I've always been exceedingly impressed by detectives. In most cases, a detective can follow a logical path of reasoning to achieve a probable conclusion. They use deductive reasoning to achieve an end.
My mind doesn't quite work that way.
My mind is like a big bowl of spaghetti. All sorts of different but interconnected strands that somehow manage to make up a whole conclusion, however ugly or disjointed.
This blog will likely be following the spaghetti path. I am going to throw out every detail I can think of, and find. A lot of what I will be doing is speculation. To quote Sarah Koenig of Serial fame, "All speculation is equally speculative". I will even be throwing out information, details, and possible clues that I don't even believe are necessary to solve the mystery and find the treasure, because while it is a detail that I have shrugged off, others may see something I don't.
So, cheers to spaghetti reasoning.
Monday, February 27, 2017
James' Response
I reached out to an author that has been fascinated by the puzzles since around the time I was born...James Renner. I've never met Mr. Renner, but I know his name, because when I was young, a child by the name of Amy Mihaljevic was murdered about an hour from where I was living at the time, in Ohio. I would see her missing posters in store windows and at the mall on occasion. James Renner has researched her abduction and subsequent murder.
Amy was cute. She kinda reminded me of me.
So every couple of months, I google "James Renner", find his blog, and see if there are any new developments. No arrests so far, which is a shame. As they say, justice delayed is justice denied.
Anyway, I emailed James because it was while I was reading up on Amy Mihaljevic that I discovered his interest in Byron Preiss and "The Secret: A Treasure Hunt". I had heard for years that there was "buried treasure" in Milwaukee, but I didn't know much more than that. His interest became my interest, and so here I am.
The good news? Mr. Renner didn't find a casque or a key in Milwaukee, but he thinks he got pretty close. I didn't ask any more questions, because I don't want what he thinks he knows to cloud what I think I know. Or will know.
Key Point:
Amy was cute. She kinda reminded me of me.
So every couple of months, I google "James Renner", find his blog, and see if there are any new developments. No arrests so far, which is a shame. As they say, justice delayed is justice denied.
Anyway, I emailed James because it was while I was reading up on Amy Mihaljevic that I discovered his interest in Byron Preiss and "The Secret: A Treasure Hunt". I had heard for years that there was "buried treasure" in Milwaukee, but I didn't know much more than that. His interest became my interest, and so here I am.
The good news? Mr. Renner didn't find a casque or a key in Milwaukee, but he thinks he got pretty close. I didn't ask any more questions, because I don't want what he thinks he knows to cloud what I think I know. Or will know.
Key Point:
- The hunt is still very much on!
Sunday, February 26, 2017
Milwaukee is the Place to Be
The fact that I have begun this treasure hunt a bit late in the game (the book was published in 1982, and interest in the treasure reemerged online a few years ago) works to my advantage. People far more clever than I am have already successfully paired the paintings to the verses with a reasonable degree of certainty. This makes my quest infinitely easier.
Two of the twelve casques have been located since publication, one in Chicago, one in Cleveland. Ten remain.
And I believe one of them is in my backyard!
Or, more specifically, buried somewhere in the city I call home.
This blog is going to focus entirely on determining the location of the buried treasure in Milwaukee. We will be focusing solely on the painting and verse that I (and countless other online sleuths) believe indicates that one of the treasures is buried here in Milwaukee.
I will be confirming all of the information I am able to find about the Milwaukee treasure via photographs, interviews, etc. I will also be confirming or refuting most of the current buzz online concerning the treasure in Milwaukee. It will all be posted here, hopefully to generate additional thoughts and ideas.
Here is the painting believed to point to a treasure in Milwaukee:
A few things catch my interest almost immediately. Each of the twelve paintings have certain markers. In this painting, those markers are the primrose (birth flower for February), the amethyst jewel (birth stone for February), and the two red juggling balls (February is the second month of the year). Also, each city in which a treasure is buried has a corresponding “immigration reference”. Milwaukee’s is clearly Germany, and evidence of our German roots are present everywhere.
Additionally, a person would notice precisely what the juggler is juggling…a millstone, a walking stick, and a key. This is most certainly a rebus (using pictures to depict words or parts of words) to Milwaukee (mill+walk+key). Easy peasy.
