Sorry for the delays in keeping my line of thinking updated.  I have been about the city of Boston quite a bit and have some pictures to share, mostly confirming that I haven’t found anything.
I visited Copley Square and found that the fountian, and all of the triangle and diamond sidewalk embeddings, were all built post-90s.  I looked again at the Church trim, and it doesn’t seem to match the picture in the book very well.  Looking at the original book, it seems the globe stand has faint circles within the dark areas.  This matched nothing that we saw.  The only thing about the Trinity Church was it has asymmetric windows (like the castle) facing a little inner garden in the back.  I took some pictures, but nothing else about it resembles the castle.  Xenophon and Thucydides are definately still on the Public Library, that was no surprise.  Interestingly, the statue of Science, holding the globe, is no longer the bluish-green that made the ball look so much like the image in the book; they cleaned them up and now they are bronze colored again.  A close look also failed to match the texture of the globes in the image, at least by my wife’s eye. (I wanted to see differently, but must concede it wasn’t too good.)
There were some wrought-iron fences with fancy designs in this area that are reminiscient of the pattern on our lady’s dress, but nothing was a match to me or to my wife.  I feel this must be the kind of thing that design will match, though, when we someday find the right spot.
Moving on the the North End, which is Boston’s Italian district.  I was hoping that 5 steps in the area of his direction might have meant, “Take 5 steps in the North End (the AREA of his direction.)”  Unfortunately, the Copp’s Burial Ground has six steps leading up to it, and the North Church (Revere’s two if by sea) has more.  Within Copp’s Burial Ground, there were five steps leading to another part of the cemetary, but 1) it is a cemetary and 2) there were no other clues that matched up there.  It is too bad, because from the hill there you can very easily “Face the water.”  There are many more public parks there that are off the beaten path a little more, so they need to be investigated on another day before I write this section off for now.  Maybe I can apply the same area of his direction to the South End, since we don’t know to which person that instruction refers.
Moving on to the MIT area.  The Green Building (the tower) is there, and there is at least one building as you cross the bridge that has the -up-and-down castle ramparts (does that make sense to everyone?), but no other aspects.  Not much else caught our eye there.  Longfellow Bridge didn’t get us excited, either.
I checked out the Beacon Hill area near the capitol.  The Mary Dryer statue has the “liberty in truth” quote, and there were lots of intersting things to see there.  The statue was erected a long time ago, but nothing else was too striking vis-a-vis the images in the book.  Lots of wrought-iron work, but no matches.  I looked at the Eagle Pillar that people have pointed to before.  The area was closed off for the day, but from the vantage I had, it didn’t appear to have any iconography from the book, either.  Wrong bird, the bricks around the pillar don’t have the pattern around the window, etc.
Up next– The South End.  Castle Rock, the alphabet letters, etc.  Many small parks there, not much information on-line about them, a good place to hunt next.
Sorry about the lack of photos for now, but I’m working on it.  And with mostly a whole lot of nothing, it is on the backburner.

Who says the 5 steps are instructions from the starting point?
I personally feel they are more likely to be instructions near the dig site. What can’t they actually be 5 steps or 5 stairs? Seems like a more logical scenario to me.
Here is an example from a past theory that I got sucked into.
I was standing in the Prado in front of Revere’s statue. There were granite stairs behind me, a water fountain in front of me and a giant statue of Paul pointing almost behind himself.
I thought of “take five steps in the area of his direction”. Paul was pointing (giving us direction). The tree planter in line with his hand was 5 steps away.
I’m not saying that is the solution, I’m just describing a general interpretation of what I think is far more logical explanation. Again, I’m not advocating the Prado is the location, but experiencing that moment made me rethink how the puzzle should be viewed. Once you have a similar realization, the BPL and the myriad of other wiki biased opinions become less attractive.

Cristov9000

1) I don’t disagree that the line shouldn’t be used twice. I don’t love it, but its the best interpretation I have heard and there are other confirmers at the BPL.
2)I agree that the poem is the Revere midnight ride poem by Longfellow but what does that get you other than Boston? Revere’s ride started in Charlestown and then left the city so not there. Revere’s house is in the north end but then what? 42 Beacon is across from the common but its a huge park, where do you go from there? Matching random things doesn’t move you anywhere or point to a dig site.
3) The orb held by Science was greenish blue and similarly textured when is was corroded. Its a way better match than any glass or stone orb in the city I have seen and with it being held over the marble side of the chair just like in the picture its a very good match.
4) The solved pictures so far had a a city/state identifier, a place to start and then directions to the dig spot. So you have to start somewhere and move. The only real directions to move are the 5 steps in the area of his direction. 5 steps doesn’t get you far. There is no place to dig within 5 steps of BPL, Revere’s house, 42 Beacon, etc. You’d be in the middle of the road or on a sidewalk. So imho 5 steps can’t be literal. I personally like 5 stops on the green line since going toward the “north” end (area of T’s direction being the north end) gets you to Haymarket, the closest stop to the north end (Italian area in Boston). Going 5 stops the other direction (Walpole was talking about West and the area west is outbound) gets you to the BU Castle near the esplanade which sorta matches the castle on the box. It also ties in well with “all the letters are here to see” since Copley station if the first/last stop on the green line where the B, C, D, and E trains all stop. The lines at the top of the picture look like cantenary wires in the top of the green line tunnel, etc..
I’m open to other interpretations but I haven’t heard anything better yet.

Where do most people start in Milwaukee? They normally begin at City Hall (the universally accepted image match) and then make their way to the Park.
Where do most people start in Chicago? They normally begin at the Water Tower (the universally accepted image match) and then make their way to the Park.
Where do most people start in Cleveland? They normally begin at the Terminal Tower (the universally accepted image match) and then make their way to the Gardens.
Where do most people start in San Francisco? They normally begin at GGP (the universally accepted image match) and then make their way to every possible location in California.
Where do most (crazy) people start in Boston? They normally begin at the BPL (the place that has 2 names that appear in the verse) and then make their way to a subway train to get as far away as possible. Why do people who are convinced that the Columbus Statue and the Kelleher Rose Garden are such good image matches for Boston never actually start at those places?
Why do a lot of people think that Priess would never bury a casque in a park that you have to pay admission to enter? BUT, those same people are perfectly fine with paying fare to get on a subway train just so they can cover a healthy distance to somewhere different. It just doesn’t make sense.
Bottom line, if you start at the BPL, you have to molest the verse way too much in order to get a real direction or distance to travel. In fact, most people have a place in mind that they want to end up and that is how the ball starts rolling. T-stops, bus stops, named streets (unnamed alleys mess up the 5 count), all crap invented by people that have an agenda and are trying too hard to justify the route. Just skip the BPL and go directly to your place of interest, probe, dig, refine, report, repeat.

