Clue Explanations
I never know what will inspire my selection of the Medallion's chosen hiding spot. Some years I have the general location in mind months, if not years, in advance. Other years, it is simply a spontaneous selection. This was one of those other years.
Traveling down Broadway not too long ago, I just happened to look over at the Pekin Housing Authority office. I was immediately struck by the thought that it is a public building that doesn't stand out. Simple, yet modern, it is one of those places that you drive by all the time but seem to never notice. But for my purpose, it was perfect.
The location did present some challenges, however. It lies on one of Pekin's busiest streets. Three sides- the north, east and west-are easily seen from multiple vantage points, making hiding difficult. There aren't an abundance of usable trees or bushes in which to place the medallion. The general property is fairly small. And I knew there were a few avid and active medallion hunters who work in the building, giving them a possible advantage. As a result, the clues had to be especially cryptic to guard against revealing anything too obvious to anyone who knew the area well.
There is not a lot to work with at the chosen site. Anything used risked revealing too much- too early. So I chose some nearby components as references to draw the hunter in. The Park's Old Train Depot was my most obvious choice. But I also knew that I could use the small shopping plaza to the west, the woods across the street, and the Methodist Medical facility close by. I'll admit this was a tough one. But it had to be. That's also what made it fun and long-lasting.
First Clue: The first two lines refer to the addition of a Labor Day clue. "Variety to work with" deals with the diverse nature of things at the sight- a building, landscaping, variety of bushes, and other differing features. "Shade and sun" describes the general area. In the second verse, "different methodology" relates to the initial focus in a nearby landmark- the Old Depot. Also the "methodology" was a play on the Methodist Medical facility. "Within and without" refers to the fact that the Pekin Housing Authority has properties inside Pekin's city limits as well as in neighboring communities. The last two lines let hunters know that, because of the little-known nature of the chosen location, it would be difficult to try to participate in the hunt by just reading the clues at home. "Purists" know that it also takes a lot of driving around, walking and searching. "Armchair" loosely refers to furnishings which you would find in a home or apartment.
Second Clue: "Colors" describes the building and area. Also, anyone who knows the Pekin Housing Authority (PHA), or would research it, knows that its director is Dennis Green. "Numbers not easily seen" are the many numbers on the train depot's historic marker, which I refer to often. "Closer examination" relates to the nearby medical facility and "betwixt and between" refers to one of the middle bushes chosen as the hiding spot. In the second verse, "sense of direction" relates to the one-way street as does "understanding of rules." It also reminds the hunter that, according to the rules, the PHA is public property. The last two lines let the hunter know, again, that by using the depot as a main reference point, it was not the obvious location. It was a building close by.
Third Clue: "Continuation of things conducted in the recent past" refers to last year's spot- at the Pavilion- being an "in-town" chosen hiding spot. "Different perspective" relates back to the depot as a reference point- not the exact point. "Peripatetic" also lets the hunter know that they will have to look all around, not just fixate on the depot. "Round and round" refers to the old locomotive turntable that once was adjacent to the depot sight and is referenced on the historic marker. "Look and study carefully" is a directive regarding that marker. "The obvious is not where it's found" informs the hunter that, even though they discover the clues gleaned from the depot, the medallion would not be found at that exact location.
Clue Four: The entire first verse deals with the bronze historic marker prominently displayed on the depot's south side. "Heartstrings" refers to the cardio unit at the Methodist Medical facility. If you studied the sign you'd see that the depot was one of five train depots in Pekin at the time. "Six" is the number of units managed by the PHA (found on their website). "Any way you choose to turn" again refers to the one-way street which junctions on Broadway necessitating either a right- or left-hand turn.
The last line refers back to the information contained in the historic depot marker.
Clue Five: "Seeking one of five" relates back to that reference on the depot historic marker. "Posted" also relates to the sign mounted on that building. The second verse is entirely about 19th Street which is one way. Turning off Broadway to specifically go to the PHA seems entirely logical but as a one-way street you can't. So "sometimes what's wrong can really seem right." (Check it out- in that context, one way seems odd at best.) The last two lines refer to all the warning signs dealing with the do not enter aspect of the street. Lastly the word "trained" relates to the depot.