But the painting most certainly holds other secrets. More on those later.
And here is the verse believed to point to a treasure in Milwaukee:
Again, this verse seems to indicate that Milwaukee is the location of one of the hidden treasures. The Alexander Mitchell (Line 1) was a prominent Milwaukee businessman and state politician in the 19th century. The 92 steps may refer to the Grand Staircase, a semi-popular tourist site near Lake Park. Birch trees are common in the Northern Hemisphere, and are present in Milwaukee.
Other parts of the verse are obviously more deceptive. More on those later, I promise.
Key Points:
Two of the twelve casques have been located since publication, one in Chicago, one in Cleveland. Ten remain.
And I believe one of them is in my backyard!
Or, more specifically, buried somewhere in the city I call home.
This blog is going to focus entirely on determining the location of the buried treasure in Milwaukee. We will be focusing solely on the painting and verse that I (and countless other online sleuths) believe indicates that one of the treasures is buried here in Milwaukee.
I will be confirming all of the information I am able to find about the Milwaukee treasure via photographs, interviews, etc. I will also be confirming or refuting most of the current buzz online concerning the treasure in Milwaukee. It will all be posted here, hopefully to generate additional thoughts and ideas.
Here is the painting believed to point to a treasure in Milwaukee:
 |
| borrowed from thesecret.pbworks.com/w/page/86303014/Image%2010 |
A few things catch my interest almost immediately. Each of the twelve paintings have certain markers. In this painting, those markers are the primrose (birth flower for February), the amethyst jewel (birth stone for February), and the two red juggling balls (February is the second month of the year). Also, each city in which a treasure is buried has a corresponding “immigration reference”. Milwaukee’s is clearly Germany, and evidence of our German roots are present everywhere.
Additionally, a person would notice precisely what the juggler is juggling…a millstone, a walking stick, and a key. This is most certainly a rebus (using pictures to depict words or parts of words) to Milwaukee (mill+walk+key). Easy peasy.
But the painting most certainly holds other secrets. More on those later.
And here is the verse believed to point to a treasure in Milwaukee:
View the three stories of Mitchell
As you walk the beating of the world
At a distance in time
From three who lived there
At a distance in space
From woman, with harpsichord
Silently playing
Step on nature
Cast in copper
Ascend the 92 steps
After climbing the grand 200
Pass the compass and reach
The foot of the culvert
Below the bridge
Walk one hundred paces
Southeast over rock and soil
To the first young birch
Pass three, staying west
You’ll see a letter from the country
Of wonderstone’s hearth
On a proud, tall fifth
At its southern foot
The treasure waits.
Again, this verse seems to indicate that Milwaukee is the location of one of the hidden treasures. The Alexander Mitchell (Line 1) was a prominent Milwaukee businessman and state politician in the 19th century. The 92 steps may refer to the Grand Staircase, a semi-popular tourist site near Lake Park. Birch trees are common in the Northern Hemisphere, and are present in Milwaukee.
Other parts of the verse are obviously more deceptive. More on those later, I promise.
Key Points:
- There is substantial evidence to support that one of the treasures is located in Milwaukee, WI
- The two casques that have been located are in the Midwest, within a nine hour drive of Milwaukee. It is absolutely possible, even probable, that Byron Preiss, the man who buried the twelve treasures, visited Milwaukee and buried a casque here.
- Internet sleuths have already successfully paired the paintings to their corresponding verses. This makes less work for me.
- There are fairly obvious references to prominent Milwaukee families, locales, and points of reference.
The Hunt is On!
In 1982, The Secret: A Treasure Hunt, was published. Designed as a children’s book, but having mystified adults for decades, the book tells “the tale of the fair people, the mysteries of their treasure, the whereabouts of their descendants” (Cover).
The concept was simple, and is described below.
“You are about to embark on a fantastic adventure: A quest for twelve treasures: over ten thousand dollars in precious jewels. They may be hidden in your city or local park or even in your own backyard. You might even figure out one of their hiding places without leaving your house…”
Yes. A treasure hunt. A real life treasure hunt. And we are all cordially invited to participate!