Where do most people start in Milwaukee? They normally begin at City Hall (the universally accepted image match) and then make their way to the Park.
Where do most people start in Chicago? They normally begin at the Water Tower (the universally accepted image match) and then make their way to the Park.
Where do most people start in Cleveland? They normally begin at the Terminal Tower (the universally accepted image match) and then make their way to the Gardens.
Where do most people start in San Francisco? They normally begin at GGP (the universally accepted image match) and then make their way to every possible location in California.
Where do most (crazy) people start in Boston? They normally begin at the BPL (the place that has 2 names that appear in the verse) and then make their way to a subway train to get as far away as possible. Why do people who are convinced that the Columbus Statue and the Kelleher Rose Garden are such good image matches for Boston never actually start at those places?
Why do a lot of people think that Priess would never bury a casque in a park that you have to pay admission to enter? BUT, those same people are perfectly fine with paying fare to get on a subway train just so they can cover a healthy distance to somewhere different. It just doesn’t make sense.
Bottom line, if you start at the BPL, you have to molest the verse way too much in order to get a real direction or distance to travel. In fact, most people have a place in mind that they want to end up and that is how the ball starts rolling. T-stops, bus stops, named streets (unnamed alleys mess up the 5 count), all crap invented by people that have an agenda and are trying too hard to justify the route. Just skip the BPL and go directly to your place of interest, probe, dig, refine, report, repeat.
10000%

BINGO

Where do most people start in Milwaukee? They normally begin at City Hall (the universally accepted image match) and then make their way to the Park.
Where do most people start in Chicago? They normally begin at the Water Tower (the universally accepted image match) and then make their way to the Park.
Where do most people start in Cleveland? They normally begin at the Terminal Tower (the universally accepted image match) and then make their way to the Gardens.
Where do most people start in San Francisco? They normally begin at GGP (the universally accepted image match) and then make their way to every possible location in California.
Where do most (crazy) people start in Boston? They normally begin at the BPL (the place that has 2 names that appear in the verse) and then make their way to a subway train to get as far away as possible. Why do people who are convinced that the Columbus Statue and the Kelleher Rose Garden are such good image matches for Boston never actually start at those places?
Why do a lot of people think that Priess would never bury a casque in a park that you have to pay admission to enter? BUT, those same people are perfectly fine with paying fare to get on a subway train just so they can cover a healthy distance to somewhere different. It just doesn’t make sense.
Bottom line, if you start at the BPL, you have to molest the verse way too much in order to get a real direction or distance to travel. In fact, most people have a place in mind that they want to end up and that is how the ball starts rolling. T-stops, bus stops, named streets (unnamed alleys mess up the 5 count), all crap invented by people that have an agenda and are trying too hard to justify the route. Just skip the BPL and go directly to your place of interest, probe, dig, refine, report, repeat.

The Columbus statue isn’t a match for anything and I have no idea where that came from in the first place, there isn’t even a passing resemblance in person. The Rose garden is also a match I don’t like. I don’t see why see why starting at the water tower in Chicago or the Terminal Tower in Cleveland and then trekking across the city on foot following directions is fine by taking another form of transport isn’t. Boston streets are not conducive to moving from one part of the city to another with easy directions and I am sure BP would have appreciated that. I agree there a lot of terrible theories where people pick an end point they want to get to and then force a theory on how to get from the BPL to there. I agree that isn’t the way to do it but that’s not what I am advocating. If you have a better starting point I am all ears but starting at the BPL is the only place I have been able to navigate myself, following the verse, to a green space that would be digable. This particular verse is very short on instructions and directions. If you dont think 5 steps are 5 streets or 5 stops or whatever then what are they? I dont think equating steps to stops is a crazy molestation of the verse. if you had a starting point and walked 5 actual steps then the actual dig spot must be essentially right at the starting location and that isn’t really possible without digging up gardens.

Boston districts
I am trying to narrow down the area of Boston where the casque might be located using outlines of local districts known as neighbourhoods using Google Maps and sometimes wikipedia.
I have not found anything hidden in the image 11 yet other than the state of Massachusetts and possibly the Boston area as a whole. The area of Boston itself or Suffolk county bears a resemblance to her hand under the Pandora box.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neighborhoods_in_Boston
http://www.cityofboston.gov/neighborhoods/default.asp
Now, the Fenway/Kenmore is one district which people have considered but the 2C is in Back Bay. So if the outline of either of these neighbourhoods can be found in the image 11 then that might narrow the search area. The Victory Gardens, where all the letters are, is in West Fens.
http://goo.gl/maps/5u0Pp
One confirmation seems to be the zipcode 02215 already found but this is still quite large and includes the Emerald Necklace.
http://goo.gl/maps/GfWBN
Here are some different Boston Districts, wards and precincts!
http://hubmaps1.cityofboston.gov/datahu … daries.pdf
(14484)

I’m curious to see where you believe the casque is buried. Narrowing it down to a park and a broad area is a recipe for a difficult recovery.

BINGO

I’m curious to see where you believe the casque is buried. Narrowing it down to a park and a broad area is a recipe for a difficult recovery.

Also wasn Langone Park basicallY completly rennovated in the 90s? Thats when all the Bocce Ball courts and ammenities were added.
it is cool this is the site of the Boston Molassacre though…

maltedfalcon

Also wasn Langone Park basicallY completly rennovated in the 90s? Thats when all the Bocce Ball courts and ammenities were added.
it is cool this is the site of the Boston Molassacre though…

Some upgrades, but generally very similar.
I have a 1983 aerial that I pulled from mapjunction. I was hoping to compare their “X marks the spot” from the current aerial vs 1983.

Choice

I got what you meant but if you think the symbols on her sleeves are ‘flags’ then there should be resemblance to the maritime flags. I really don’t see a good match except maybe the square/dot ones. No triangle/dot or 3 X 3 square/dot.

I think we are all looking a little to hard for exact matches between the real world and Mr.Palencars artistic interpretations.
Please don’t get me wrong, their are some, but I think those are just starting points for us.

I have often wondered if the blue ball in the bottom right hand side of the image was a nod to Franklin’s birth place. There was debate of his actual birth location being on Union/Hanover St where his father’s candle shop was located, OR, the other argument has his birth place on Milk St.
The blue ball in the bottom right side of the image could be a blue ball sitting on a milk bottle. A nod to both sides of the story. Either way, both are located in the North End.
Who knows?

Choice

Nice interpretation. Some image matches would be nice.

Similar Device
8ADAD6B3-203F-4360-8C4B-9A5882BAC82F.png (47.15 KiB) Viewed 235 times

Choice

Nice interpretation. Some image matches would be nice.

Similar Device
8ADAD6B3-203F-4360-8C4B-9A5882BAC82F.png (47.15 KiB) Viewed 231 times

Insert Choice vs. BINGO ‘balls’ joke here…

Durian had similar theory about Castle Island. Too bad his records got erased.

Choice

Here are the flag signals. What did you come up with?

I got what you meant but if you think the symbols on her sleeves are ‘flags’ then there should be resemblance to the maritime flags. I really don’t see a good match except maybe the square/dot ones. No triangle/dot or 3 X 3 square/dot.

We’re all fans of balls, specifically the blue ones!

BINGO

I have often wondered if the blue ball in the bottom right hand side of the image was a nod to Franklin’s birth place. There was debate of his actual birth location being on Union/Hanover St where his father’s candle shop was located, OR, the other argument has his birth place on Milk St.
The blue ball in the bottom right side of the image could be a blue ball sitting on a milk bottle. A nod to both sides of the story. Either way, both are located in the North End.
Who knows?

I think the blue ball is sitting on a cannon with it’s muzzle pointing skyward.this is my other evidence leaning me to my theory of Copp’s Hill significations.

The final four clues that convinced me of my location of the casque are as follows. The first, the other lattatude coordinates, which I speculated about the numbers hidden in the arch over the woman, before I plunged them into Google Earth. W 71* 3’ 24”. My location is off by a “ minute”, but in the early 80’s how accurate could it be? I believe the gash in the arch is a artistic way of disguising a square root symbol. That’s why The “9” became a 3. And the bracelet looks like a 42 but if you try those coordinates in Google Earth it’s way off. So, I flipped it to be, 24. This landed me squarely in Langone Park, right next to Steriti Memorial Rink.

