The ornament was just found by Tresa Lenzen hanging on an evergreen tree at the Old Memorial Park Outdoor Pool.
Clue Master Tim Freeland shares his thought process on creating the clues!!
Clue 1 (Monday, Dec 3rd 2018)
You’ll want to come early to get a good seat.
Every year there’s hot cocoa and pies there to eat.
Leather gloves and wool coats will keep out the cold.
…and if you are lucky, you’ll find someone’s hand to hold.
Explanation of 1.
This is 100{b5761be34e80a16b6d0e4dabc1869c131a263f96a745c82bebdd3b8a4330bfa9} about going to high school football games at the old Memorial Field. For decades the Raiders played on the field where the pool is. They typically served hot cocoa and pizza-pies by the slice. The kids wear their leather and wool letter-jackets and of course there’s the teen flirting and nervous hand holding with your weekly crush.
Clue 2 (Tuesday, Dec 4th 2018)
If you come out too late, you’ll be cold and bare.
So put on the layers and become a player.
To walk down the hill is a fun way to earn it.
Just don’t go too far and beware of the current.
Explanation of 2.
These clues are about old and new. Early and late. Today’s clue puts you in the City’s swimming pool. Coming to the pool later in the day will be cooler and if you’re wet, you’ll get cold and need to cover up. Walking downhill is in reference to the zero emersion pool walk-in. Walking this direction points to the solar panels (current). Entering the pool again because its cold being out of the water. Becoming a player draws upon many sports played on this spot from many high school football games to the volleyball court on the north side. There used to be a softball field, and track and field played here.
Clue 3 (Wednesday, Dec 5th 2018)
It’s perfect for skiing and perfect to skate.
So spin in a circle the snowflake awaits.
Remember your mittens and cover your head.
It’s not by the fallen, those trees are all dead.
Explanation of 3.
The ornament is hung on an evergreen tree branch. There are 4 in a row. To find the perfect spot I circled each tree. You can see my tracks walking in circles around the trees. The skating I speak of is in reference to the public “skate park” for skateboarding. Also to wear a helmet (cover your head). Soldiers or skaters. “Remember”, “fallen” and “dead” all point right to Memorial Park. Not the new one at the high school but the “Old Memorial Park” where the city pool is. Also, a clue that there is a fallen tree from the recent tornado’s this past fall. Its stump is still sticking out by the volleyball court.
Clue 4 (Thursday, Dec 6th 2018)
If you feel you’re treading water remember this parks past.
Put on your helmet, grab your board, your memory coming back.
So gather round, o Christmas tree, thy lovely branches bent.
The ornament of wintertime adorned in merriment.
Explanation of 4.
Treading water is all about a swimming pool. “Remember” and “memory” about Old Memorial Park. The parks past includes so much from its various uses over the decades. Putting on a skating helmet and a grabbing your skateboard might help you remember the Skate Park.
The last part of this clue draws directly from the “O Christmas Tree” carol because the ornament is hanging on the branch of a perfectly sized evergreen tree that could be used as a Christmas tree. It’s one of the most eastern evergreens in the park, in towards the trunk about chest high. This row of beautiful trees was gilded in a perfect layer of snow when I planted the ornament, many of the branches drooping from the weight.