Clue Six: I really struggled with the first verse. How do you convey the concept of renting without using the word "rent"? I end it by sharing a current economic phenomenon of many people now finding it more financially feasible to rent. That's their "druthers" and does not subject them to other "limits" they may discover in attempting to buy a home. The second verse relates entirely to the depot and the historic marker. "Forwards and backwards" relates to trains. "Seek an original from so long ago" is the depot. If you look at the sign and add up the listed date of 1898, it adds up sequentially to "twenty-six." Herbert Hoover who stopped there on his presidential re-election bid was president number "thirty-one." I put these facts in for those enjoying the piecing together and interpretive aspect to the hunt. It was a pure exercise in detective work.
Clue Seven: "Single way" refers to the one-way street. "Double" refers to the two sets of windows on the PHA's south side. The windows are sets of three ("third"). And going back to the "third" clue reminds the hunter that the "obvious is not where it's found"- the Depot. Therefore "near but not right before your eyes" also refers to that. "Difficult being the middle" relates to the inner bushes on the building's south side. "Faith" refers to the old spiritual hymn "Rock of Ages" in this case the music store. "Resides" refers to housing. The "sun comes up and later it sets" relates to east-west. Broadway is one of Pekin's most east-west routes. "Travel about" is a road reference, again to Broadway, which passed within yards of the hiding spot.
Clue Eight: "Track" refers to railroad tracks. "Roads you cross" relates to the crosswalk at the "end" of the bike "trail." The south side of the PHA's roof has some distinct vents right above the chosen spot. In the second verse, "shades of brown" refers to the building and its sign. "Beauty" is the beauty shop next door. "Illuminate at all hours" refers to the recessed lighting in the soffit of the building that shines down on the chosen bush after dark. "Near a building of times of old" refers again to the nearby Historic Train Depot.
Traveling down Broadway not too long ago, I just happened to look over at the Pekin Housing Authority office. I was immediately struck by the thought that it is a public building that doesn't stand out. Simple, yet modern, it is one of those places that you drive by all the time but seem to never notice. But for my purpose, it was perfect.
The location did present some challenges, however. It lies on one of Pekin's busiest streets. Three sides- the north, east and west-are easily seen from multiple vantage points, making hiding difficult. There aren't an abundance of usable trees or bushes in which to place the medallion. The general property is fairly small. And I knew there were a few avid and active medallion hunters who work in the building, giving them a possible advantage. As a result, the clues had to be especially cryptic to guard against revealing anything too obvious to anyone who knew the area well.
There is not a lot to work with at the chosen site. Anything used risked revealing too much- too early. So I chose some nearby components as references to draw the hunter in. The Park's Old Train Depot was my most obvious choice. But I also knew that I could use the small shopping plaza to the west, the woods across the street, and the Methodist Medical facility close by. I'll admit this was a tough one. But it had to be. That's also what made it fun and long-lasting.
First Clue: The first two lines refer to the addition of a Labor Day clue. "Variety to work with" deals with the diverse nature of things at the sight- a building, landscaping, variety of bushes, and other differing features. "Shade and sun" describes the general area. In the second verse, "different methodology" relates to the initial focus in a nearby landmark- the Old Depot. Also the "methodology" was a play on the Methodist Medical facility. "Within and without" refers to the fact that the Pekin Housing Authority has properties inside Pekin's city limits as well as in neighboring communities. The last two lines let hunters know that, because of the little-known nature of the chosen location, it would be difficult to try to participate in the hunt by just reading the clues at home. "Purists" know that it also takes a lot of driving around, walking and searching. "Armchair" loosely refers to furnishings which you would find in a home or apartment.
Second Clue: "Colors" describes the building and area. Also, anyone who knows the Pekin Housing Authority (PHA), or would research it, knows that its director is Dennis Green. "Numbers not easily seen" are the many numbers on the train depot's historic marker, which I refer to often. "Closer examination" relates to the nearby medical facility and "betwixt and between" refers to one of the middle bushes chosen as the hiding spot. In the second verse, "sense of direction" relates to the one-way street as does "understanding of rules." It also reminds the hunter that, according to the rules, the PHA is public property. The last two lines let the hunter know, again, that by using the depot as a main reference point, it was not the obvious location. It was a building close by.