To me, the coordinate evidence that you are proposing is the weakest of everything you have offered.
In 1981-82 lat/long coordinates would be very general. That is, degrees would be the only accurate data that the normal citizen would calculate from a map. Anything with accuracy down to minutes and seconds would be a dream.
Not impossible, but one would need a map with a lat/long grid printed on it AND hope there was enough detail on that map that shows the park you are looking for. They would next need to measure that map using the proper scale and then would need to calculate the distance measured from that scale and convert it to minutes and seconds of a certain degree.
If Preiss wanted us to decipher this from the numbers you believe are coordinate data, there would be no reason to sprinkle in square roots or other manipulations of those numbers. A full and clear list of the coordinate numbers would be disguised well enough on their own.
If you don’t believe me, give it a try with a ruler and a map and let me know how you make out. Google maps and GPS have made navigating life a bit easier in the last 37 years.

It is an unspoken truth that some of these casques are going to be either
unrecoverable or lost forever in time.
It is to provide undeniable proof and evidence of where thet were
hidden and then determine if and when the location had been
compomised.

boogieman

That is an old photo.  From the sixties I bet.  Can’t really see the cars to judge, but look at the outfits of the people.

Yeah, this particular design was from the late 60s, but it was redesigned in 1983.  I’m continuing my research (between actually working) to determine exactly when the construction was done.
And as I pointed out before, Copley may only be a starting point.

bclews

Take a look at this photo first posted by Fox back in April of 2003.
http://libraries.mit.edu/rvc/kidder/kjp … 22-032.jpg
The problem?  None of this remains today.  That fountain, those steps — gone!

That is an old photo.  From the sixties I bet.  Can’t really see the cars to judge, but look at the outfits of the people.

wk

I would like to see a night time view of the 3C lamps.

I don’t know if my timing will work for night views, but I’ll try.

I suppose another possibility is that the bubble the bird is pecking, and “lit by lamplight”, represent the lamp shown above, seen over the low wall of the 2C; another possible marker.

WhiteRabbit

Hi walstib. If you visit this area, could you take some pics of this fence, and the nearby join in the wall…? I have a thing about fences. (“Metal walls”…?) And if someone could find some matching pattern in the wall, that would be a clincher.

I can definitely take pictures of the fence. I can’t commit to finding a matching pattern, but I’ll sure try!

I thought this building across the river from the Victory Gardens was quite eye-catching, but I guess this is too much of a stretch.
This blue area looks like it might be a word or structure.
Somewhere in this patch of land may be worth considering, using these as the “stairs”. I quite like the similarity of the column and circle to this straight and curved section of the wall.
…or, reversed, at the elbow where the straight meets the curve…
I still feel this place offers the best possibility of finding a casque, but it’ll probably take a GPR and a serious digging effort. I wonder if James Renner has the budget…
Hi walstib. If you visit this area, could you take some pics of this fence, and the nearby join in the wall…? I have a thing about fences. (“Metal walls”…?) And if someone could find some matching pattern in the wall, that would be a clincher.

BINGO!
https://ibb.co/gCKbi9
LOLOLOLOL

yes , did you notice that the bubbles have different axis?
… and the bubbles on the Roanoke drawing are at different angles too!
I am still working on how they might form a set of angles.
(14911)

erexere

Whats an axis do? It connects two opposite points on a sphere.

That’s not the definition of axis.

erexere

As far as I’m concerned, the Boston site should be all you 421, you need to get yourself up there and do that dig you’ve been talking about. Please forget the nook, it was never buried there in the first place, and use my latest theory that suggests “passing the coliseum” means a “slave has won his freedom” meaning stand inside the metal “walled” (fenced) area and find the spot which uses the image confirmers and is lined up precisely with the $$’s of the Somerset’s gate across the street. If not Boston, go to Rodanthe and give that a shot. And NOLA, I was somewhat depressed for you when you reported doing a trip there and you didn’t jump on board my theory for that site.

I appreciate the consideration of my point. It put me in a frustrating spot because I have been working on a new Boston theory for a while now, and it is totally different than anything out there, yet very specific. I have little doubt about its correctness, and I had been contemplating posting the theory in its entirety. Now, I’m a little apprehensive. Anyhow, maybe in the coming days I’ll post something, but I’m in the middle of running it by another first.
I never did make it to NOLA because of the weather on the weekend I took off in February 2014 to go. Instead, I went to Fort Raleigh and dug extensively. I’m kind of glad now because there have been some interesting ideas put forward regarding the pairing of images and verses (how is that “moons in orbit” theory coming along?). I plan on going back to Roanoke and picking up a casque at some point, just not during the theater season
. Maybe sometime after I snag this Boston one.

I know it’s already been shared, but here is a really good photo comparison of Hatch Shell:

Unknown

Unknown:
I’m kind of glad now because there have been some interesting ideas put forward regarding the pairing of images and verses (how is that “moons in orbit” theory coming along?)

I posted a separate thread about the pairings but I am now working on the spheres and trying to work out how best to explain my zodiac theory. That graduated curve could be the zodiac since it is under the globe of the Earth.
“A celestial sphere can also refer to a physical model of the celestial sphere or celestial globe. Such globes map the constellations on the outside of a sphere, resulting in a mirror image of the constellations as seen from Earth.”
– Wikipedia – Celestial Sphere
Image 11 depicts a celestial sphere or globe of the Earth because the tilt is correct at an angle of 24 degrees from the vertical. The reflection of a light shining on the globe is from this angle and not from the Pandora box. The pole it is standing on could be the south pole. Notice it can be seen through the table which indicates glass or ice.
Anyway, just some thoughts since you drew attention to that graduated arc.
(14890)

wk, seems to me that the blank globe is modeled like one of those Earth globes on an axis. I think the axis is what is important with that visual clue. Whats an axis do? It connects two opposite points on a sphere.
Looks to me like there are three main groups of spheres. The two bubbles by the falcon. The two celestial bodies in the sky. The two watery orbs on little pedestals and the third watery or blank sphere in the axis, maybe thats a group of three.

Four21, I am rooting for you!
I hope you find something as it would go towards finding more patterns in the site’s and riddles.

Thanks decibal! I have one day. I hope the opportunity to get a hole dug presents itself. If not, I’ve got all night.
http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMT1%20…%20mpass_Rose
Notice how each word is broken by a little circle? The circle in our image window is the one that
should
break WATER from TOWN.

Thats an awful big generalization when we only have two out of 12 solved.
Thats a 17% success rate. of which in only 50% of those the last line is unknown
so based on 8.5% you say “In 90% of the verses, the last line is irrelevant.”

