PAST HUNT ARCHIVE
2016 - Steps to success at Irvine & Irvine
CLUE #01:
Summer's warmth, pale in intensity,
Daylight shorten's each day.
We embrace the darkness,
Won't you join our soiree?
The air become scold and dry,
It's quite the wake up call.
Life starts over again,
When it gets crisp in the fall.
Public land our medallion awaits,
Private? You must not trample!
Within this fair city we solidly state,
You'll find more than ample.
The story -- be it short and sweet,
will challenge both your wits and feet.
Let's begin the D&D Hunt,
The treasure is yours to reap!
EXPLANATION: Beer, fair city, and solidly state references, bring you to St. Paul proper/Summit Ave. A soiree would be typical of an elegant evening gathering at the James J. Hill House. "Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall" - direct quote from F. Scott Fitzgerald. The great American author wrote several short stories before his first novel was published. Fitzgerald resided for a short time at the nearby Commodore hotel, as well as Fitzgerald's bar/rest. on Selby and Western.
CLUE #02:
The sun sets on a red horizon, night winds fill the air.
Globes of light dot the sky, pause to stop and stare.
The puck is hidden in plain sight, yet cleverly disguised;
Only those with careful eyes will happen upon the prize
EXPLANATION: Horizon red/Summit Ave. Globes of light = lampposts. Stare = Stair. Careful eyes/Children's hospital is visible from the hiding spot. Pause to stop/slow sign. Clever disguise/hidden in something (not naked). Night winds was written by Ella 'Fitzgerald'. "Tender is the Night" was a short written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. * a shit ton of night winds sunk the Edmund Fitzgerald.
CLUE #03:
Searching for a place to strike some gold, perhaps this could lend a hand?
Think of a Hoosier who came to town and rose to a position of command.
There's that feeling you'll get when you look to the west.
If you're the first, you'll win the medal -- for this we can attest.
EXPLANATION: The nurses 'strike' on Smith Avenue in front of the hospital. The Hoosier was mayor, Robert A. Smith (1887,1892). The bottom of the steps start in the west end/west 7th area. The line from Led Zeppelin's stairway to heaven/Westerm Avenue+stairway. Marshall Sherman, St. Paul's first Medal of Honor Winner - Sherman Street.
CLUE #04:
Gaze up to the heavens, look to the skies, you'll get some help from above.
Have some patience, says prayer, look to the city you love.
"Saints be praised!" you might say from atop this perch.
Your journey begins where pavement ends; thus begins your search.
EXPLANATION: Heaven's above, prayer, saints/St. Paul's Cathedral dome/search in St. Paul. Patience/patients/Children's Hospital. Where pavement ends/step off street to stairs. * Also a hint that Don Empson's book, The Street Where You Live.
CLUE #05:
Slowly descend, reach out a hand, ensure things are steady -- don't hit the skids!
Travel not too far, or you'll end up in a place meant for kids.
Oh, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run,
Posted signs will draw you near to the spot the puck's hidden.
EXPLANATION: Slowly descend down the 'stairs'. reach out a hand to the 'railing'. Don't hit the skids/carefully descend the steps/ decline. Place for kids/Children's Hospital. Posted signs/ Irvine & Irvine street signs on lamppost.
CLUE #06:
Don't let bad weather bring you down, up on your feet, explore!
Twisting streets cat crossings meet, at this bend you'll score.
From stately house to foolish pond, winding roads and hill,
There's still time to change the road you're on, two signs gladly fit the bill.
EXPLANATION: Don't concentrate on the wrong end of town near Bad Weather Brewery. Up/down on your feet/steps stairs/pedestrian bridge. The twisting streets/winding roads/bend/Irvine & Irvine & Pleasant & Grand. Crossings meet/Pedestrian bridge/ppath along the freeway/stairs/roads. Stately house/James J. Hill House. Hill/James J. Hill/Summit Hill/Ramsey Hill/7 Hills/Grand Hill/Crocus Hill/ Cathedral Hill/ Fit the bill/grand/Grand Avenue. Fowlish pond/geese (nicknamed duck pond)/ Cochran Park. Another line from Stairway to Heaven/Irvine/Pleasant/Grand.
CLUE #07:
Maintain your health, don't get sick, or you'll need to be on the mend.
Need a lift? Spirit's down? Onward and upward, my friend!
Take a break if you get winded, no need to go all the way.
At some point, step off the path, enjoy a comfortable stay.
EXPLANATION: Health/sick/mend/Allina/Children's Hospital. Lift/down/upward/ stairs. Break/landing at Irvine & Irvine. Comfortable stay/Pleasant Ave.
CLUE #08:
Something, something, -- stairs! plus Led Zeppelin and Summit's beer.
Railing, steps, bending down, bronx cheer, hey look what's under here!
Built a billion dollar Empire - Railroad Magnate, what luck.
Bought a super duper magnet for just under a buck.
EXPLANATION: Clue was still under development at the time of the find: Lack of sleep, crappy job, alcohol, the tail-end of a two week cold.. my bad.
CLUE #09:
From the top of the hill at the crest of the city, make your way down the stairs.
At a stop step off the block, and search for a unique pair.
Two signs entwine that shouldn't be-yet here they do exist!
Look behind the light above, an iron will couldn't resist.
EXPLANATION: Hillcrest/Summit Ave. At/stop/the stairs/landing at Irvine & Irvine. Two signs/Irvine & Irvine street signs. Light/lamppost. Iron/Iron railing.
CLUE #10:
Walk or drive, it's your choice, from Summit Avenue begin.
Down the stairs by J. Hill's house, or Irvine for the win.
At a break in the stair or where three roads combine,
On a lamppost at a crossing, twin street signs you will find.
Pleasant is a step too far, at Irvine & Irvine you should be.
Once you're at this corner, the lamppost you shall see.
Behind this post, on the rail, cleverly in disguise.
A box is stuck, magnetized, and inside it, the prize!
Now you've found it, hooray for you! Our contest is at an end.
It's been our pleasure to host this hunt, enjoy Halloween, my friend!
EXPLANATION: X Marks the spot. The closing explanation adds a reference to Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven" and words having more than one meaning.
WHERE IT WAS FOUND: The stairs near Irvine & Irvine, under the handrail, about 3/4 of the way down.
WHAT IT WAS FOUND IN: A camouflaged box, magnetized to the railing, behind the lamppost.
WHO FOUND IT: Steven Sanftner and Matt Koskie.