2019 DPHS Horseshoe Hunt
2019 Horseshoe Found in Hidden Valley Park
Laura and Rick Brannen, near the Hidden Valley Park archery target where they found this year's commemorative Dan Patch Days horseshoe using clues from the Dan Patch Historical Society and other research.
Savage couple wins horseshoe contest after digging into city history
The annual Dan Patch Days horseshoe hunt is over after a local couple found the object at Hidden Valley Park on Wednesday, June 5.
Laura and Rick Brannen scrutinized two Dan Patch Historical Society clues and read up on city history in the Savage Library and the Nancy Huddleston book “Savage” before searching multiple times around multiple city parks. Laura Brannen found the commemorative horseshoe in a hay bale archery target at Hidden Valley.
“We basically covered every inch of it,” Rick Brannen said of the park. “The book really was the key.”
The winners of the historical society’s riddle-based contest each year win $100, the horseshoe they find and the chance to be part of the Dan Patch Days parade. The festival is set for June 20-23 at the Savage Community Park.
The Brannens said they paid special attention to individual words in the society’s weekly clues. The first clue last month mentioned “a button by George,” for instance, which got them thinking of George Egan, one of several Egans who once owned what is now Hidden Valley and opened Egan Picnic Grounds before the land went to the city.
The phrase was also in honor of George Augustinack, who made the festival’s buttons until he died late last year, said Jim Ross, a historical society board member.
The second clue then spoke of Irish brothers with a cabin that stood “where we now play and cook up some brats” and that was condemned at some point. Documents at the library referenced a Hidden Valley shelter condemned in the 1980s, Laura Brannen said, so the two were sure Hidden Valley was the right track.
Their success was a nice cap to the family’s entry into last year’s contest, when they figured out the horseshoe’s location but reached it too late. Laura Brannen said the thrill of the hunt and the chance to learn more about the city made the search worthwhile.
“Everybody knows the story of Dan Patch, but there a lot of other interesting families and interesting stories in our history,” she said.
Laura and Rick Brannen scrutinized two Dan Patch Historical Society clues and read up on city history in the Savage Library and the Nancy Huddleston book “Savage” before searching multiple times around multiple city parks. Laura Brannen found the commemorative horseshoe in a hay bale archery target at Hidden Valley.
“We basically covered every inch of it,” Rick Brannen said of the park. “The book really was the key.”
The winners of the historical society’s riddle-based contest each year win $100, the horseshoe they find and the chance to be part of the Dan Patch Days parade. The festival is set for June 20-23 at the Savage Community Park.
The Brannens said they paid special attention to individual words in the society’s weekly clues. The first clue last month mentioned “a button by George,” for instance, which got them thinking of George Egan, one of several Egans who once owned what is now Hidden Valley and opened Egan Picnic Grounds before the land went to the city.
The phrase was also in honor of George Augustinack, who made the festival’s buttons until he died late last year, said Jim Ross, a historical society board member.
The second clue then spoke of Irish brothers with a cabin that stood “where we now play and cook up some brats” and that was condemned at some point. Documents at the library referenced a Hidden Valley shelter condemned in the 1980s, Laura Brannen said, so the two were sure Hidden Valley was the right track.
Their success was a nice cap to the family’s entry into last year’s contest, when they figured out the horseshoe’s location but reached it too late. Laura Brannen said the thrill of the hunt and the chance to learn more about the city made the search worthwhile.
“Everybody knows the story of Dan Patch, but there a lot of other interesting families and interesting stories in our history,” she said.
2019 Clues
Clue #1
Mr. Savage from the bluff at Valley View,
Eyed Dan as a shoe he did slough.
Soon enough with your crew
Once found he's good as new!
On public grounds it can be found.
And if you've a button by George,
Then your wallet you engorge.
The parade does await, as I, your fate!
Clue #2
Some brothers whose family from Eire,
Had a cabin, liked beer, played slots.
Was condemned & then razed by fire.
Where we now play & cook up some brats.
Clue #3
With 48 stones from Ted Noonan
And remnants of my old toboggan
Called Eskimo Hill, if found quite a thrill
But to win you must use your noggin.
Clue #4
45 acres in a valley thats hidden,
Near a river give credit a scout.
Perfect picnic grounds come a biddin',
And a fire to warm you no doubt.
Clue #5 (if required)
The archery range seems strange,
But in a hay bail you'll prevail!
1:55 not a time but a measure,
I'm done this time find the treasure!
Explanations of the Clues
Clue #1 Explained
"from the bluff at Valley View": Valley View was Savage's summer home on the Bloomington river bluffs.
Hidden Valley also has a bluff at the top of the old ski/sledding hill.
"a button by George": A nod to George Augustinack a founding member of our society & makes our Dan Patch Days buttons and sadly passed away this year.
Also one of the Egan brothers who ran the resort in the park. You need a button to obtain the prize money.
Clue #2 Explained
"Some brothers from Eire": George, Joe & Frank Egan who purchased a cabin in what is now Hidden Valley Park and opened Egan Picnic Grounds that served liquor and had slot machines.
Later when the city acquired the land the building was burned by the fire department in a training burn.
Clue #3 Explained
"48 stones from Ted Noonan": Ted built the still existing fireplace with a stone from each state, only 48 at the time.
toboggan refers to the sledding hill.
Clue #4 Explained
45 acres in a valley that's hidden,
Near a river give credit a scout. - see the placard located in the park from an Eagle scout project
Perfect picnic grounds come a biddin' - the resort was referred to as perfect
And a fire to warm you no doubt
Cluemaster
Mr. Savage from the bluff at Valley View,
Eyed Dan as a shoe he did slough.
Soon enough with your crew
Once found he's good as new!
On public grounds it can be found.
And if you've a button by George,
Then your wallet you engorge.
The parade does await, as I, your fate!
Clue #2
Some brothers whose family from Eire,
Had a cabin, liked beer, played slots.
Was condemned & then razed by fire.
Where we now play & cook up some brats.
Clue #3
With 48 stones from Ted Noonan
And remnants of my old toboggan
Called Eskimo Hill, if found quite a thrill
But to win you must use your noggin.
Clue #4
45 acres in a valley thats hidden,
Near a river give credit a scout.
Perfect picnic grounds come a biddin',
And a fire to warm you no doubt.
Clue #5 (if required)
The archery range seems strange,
But in a hay bail you'll prevail!
1:55 not a time but a measure,
I'm done this time find the treasure!
Explanations of the Clues
Clue #1 Explained
"from the bluff at Valley View": Valley View was Savage's summer home on the Bloomington river bluffs.
Hidden Valley also has a bluff at the top of the old ski/sledding hill.
"a button by George": A nod to George Augustinack a founding member of our society & makes our Dan Patch Days buttons and sadly passed away this year.
Also one of the Egan brothers who ran the resort in the park. You need a button to obtain the prize money.
Clue #2 Explained
"Some brothers from Eire": George, Joe & Frank Egan who purchased a cabin in what is now Hidden Valley Park and opened Egan Picnic Grounds that served liquor and had slot machines.
Later when the city acquired the land the building was burned by the fire department in a training burn.
Clue #3 Explained
"48 stones from Ted Noonan": Ted built the still existing fireplace with a stone from each state, only 48 at the time.
toboggan refers to the sledding hill.
Clue #4 Explained
45 acres in a valley that's hidden,
Near a river give credit a scout. - see the placard located in the park from an Eagle scout project
Perfect picnic grounds come a biddin' - the resort was referred to as perfect
And a fire to warm you no doubt
Cluemaster