Yeah I think the last line does have relevance…at least in the majority of the verses. While I don’t think every verse matches in it’s “formula” or structure of directions, I do think that the last line either:
1. re-affirms the park or location
OR
2. is the part of the “narrowing-to-dig-site-line/riddle”
(thrown together ideas for last lines…)
#1: “A whistle sounds.” = Hermann Park with the train (re-affirm)
#2: “The namesakes meeting near this site.” = The name of the park may have the same name as something nearby (re-affirm)
#3: “In truth, be free.” = Quote? (Don’t remember…didn’t this point to Revere?) (re-affirm)
#4: “Seek the columns for the search.” = Re-affirms the park.
#5: “Get permission to dig out.” = No idea. Actual permission, or other?
#6: “White house close at hand.” = At first I thought this was likely an actual white house, but my current thoughts are that it is another way to point to Washington Square. (re-affirm)
#7: “To the place the casque is kept.”= No idea if it’s not part of the “narrowing/digging instructions.”
#8: “At it’s southern foot the treasure waits.” = Dig/narrowing instructions.
#9: “Years pass, rain falls.” = Clever. Great way to say “youth fountain”. (re-affirm)
#10: “Or gaze north toward the isle of B.” = Sanity check that you are in the right place (re-affirm).
#11: “By dauntless and inconquerable determination your goal.” = Memorial quote (re-affirm).
#12: “Brush and music hush.” = You have to use your indoor voice inside symphony halls and museums/art institutes. (re-affirm)

tjgrey

Yeah I think the last line does have relevance…at least in the majority of the verses. While I don’t think every verse matches in it’s “formula” or structure of directions, I do think that the last line either:
1. re-affirms the park or location
OR
2. is the part of the “narrowing-to-dig-site-line/riddle”
(thrown together ideas for last lines…)
#1: “A whistle sounds.” = Hermann Park with the train (re-affirm)
#2: “The namesakes meeting near this site.” = The name of the park may have the same name as something nearby (re-affirm)
#3: “In truth, be free.” = Quote? (Don’t remember…didn’t this point to Revere?) (re-affirm)
#4: “Seek the columns for the search.” = Re-affirms the park.
#5: “Get permission to dig out.” = No idea. Actual permission, or other?
#6: “White house close at hand.” = At first I thought this was likely an actual white house, but my current thoughts are that it is another way to point to Washington Square. (re-affirm)
#7: “To the place the casque is kept.”= No idea if it’s not part of the “narrowing/digging instructions.”
#8: “At it’s southern foot the treasure waits.” = Dig/narrowing instructions.
#9: “Years pass, rain falls.” = Clever. Great way to say “youth fountain”. (re-affirm)
#10: “Or gaze north toward the isle of B.” = Sanity check that you are in the right place (re-affirm).
#11: “By dauntless and inconquerable determination your goal.” = Memorial quote (re-affirm).
#12: “Brush and music hush.” = You have to use your indoor voice inside symphony halls and museums/art institutes. (re-affirm)

I agree with your assertion about it doing maybe one of two things, but your list contains more than just the last line… you are using the last LINES (plural). Here’s why I made the 90% claim:

Four-
Right. I should have clarified that…my thinking of “lines” is the last (seemingly) actual sentence, not just the last line of text.
Yes-agreed. In your picture, the final line of each verse (out of context of each of those line’s sentences) does not look too useful…

tjgrey

Four-
Right. I should have clarified that…my thinking of “lines” is the last (seemingly) actual sentence, not just the last line of text.
Yes-agreed. In your picture, the final line of each verse (out of context of each of those line’s sentences) does not look too useful…

Keep in mind that what you call a “sentence” is subjective interpretation of which lines should be read together.

found a good view of the benches 421 is talking about
zoom in pan left, then pan right
https://www.google.com/maps/@42.352408, … O2aEXQ!2e0

Before I go, I leave you with why I think the crack is crucial…
Take away the the coordinates placed in the “window,” and you are left with a circle. Quarter the circle using the North Star as “N” and the “<" as "S". Place the Storrow Memorial towns in the circle and the can be lined up EXACTLY like they are on the actual memoiral (i.e., standard font allows for the letters to be split EXACTLY like they are on the memorial).
Notice how the crack splits off “WATER”? The stairs are directly behind this word.

Why do you think it is a falcon and not a hawk? Or are they basically the same thing?

forest_blight

Why do you think it is a falcon and not a hawk? Or are they basically the same thing?

A falcon is generally larger.

could this be our fairy?  not an exact match, but close
http://www.flickr.com/photos/informatio … 311188468/

More confirmation that this image is Boston?

Just to make things more confusing

Eagle, Hawk or Falcon under the podium?

insatiable

Just to make things more confusing

I always saw that as Virginia, too. My husband wasn’t as convinced. The outline does appear to be an intentional shape, but if not of a VA, then what?

Although I find it hard to believe that the casque is in the BPL (and really hope it’s not since it has been renovated), there is one thing that stood out to me when I saw the pics of the courtyard. The second and third story windows appear to be the same shape as the squares on her collar. In particular, some of the windows looked narrower than the others (this may have been due to the angle of the photo). The collar in I11 also contains a narrower square. A possible connection?  Maybe you can check this out Insatiable (since you don’t have enough to look at
.

Can someone remind me of why we settled in on “black falcon,” except for the obvious port/street Boston connection.  Because the markings would tend to lead me to another type of falcon.
Thanks,
lizzy

lizardlips

Can someone remind me of why we settled in on “black falcon,” except for the obvious port/street Boston connection.  Because the markings would tend to lead me to another type of falcon.
Thanks,
lizzy

The street was the motivator… it is a falcon…  what type do you have?

Any of the types with markings, expecially those that may extend over the eye, for example pergrine, but possibly others as well.  But the black falcon seems to have a notable lack of markings.  Unless those are another clue, lol.

Update: I think the park is on board. We will hopefully be doing a thorough, documented dig. Probably in the spring, unless they just give me the go ahead, then I can’t promise to wait long.
I reached out to James Renner as well, if I’m going above board we might as well do this. Hopefully he can make it out to Boston in 2015.

Since there are going to be a few months before any more digging can take place, I’m really hoping people can explain or better convince me why they are so sure that this image and this verse go together and why they are convinced it is boston…
right now i’m 33 pages into the comments here and the only clues I think people have really confirmed are:
• the 41 and 42 relating to lat/long (i knew that there was something up with that block that makes up the 4 in 41 because, as I was saying before, no archways would have a block like that that only makes up one corner of another block…. or, if there was an archway like that, it would be one of a kind). The 71 i suppose works for me too, but it is less convincing than the 42 which is just blatantly obvious.
• the reference to paul revere’s ride
• Thucydides and Xenophon are both on the wall of the BPL (although I imagine that those names have appeared together at other libraries/museums, etc. too)
Pretty much every other “clue” i’ve read so far is a stretch… I just imagine that I could drop myself in a random city and still find the same connections which some people have stated as proof for why this is boston…
I also get that people have decided that this is the “Italian” themed puzzle and that it also has something to do with August (and the birthstone of august) but I’m not really sure how that relates to solving the puzzle… but I don’t have the book yet so maybe someone can fill me in?
So far I have only been focusing on this verse and this image and I’m wondering if I should broaden my focus to the other ones too… (i looked at the solved puzzles a bit but i haven’t gotten much info from them because after they’re solved it seems like the clues from those two were much easier than these)

And I’m not trying to challenge anyone’s thoughts on this… just hoping to understand it rather than just digging where you tell me to because you told me to lol

Whitey, I’m very glad you’re on-site and willing to dig. I’ve found these treasure hunts to be a great motivation to get out and look at places I otherwise would have ignored, and I’ve learned tons about history, architecture, art, and literature in the process. I encourage you to keep reading the threads (not just this one)! Years and years of fun and work have been poured into this forum.

I did mean to say something specifically about that! Today was awesome for me! Even though the ground was frozen, I picked up 2 bags of trash in that area (which made me feel pretty good and basically said “why can’t people do something like this more often?” garbage in boston is a real problem…)
then I went to copley and checked out the public library (which blew me away!) and checked out the two main churches there. The Old South Church was awesome and free to explore… Trinity Church wanted to charge me $7 to just look around, which i thought was ridiculous. I had been to many of these churches when i was a kid on a field trip (i grew up in NH) but had never been to the BPL and had a new appreciation for it all now.