Third Clue: "Continuation of things conducted in the recent past" refers to last year's spot- at the Pavilion- being an "in-town" chosen hiding spot. "Different perspective" relates back to the depot as a reference point- not the exact point. "Peripatetic" also lets the hunter know that they will have to look all around, not just fixate on the depot. "Round and round" refers to the old locomotive turntable that once was adjacent to the depot sight and is referenced on the historic marker. "Look and study carefully" is a directive regarding that marker. "The obvious is not where it's found" informs the hunter that, even though they discover the clues gleaned from the depot, the medallion would not be found at that exact location.
Clue Four: The entire first verse deals with the bronze historic marker prominently displayed on the depot's south side. "Heartstrings" refers to the cardio unit at the Methodist Medical facility. If you studied the sign you'd see that the depot was one of five train depots in Pekin at the time. "Six" is the number of units managed by the PHA (found on their website). "Any way you choose to turn" again refers to the one-way street which junctions on Broadway necessitating either a right- or left-hand turn.
The last line refers back to the information contained in the historic depot marker.
Clue Five: "Seeking one of five" relates back to that reference on the depot historic marker. "Posted" also relates to the sign mounted on that building. The second verse is entirely about 19th Street which is one way. Turning off Broadway to specifically go to the PHA seems entirely logical but as a one-way street you can't. So "sometimes what's wrong can really seem right." (Check it out- in that context, one way seems odd at best.) The last two lines refer to all the warning signs dealing with the do not enter aspect of the street. Lastly the word "trained" relates to the depot.
Clue Six: I really struggled with the first verse. How do you convey the concept of renting without using the word "rent"? I end it by sharing a current economic phenomenon of many people now finding it more financially feasible to rent. That's their "druthers" and does not subject them to other "limits" they may discover in attempting to buy a home. The second verse relates entirely to the depot and the historic marker. "Forwards and backwards" relates to trains. "Seek an original from so long ago" is the depot. If you look at the sign and add up the listed date of 1898, it adds up sequentially to "twenty-six." Herbert Hoover who stopped there on his presidential re-election bid was president number "thirty-one." I put these facts in for those enjoying the piecing together and interpretive aspect to the hunt. It was a pure exercise in detective work.
Clue Seven: "Single way" refers to the one-way street. "Double" refers to the two sets of windows on the PHA's south side. The windows are sets of three ("third"). And going back to the "third" clue reminds the hunter that the "obvious is not where it's found"- the Depot. Therefore "near but not right before your eyes" also refers to that. "Difficult being the middle" relates to the inner bushes on the building's south side. "Faith" refers to the old spiritual hymn "Rock of Ages" in this case the music store. "Resides" refers to housing. The "sun comes up and later it sets" relates to east-west. Broadway is one of Pekin's most east-west routes. "Travel about" is a road reference, again to Broadway, which passed within yards of the hiding spot.
Clue Eight: "Track" refers to railroad tracks. "Roads you cross" relates to the crosswalk at the "end" of the bike "trail." The south side of the PHA's roof has some distinct vents right above the chosen spot. In the second verse, "shades of brown" refers to the building and its sign. "Beauty" is the beauty shop next door. "Illuminate at all hours" refers to the recessed lighting in the soffit of the building that shines down on the chosen bush after dark. "Near a building of times of old" refers again to the nearby Historic Train Depot.
Clue Nine: This one was the clincher. "Bushed" was the bush in which the medallion was hidden. "Methods" again played off the Methodist Medical facility. "Broaden the way" refers to "Broadway." "Train" is obvious. The "special sign" was the historic marker with the added reference to "study the words." In the second verse, "no in, only an out" relates to 19th Street which is one way. "The spot you seek is near" was for those searching near the depot letting them know that it was nearby but not right there. "Sounds of traffic" lets hunters know it was a fairly busy street. And "music" refers to the Rock of Ages music store.
I have received some feedback that the Pekin Housing Authority is not a public body. It absolutely is. Even the sign out front boldly refers to "The City of Pekin." Katelynn Chriswell and Tyler Runyon knew that. They worked the clues and earned their prize. Congratulations to them on their success.
As always, there can only be one winner of the Medallion Hunt. But my goal has always been to make the thrill of the hunt the major attraction. Families, couples, friends, and neighbors working together and enjoying the possibility of the find is really what the hunt is all about. Thank you to Pepsi for their wonderful sponsorship and thank you to all who participated this year.
Gary Gillis
Cluemeister
