [sort of]

Even if you had not read any of the previous clues, today's would tell you that the Boreas medallion must be in Mounds Park. It will be found any time now.

After it has been over for a few days, we will start the first Capitol City Musings treasure hunt. The reward is up to $10000 less than the DPP and Carnival offer, but you don’t have to get out into the cold.

It is really a ripoff of the old Capitol City Cacophony treasure hunt, but I feel free to rip it off from there.

Rules and details will be published later. In the meantime look at this picture.