Whitey9457

ugh 15 pages of comments in and i’m still not convinced that either the picture or the poem are certainly boston lol

They assuredly are, but I don’t care whether you believe it or not, as long as you dig us a couple of holes.
Thanks for the photos.

the clue from the photograph that is driving me the most crazy is the top center block. It appears to have a few distinguishing characteristics the most annoying being to the right. The “upper” right corn of the block is a totally different block. I have been looking at stone arches, etc all day and I have not seen a single block where only a corner was removed like that… it just doesn’t happen that way. Instead, both the upper right and lower right corner would simply be 2 small blocks. They wouldn’t leave a little section on a block like that. I finally found a decent photograph of the picture, and I can also make out what seems to maybe be a purple heart and a feather (or maybe just a crack in the block?) and then to the left there is a single dot.
Have there been any theories on what these clues represent?

Here are my photos from today (one at a time):
green tower of lights near the circles:

the main event:
(hopefully i’ll figure out which size works best)

from across the water:
(shadowed area is the area in question i believe)

Close up of the area I will likely be attacking tomorrow:
it’s hard to tell because of the shadow, etc. but the area with light snow on it is slightly sunken in which leads me to believe that someone dug there, couldn’t fit all of the dirt back in the hole, threw the excess dirt in the water and eventually after the dirt settled it was slightly caved in… i suppose it could also be because there was a box put in the hole which eventually collapsed…

An area nearby which also has the same globe lights and circles, etc.

there are a few more in my new set on flickr let me know if you have trouble seeing them
http://www.flickr.com/photos/93936687@N … 623054815/

Whitey9457

awesome i actually just moved here from oregon

welcome awesome is right, i like that your willing to take pics and dig if you find a spot
that looks good
and wow going from one end of the country to the other, does your job ever travel you
to any of the other casque cities, that would be awesome too. LOL

Whitey9457

Close up of the area I will likely be attacking tomorrow:
it’s hard to tell because of the shadow, etc. but the area with light snow on it is slightly sunken in which leads me to believe that someone dug there, couldn’t fit all of the dirt back in the hole, threw the excess dirt in the water and eventually after the dirt settled it was slightly caved in… i suppose it could also be because there was a box put in the hole which eventually collapsed…

do you think that area would be lit by lamp lite

well i’m unemployed right now (one of the reasons why it’s so easy for me to focus on a treasure hunt with no real treasure) lol. job interviews next week but i’m honestly not much of a traveler. although NYC isn’t far…
I could go at night sometime and check about the lamp light but not tonight and if i’m digging tomorrow then i won’t really know where the shadow is but it’s probably not far off from the shadow in the photo… I’m kind of worried that the ground will already be too frozen which would be a real bummer.

Awesome buddy! Welcome! I really like the one picture that shows the “S”, the globes, and the green tower of lights from the opposite side of the river. MBs idea about the craters being the drains is pretty cool, too. I’d be really interested to know whether the following is a mortar joint or a crack:

Also, at this point, the columns and the globes would align as in the image (including the two globes to the right of the one between the two columns):
Additionally, the columns and globe might be the ones of the steps leading into the northernmost “C” from the southernmost “C”:

I am mostly sure that that is mortar between two blocks. All of the blocks that line the top are the same length (at least when viewing with naked eye) and judging from the other mortar lines, that is where the mortar should be. hmm for some reason i thought that the “crack” at the top of image 11 was a feather…
I’m getting ready to head out now… i can’t find my shovel?! probably lost in the move i just did…. so i’m gonna have to buy a new one so i’m really hoping that the ground isn’t too frozen to dig (because i live in boston and have no other use for a shovel lol). i plan to dig a bit, then on breaks from digging I will pick up some trash. i didn’t have enough time to find a plant that i’m willing to sacrifice as my excuse for digging a hole… but i suppose i could just tell them that i’m coming back later with a tree to plant or something. really hoping that I don’t cause any problems from digging there though.

Good luck, man! Dig in that nook!

I always wondered about the little circle. Just a thought.

Also, i didn’t upload this photo because I was seeing “clues” everywhere yesterday like i was living a national treasure movie… but I’m now realizing that this is the front door for the hotel somerset…. it is no longer a hotel (converted to luxury apartments in the 1980s… i can’t find a more specific date but i think that that works pretty well)… but maybe this is the hotel where the author stayed (giving him a bird’s eye view of the area in question). i thought that the pattern above the door looked something like the pattern on her dress… but really i was seeing patterns like this everywhere so i kinda disregarded it.

Whitey9457

I am mostly sure that that is mortar between two blocks. All of the blocks that line the top are the same length (at least when viewing with naked eye) and judging from the other mortar lines, that is where the mortar should be. hmm for some reason i thought that the “crack” at the top of image 11 was a feather…
I’m getting ready to head out now… i can’t find my shovel?! probably lost in the move i just did…. so i’m gonna have to buy a new one so i’m really hoping that the ground isn’t too frozen to dig (because i live in boston and have no other use for a shovel lol). i plan to dig a bit, then on breaks from digging I will pick up some trash. i didn’t have enough time to find a plant that i’m willing to sacrifice as my excuse for digging a hole… but i suppose i could just tell them that i’m coming back later with a tree to plant or something. really hoping that I don’t cause any problems from digging there though.

Hi Whitney, welcome.
Where exactly are you digging?

Hey I’ll be digging in the nook between the two circular areas…a few feet towards the water (i’m going to estimate where the shadow of the ledge would cast if only lit by the lamps in the area… there is a sunken area which looks like it had been dug in the past but i still figure that is a good place to start…
“feel at home” could be another reference to the hotel as well as the box with the castle on it (some type of metaphor for the hotel?)
also, “all the letters are here to see” this is a photo of the gate on the side of the old hotel that faces the digging area and the backwards S looks similar to the one on her dress in the image

Merlot, that looks like a moon’s crater.  We’ve most often referred to this as a window or an oculus, but maybe it’s an improvement to think of it as a moongate, though that’s a bit small and they tend to be more of an oriental motif.  Remember we had a rebus with a bell and a flower and called that “belflower road” in Cleveland?  Maybe this is more like a rebus with crater+opening=moongate.

ugh 15 pages of comments in and i’m still not convinced that either the picture or the poem are certainly boston lol

Now 25 pages in and gotta quit for the night…

If it’s in the nook, I’d have thought it might be right in the nook, up against the end wall. Then again, some of these were buried pretty deep – up to 3ft. I guess it might be difficult to get much depth at that position.
Just to dig a hole anywhere at the 2C and photograph it would be a very creditable enterprise. We appreciate your efforts.  😉

what do you meant the 2C? I’m on my way now… send me a PM or i won’t get it… I don’t think it’d be right up against the wall because it could maybe damage the wall and I don’t think it’d be too far from the wall because that whole area is built on giant slabs of granite covered in some dirt (the entire back bay of boston is landfill… but this area in particular is probably very hardened because it is right be the waterway…. also, I highly doubt that it is 3 feet deep because I’m pretty sure that would put it under the waterline and so every time you try digging a hole there it would just keep filling with water. I hope people realize that, because of this fact, even if this is the location, i highly doubt that it would’ve survived intact unless it is put in a very strong box (and if the cleveland quest is any indication, the boxes were probably quite flimsy… i believe the author was quoted saying that he really believed that all of these would’ve been found within a year or two…)

Whitney, maybe a post hole digger would be better than a shovel
and after a foot or foot and half you prob will hit behind the concrete
footer that holds the water back

So, unfortunately the ground is frozen here. I probably missed the window by only a week or so but it was pretty hopeless to even try… Not to mention that I didn’t have a proper shovel and the only hardware stores in the area only had snow shovels…definitely no post diggers. I can’t really blame them because there is hardly any green space in Boston so not much digging going on without heavy machinery. I had to find a crappy trench shovel at an army/navy store (which ripped me off big time lol). So I basically spent my time picking up trash in the area and then went over to Copley Square to investigate the Boston Public Library and the surrounding churches… Didn’t really find anything worth noting besides Xenophon on the wall of the library… not sure why i couldn’t even find the other name… maybe it had to do with the fact that I was freezing. If anyone ever gets the chance to visit while on a quest, don’t pass up a chance to check out the library because it is an amazing building.
I have a few pictures to post later but nothing at all groundbreaking besides you might notice it is less trashy. I also got to poke my head in the Somerset while asking the front desk if I could use their dumpsters for my trash and it was also a pretty amazing building but, again, didn’t notice anything worth reporting here.
So, the quest will have to wait until Spring but that gives me all winter to try to actually understand the clues and why everyone is so sure that this is the location.