The first pages of the story tell the tale. Of the Fair People, their travels to the New World, and the Litany of the Jewels. The Litany of the Jewels is of particular interest, as it described twelve jewels which were brought to “New Found Land”, and serve as the basis for the buried treasure. More about this later.
The story is followed by twelves verses and twelve paintings, with the following description:
“A dozen paintings share the clues. Yet fairy secrets come in twos. To sing a happy treasure song, to have a casque to you belong. Wed one picture with one verse. For Fair Folk’s peace, Goodness first.”
Simple enough. Twelve verses. Twelve paintings. Figure out which two go together to solve the mystery and find the treasure.
On one of the final pages of the book, it outlines the treasure, the quest, and how to obtain it.
“The Fair People’s twelve treasures can be found by deciphering the clues in the paintings and the verses in this book. Each treasure consists of a hand-painted treasure casque, the hand-painted key inside it, and the treasure jewel or jewels. Only the casques and keys are buried. Each key represents the jewel or jewels, which will be given to the person who discovers the hiding place of the casque and key.
The jewels collectively are worth more than ten thousand dollars. The treasure casques themselves are of incalculable value, never having been owned by man or woman. If you believe you have correctly deciphered the clues to any of the Fair People’s treasures, you may proceed directly to the site you have determined. Every treasure casque is buried underground, at a depth of no more than three to three and one-half feet. The casques are protected by lustrous transparent boxes, and are sealed.
The following places do not hold any treasure:
(a) Any life threatening location, such as a dangerous highway embankment, a contaminated area, or an active railway track.
(b) Any cemetery.
(c) Any public or private flower bed
(d) Any property owned by the contributors of the book, their families, or friends.”
Let’s review the key points here:
The hunt is on!
The concept was simple, and is described below.
“You are about to embark on a fantastic adventure: A quest for twelve treasures: over ten thousand dollars in precious jewels. They may be hidden in your city or local park or even in your own backyard. You might even figure out one of their hiding places without leaving your house…”
Yes. A treasure hunt. A real life treasure hunt. And we are all cordially invited to participate!
The first pages of the story tell the tale. Of the Fair People, their travels to the New World, and the Litany of the Jewels. The Litany of the Jewels is of particular interest, as it described twelve jewels which were brought to “New Found Land”, and serve as the basis for the buried treasure. More about this later.
The story is followed by twelves verses and twelve paintings, with the following description:
“A dozen paintings share the clues. Yet fairy secrets come in twos. To sing a happy treasure song, to have a casque to you belong. Wed one picture with one verse. For Fair Folk’s peace, Goodness first.”
Simple enough. Twelve verses. Twelve paintings. Figure out which two go together to solve the mystery and find the treasure.
On one of the final pages of the book, it outlines the treasure, the quest, and how to obtain it.
“The Fair People’s twelve treasures can be found by deciphering the clues in the paintings and the verses in this book. Each treasure consists of a hand-painted treasure casque, the hand-painted key inside it, and the treasure jewel or jewels. Only the casques and keys are buried. Each key represents the jewel or jewels, which will be given to the person who discovers the hiding place of the casque and key.
The jewels collectively are worth more than ten thousand dollars. The treasure casques themselves are of incalculable value, never having been owned by man or woman. If you believe you have correctly deciphered the clues to any of the Fair People’s treasures, you may proceed directly to the site you have determined. Every treasure casque is buried underground, at a depth of no more than three to three and one-half feet. The casques are protected by lustrous transparent boxes, and are sealed.
The following places do not hold any treasure:
(a) Any life threatening location, such as a dangerous highway embankment, a contaminated area, or an active railway track.
(b) Any cemetery.
(c) Any public or private flower bed
(d) Any property owned by the contributors of the book, their families, or friends.”
Let’s review the key points here:
- In 1981, a man buried twelve treasures, collectively worth more than ten thousand dollars, across North America.
- To determine where a treasure is located, a person must successfully pair one of the photos with one of the verses in the book.
- You will have to do some digging. In 1981, the treasures were buried between three and three-and-a-half feet below ground.
- Keys were placed in small ceramic casques, which were placed in sealed, transparent boxes. This is what is buried. If you wish to have the jewel(s), you must trade the key for them, via mail.
The hunt is on!
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