I also decided that tomorrow i may go investigate the Paul Revere Mall in the North end. It is a park-like area near the Old North Church where the lanterns were placed in the church window (one if by land, two if by sea). I’ve been there before, but didn’t look to closely at anything. The ground is pretty much completely lined with bricks though so definitely no digging there… there are really only a small handful of areas in Boston where you could get away with digging and people not notice… the charlesgate area is definitely one of those locations.

Whitey9457

This pattern above the door reminds me of something from an article or one of the margins or other pages in the book.

Random thought… “With metal walls” could refer to “Old Ironsides” aka the USS Constitution

Or it could refer to the metal box that use to be on the small cement pad just inside the fenced area to the north of the circular areas.

how do you know that a metal box used to exist where there no longer is one? I noticed a cement block that used to have something on it (still had holes in it where the wires went through) but I assumed it was an old street light… also, there is a small building right there and next to it is a small metal box but I wouldn’t call any of them “walls”…

I do like the Harvard Stadium as a coliseum.  Very roman like.  Someone has mentioned that the image looks like and has the feel of education.  I have seen greek names on certain pics of Harvard U.  None of them from our verse3, but where there are some greeks, there may be more.  If Thucy and Xeno are somewhere other than the BPL in Boston, good bet they’re at a college.  Harvard U. is
north
across the river from the stadium.  hmmmm

boogieman

I do like the Harvard Stadium as a coliseum.  Very roman like.  Someone has mentioned that the image looks like and has the feel of education.  I have seen greek names on certain pics of Harvard U.  None of them from our verse3, but where there are some greeks, there may be more.  If Thucy and Xeno are somewhere other than the BPL in Boston, good bet they’re at a college.  Harvard U. is
north
across the river from the stadium.  hmmmm

I also wondered about this… If you look up Harvard Stadium, it’s a dead-ringer for the Roman Coliseum.  In fact, it’s probably more of a fit for the Roman Coliseum more than any other building in the US.
One thing I like about Harvard — on a total non -image or -verse related reason — is that Priess wrote for National Lampoon, which has its roots there.  I don’t take that connection too seriously, but I just imagine that it’d be fun to connect the book back there.

Unknown

Unknown:
Of course no one wants to shut you up.

Then I’m just not doing my job!! LOLOLOLOL……
I like this Coliseum thing–it DID occur to me that Preiss got his start writing for the Harvard Lampoon…and that is why I started researching him. Their coliseum absolutely does look like the one in Rome, but newer.
I thought about Christopher columbus park, too…but didn’t have much success raising pics of it. Thanks for posting those links!!
Does anything “pass” that Harvard coliseum on a regular basis? A bus, a trolley, a group of people? Would there be ships on the Charles River visible from there? (Modern ships usually have metal walls).  When they take Ol’ Ironsides out for a spin every year, do they pass Harvard’s stadium to get to the ocean? (I’m not exactly sure where it is–I mean the stadium, not the ocean. I haven’t misplaced that yet.)
I know there’s an observatory in Boston–at BU, and another one at Cambridge on Soldier’s Field Parkway. Has anyone got better pics of the Prudential skywalk?

shecrab

Their coliseum absolutely does look like the one in Rome, but newer. (I’m not exactly sure where it is–I mean the stadium, not the ocean. I haven’t misplaced that yet.)

You haven’t tried
http://www.local.live.com/ 
yet?  Zoom in on Boston.  Just go west of The Back Bay Fens area and you’ll see the stadium.  (Follow the river west)  Make sure you are set for the ariel viewing and the hybrid as well.  Those options are at the top of the page.  You can see the land below and the hybrid will names the roads and important places.

Thanks, Boogieman! That helped me zero in on it. Nice little mapping program—slower than Google Earth, but easier to see what’s what.

Unknown

Unknown:
The final spot is an area on the ground that is illustrated in the image.

Hard to tell exactly what that is, but if I had to guess, it’s probably the base from an old light post that illuminated the path before the (relatively) new ones were installed (based on the design, I’d guess sometime during the 70’s, but I’m sure you can get that information from the Park while you are navigating the permit process). The old wiring probably runs perpendicular to the box, parallel to the path, and may or may not be live and/or encased in conduit, so it goes without saying that you need to be very careful when you dig.
The other thing that strikes me concerns the last line of the verse (“in truth be free”) and the Athenaeum Press building. Hard to be sure from Google Street view, but it would appear today that the buildings on Cambridge Parkway block the view. But since those buildings look (again, relatively) new, perhaps that wasn’t the case in the fall of 1981. Either way, maybe that last line is meant to tell us on which side of the object to dig (WNW if I’m following you correctly) in much the same way that Preiss tell us to dig at the “southern foot” in Milwaukee, and “look north” in Roanoke. This final instruction narrows it down to one quadrant. Without it, you would have to dig a donut around an object to thoroughly rule it out, and depending on the size of that object, and how far away you are from it when you start to dig, that could be a fairly significant amount of dirt.
Good luck with the permit process, and the dig.

Hi… Over the past month, I found this hunt, devoured all the resources and history I can find here and elsewhere, but haven’t posted anything yet. I’ve been running, biking and walking the Esplanade and the Emerald Necklace since the 1980’s, and going to concerts at the Esplanade since 1975 or so. I’m a lifelong Boston-area resident, and I’ve spent a lot of time in and around the city.
The Emerald Necklace, including the Back Bay Fens, the Riverway parks, the Jamaicaway parks, the Arnold Arboretum and Franklin Park, was designed in the 1880’s by Frederick Law Olmsted. The Charles River Esplanade as we know it was designed in the 1930’s by Arthur Shurcliff, although some more random parks had already developed there after the first Charles River Dam was constructed in 1910, seven years after Olmsted’s death. Before the dam was in place, the Charles River was so noxious and polluted that the houses of the Back Bay closest to the river were built facing away from the river and towards Beacon Street; the closest street alongside the river there is named Back Street (Storrow Drive came much later).
I believe that up until at least 1983 or 1984, the old style streetlights were still in place on the Esplanade. Round (or faceted round) poles with a curved arm at the top with a pendant light with a shade. Some of them are visible in these photos from the Boston Globe:
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2014/07/02/fourth-july-celebrations/tAv1oY35eKxAaIw9jdlNgK/story.html?pic=1
In Photo 1 (dated July 4, 1975), the old streetlight style is visible on the right bank of the waterway that goes under the two pedestrian bridges.
In Photo 4 (dated July 4, 1980), in the center background, you can see the light of the streetlights that line the sidewalk that goes over to Community Boating’s Boat House and the footbridge stairs. They’re throwing light as if they’re a pendant style (i.e. a visible circle of white light in the photo), rather than a reflecting straight down style. With the streetlight visible right over the middle of the footbridge, you can see the pole sticking up higher than the arm and the light.
I would definitely suggest researching the age of the streetlights before depending on them for a clue.

The statue is still perfectly visible in 2014, I’ve spent many, many hours at and around the site
The condos are all new as of the 1990s, it was a clear view across the river before then. Easy to confirm with historical aerials and maps, but I had done tons of research on them already. Once I narrowed it down to this area I spent a lot of time thinking you were supposed to
cross
the bridge, which isn’t the case. So I’ve already done all of the research on the other side of the river. But you can absolutely 100% still see the statue today, even with the condos. Without it was large and dominating.
I completely agree about which “side” it’s on. I thought for a while that it was between the box on the ground and the lamp post but I think the final line has to be more than another “oh look, there’s that thing” clue, because there’s more than enough to get us here. There are enough of those boxes around the park that I think you may be right. Either way they’re all old, and Four21 has already done a lot of legwork in confirming that the lamps I posted (the ones with the design matching the painting) are pre-1981.
Aa bunch of the other stuff I didn’t post are park confirmers and things like that, there are significant other Polaroid level matches in this park, most of them at the start location, a few along the way. I have this down as a ‘complete’ solution, I don’t think I accidentally stumbled on the treasure ground. The verse fits perfectly too, there are absolutely no stretches. “5 steps” means from the start location you walk past 5 foot bridges (steps) to the Hatch Shell where the statues are and the stairs. The verse picks right back up at the stairs, you pass a green tower of lights along the way.
MA has a “DigSafe” law, so the utility companies will be marking all of their lines 72 hours before I dig and the DCR archaeologist will be on site. They’ve seen more or less the whole “case” (some of the stuff I didn’t bore you with here) and are on board with this site as well. I’ve brought a few casual Secret-interested folks through it as well, and the full list of things I have (it’s something like 12 or 14 matches in this park to this spot) has convinced pretty much everyone. I understand that nothing is ever, ever sure without a casque in this hunt, but I think this is possible the best chance we’ve had to dig one up in a decade.
edit: I sort of think the Gypsys face is taken from the Athena statue. not the whole thing, but look at the lips, the brow, the nose:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athenaeum_ … statue.jpg

I believe we are off track also. I have researched on the Chicago and Cleveland casque and both are in the immigration themed areas. The clues do not necessarily have immigration ties but final spot is definitely related.
Cleveland is clear, located in the Greek Cultural Garden.
Chicago located in Grant Park. There is an Irish connection there beside Grant visiting Ireland. Grant is part Irish on his mother’s side. John Simpson Sr is Grant’s great grand father the immigrated here from Ireland. Also when Grant visited Ireland they made him a honorary citizen, and the Grant Ancestral Homestead near Dungannon, in County Tyrone’s Clogher Valley has been restored, offering tourists a glimpse of Grant’s Irish ties as well as 19th century life in rural Ireland.
So that is what I have found.

I know there is supposed to be some immigration connection,
but even in the found casques, the connection is tenuous and arguable at best.
So while I am sure it exists in some way, format or idea.
I just don’t see it as an actualy clue that assists you in getting closer to the casque
it might have been a clue to help narrow down the part of the country
but since we already have cities/images and verses almost completely nailed down.
I don’t think it is at all a valuable clue any more.

maltedfalcon

I know there is supposed to be some immigration connection,
but even in the found casques, the connection is tenuous and arguable at best.
So while I am sure it exists in some way, format or idea.
I just don’t see it as an actualy clue that assists you in getting closer to the casque
it might have been a clue to help narrow down the part of the country
but since we already have cities/images and verses almost completely nailed down.
I don’t think it is at all a valuable clue any more.

I tend to agree here MF. If we look at the whole book, the Passage and the Vanishing basically lay out the groups and the geographic areas, more or less to help us assign the Images and Litany clues, and to a lesser degree the Verses. It’s kind of like the 30,000 foot view of the puzzles.

maltedfalcon

I know there is supposed to be some immigration connection,
but even in the found casques, the connection is tenuous and arguable at best.
So while I am sure it exists in some way, format or idea.
I just don’t see it as an actualy clue that assists you in getting closer to the casque
it might have been a clue to help narrow down the part of the country
but since we already have cities/images and verses almost completely nailed down.
I don’t think it is at all a valuable clue any more.

Seems a bit hasty to completely dismiss something that has clearly worked for the two known casque locations. Just because we are convinced that we have the city, verse and image pairings correct, doesn’t mean we have the slightest clue where the remaining casques are located or what clues are important in finding them.

Whitey if you can, please take pics of this exact dig spot.
I think this is the spot. Perhaps more clues nearby.

…yeah, I do like those stairs and letters. That pump house is definitely worth a closer look. I also like the possibility of a nearby spot beside the fence as the “metal wall”, facing the water, your back to those stairs sideways.

BINGO , here are the photos you showed me that I used for reference.
https://m.imgur.com/gallery/fXH38HI
I can see what you mean by how different the plots look today versus then. But like I mentioned, that pointed part of the 3’x3’x3′ triangle I posted appears to be the same….maybe not, but looks like it to me.

MrBackstop

BINGO , here are the photos you showed me that I used for reference.
https://m.imgur.com/gallery/fXH38HI
I can see what you mean by how different the plots look today versus then. But like I mentioned, that pointed part of the 3’x3’x3′ triangle I posted appears to be the same….maybe not, but looks like it to me.

Broken link dude.

Let me add something new to the conversation in the Fens, the star behind Erin. This is another clue that has two meanings.
It represents the Celtic Cross on the John Boyle O’Reilly statue behind Erin and her sons. The star, which is over her left shoulder in Image 11, also represents St. Clement which is over her left shoulder when viewed from Victory Gardens. So how do I come up with that? Do you see the number 1105 on Erin’s left arm? That is the address for St. Clement….1105 Boylston Street.

Before and after (publishing of the book) photos of the Victory Gardens. This is the comparison photo that Mr. Backstop was referring to above.
I posted a conversation about the lettered paths in the verse 3 thread on page 63.
https://i.imgur.com/fXH38HI.png

MrBackstop

Let me add something new to the conversation in the Fens, the star behind Erin. This is another clue that has two meanings.
It represents the Celtic Cross on the John Boyle O’Reilly statue behind Erin and her sons. The star, which is over her left shoulder in Image 11, also represents St. Clement which is over her left shoulder when viewed from Victory Gardens. So how do I come up with that? Do you see the number 1105 on Erin’s left arm? That is the address for St. Clement….1105 Boylston Street.

The JBO statue has been moved over 40’ from its original location. How can you be sure what was over Erin’s shoulder when the book, verse and painting were created? Even with the available pictures of the statue in its original location, it is very difficult to determine the orientation of the characters on the statue in relation to the surrounding buildings.
Not to mention, enhanced 911 changed the street addresses of tens of thousands of properties in Massachusetts. Are you sure that address to the church hasn’t changed? Not trying to be negative, just trying to eliminate possible loose ends with things that are strongly dependent on interpretation.

If that church’s address changed in the last 40 years I have no idea. As for JBO statue, yes you made me aware of that move from the traffic triangle to where it is today. It is slightly skewed but just about facing the same direction where it originally was. So with that in mind and looking at the historic photo of its original spot, the angle over Erin’s shoulder would be the same.

BINGO

Before and after (publishing of the book) photos of the Victory Gardens. This is the comparison photo that Mr. Backstop was referring to above.
I posted a conversation about the lettered paths in the verse 3 thread on page 63.
https://i.imgur.com/fXH38HI.png

Thanks BINGO, that is a great reference photo.

If you look at the very first entries in the Verse 2 thread they talk about a place in Quebec City that may fit that verse. That needs to be investigated.
While the Canadian could be anywhere it is most likely in one of 5 cities: Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City, Halifax Nova Scotia and St. John Newfundland. The reason I think one of these five cities is the place that has the Canadian Casque is because there are clues in the images or verses that at least with some streatch of the imagination point to one of these cities. It is also possible though I do not think so that Sault Ste Marie may have the Casque. It is possible that the shadow on the neck line could be the two pointed tip thing on the water front. As a practical mater it is unlikely Preiss went to Newfundland. It is hard to get to there are no direct flights from the U.S. I do not think and it is a 7 1/2 ferry ride just to get there by land and that goes to basicly noplace. To get to St. John that is a 15 hour boat trip followed by a 90 minute drive. I do not see any clues that even remotely point to westren Canada.
I think based on all the clues the Canadian casque is either in Quebec City or Toronto. The box image is likely one of three things: the Image that was found above, the Frontenac Hotel or Casa Loma in Toronto. The wall around the Frontenac is not teethed though. Based on all we have seen Preiss liked to burry casques in large parks. For these two cities the parks that could fit the verse are The Plains Of Aberham in Quebec City and High Park in Toronto. Another reason not to totally eliminate Toronto just yet is that I got vage references to Thucydides and Xenophon in toronto. We need to make sure that the neck line is not a clue to Sult Ste Marie.
I thik that Verse 3 goes with this and I think the thing that ties it too that is the Greek connection. Two other Verses that might match are Verses 2 and 10. The reasons for 2 are stated above as for Verse 10 it would not be unlikely that a park in Quebec would have a sign about Indies Native. Both possibilities need to be investigated.

Unknown

Unknown:
We need to eliminate the 15 rows down to the ground verse as for a match to Quebec City

Unsure what you mean here….that line is from a different verse.

Interesting indeed.  Keeping up with all the progress via my cell phone sure makes posting replies difficult.  Keep up the good work guys

DelRayBoston

Hi, I am brand new to this so forgive me. But I saw a few times the number 42 referenced as a part of this picture. It stuck out to me because that was Ted Williams number.

I’m not trying to discredit the rest of your theory – but Ted Williams wore #9.

Teddy Williams did hit that one ball into section 42 though!
http://www.bostonspastime.com/redseat.html

gManTexas

Teddy Williams did hit that one ball into section 42 though!
http://www.bostonspastime.com/redseat.html

And he did win the Triple Crown in 1942: .356 avg, 36 HRs, 137 RBIs and somehow lost the MVP to Joe Gordon.

Yes I was just kidding on the ted Williams number thing. It is tough to get humor or whatever through on text. That being said, is my theory really that crazy compared to everything else that is proposed, to be discredited? The elevated green line that passes a coliseum was erected in 1942…

slappybuns

boston common looks to be exactly “5” blocks from BPU

The courtyard is exactly five steps from the side walk.

Ringo, here’s something to ponder, something that has been bugging everybody for years.  The letter/road map that looks like a “G” to the right of the fairy.  We are almost sure the the hair outline of the woman represents the outline of Boston from overhead (go to
www.local.live.com
to see it).  Anything stand out for you that might be our “G”?  The old Garden maybe?  A map or the first letter of a landmark, maybe?
edit: hey FB, your diagram kind of looks like a v.

Another idea that I like:
Notice that the line in Verse 12:
Fence and fixture
Central too
The use of “too” NOT “to”.  Too means “also”.  Although the photograph of the Chicago find showed that it was roughly in the middle of “fance and fixture” as someone pointed out in a thread relating to the Chicago find the fence and fixture were also central within the picture.  “Central” had a double meaning.  “Look for the fence and fixture in the center of the picture” AND “the casque is in the center of the fence and fixture.”  I THINK BP chose his words VERY carefully.
Now the line in Verse 3:
In the middle section
I do like the play on words idea someone suggested that if Harvard was the site Harvard is in Middlesex county making a rhyming scheme.  however this could be relating the castle image that we can’t identify which is “in the middle section” of the painting.  The box image is a nice frame for an image within an image.  Also to father my theory note that the castle is a similar relief style of the fence in “Castle Hat”.  Perhaps, the “green tower of lights” we haven’t clearly identified is part of the castle which would REALLY echo the Chicago finds lines of verse.
————–
Also:
I dropped an e-mail of questions to my Uncle who happens to be an American History teacher.  He used to visit the sites he teaches about in class to be a better teacher and because he teaches history for a reason [he loves history].  He’s also a Red Sox fan [my whole family is], so he has visited a lot of Boston history on his way to ball games.  My grandparents both went to school in Boston, and as soon as I can get a phone call with them I plan to wrack my Grandfather’s brain around the “Tower of Green Lights” question.  Of course if the “Tower” in question didn’t exist yet in the 1940s my grandfather will be of no help there.  My grandparents and I don’t talk often as I have no phone at the moment.  I only call them once every few weeks from my Aunt’s house.  SO:  If anyone thinks of a question about particular landmarks that they want me to get a description of what they MAY have looked like at one time.  PLEASE get them to me over the weekend.  I won’t be calling until probably Monday.  I’ve also sent an e-mail with the Tower of lights question to my grandfather but he’s VERY slow to answer e-mail.  He has ten kids and over 30 grandkids e-mailing him almost daily.  He gets flooded and prefers us all to call him.  I doubt he will answer my last e-mail and will want to just talk about it instead.
I’ve also thought about trying to dig through family photos of Boston trips from 20 years ago.  Who knows what may spark a memory right?  That will have to wait for a trip home I won’t make until the summer time [“home” being a 5 hour ride].

“All the letters
Are here to see”
Ok, oddball thought from left field here:
What if this refers to a Pangram?  Maybe BP noticed a plaque that happened to contain a panagram in Boston?  Or a plaque itself contained all the letters of the alphabet, not neccessarirly in one sentence?  A writer or editor would be quicker to spot a quirk like that than any of us.  Think about it, when is the last time you spotted a piece of writing as short as appears on a plaque and it contained all 26 letter?  I realized this thought because I was searching for my copy of a book called “Ella Minnow Pea” today.  The story revolves around a town who worships the creater of the most famous panagram “The Quick Brown Fox Jumped Over the Lazy Dog” and has a monument to him.  It’s a very quirky fun book [letters slowly fall off and citizens who use the fallen letters become banished].  Anyone who likes quirky books and language should read it.  I just laughed so hard when I thought “what if this was in Boston”?

Unknown

Unknown:
hey FB, your diagram kind of looks like a v.

Funny, I intended it to look like a horse with a jockey…

forest_blight

Funny, I intended it to look like a horse with a jockey…   😛

giddy up!

Unknown

Unknown:
The use of “too” NOT “to”.  Too means “also”.  Although the photograph of the Chicago find showed that it was roughly in the middle of “fance and fixture” as someone pointed out in a thread relating to the Chicago find the fence and fixture were also central within the picture.  “Central” had a double meaning.  “Look for the fence and fixture in the center of the picture” AND “the casque is in the center of the fence and fixture.”  I THINK BP chose his words VERY carefully.

My theory is that “Central” refers to the “Central Line” train. Shadowrunner’s photo shows that the casque was not buried between the fencepost and the fixture. It was several yards away where the two lines of trees would have intersected – in the middle of the grassy area. My impression is that it was like this:
==========================$====
$
– – – – – – – – – – – – +    =
–    =
–    =
–    =
–    =
–    =
–    =
–    =
–    =
–    =
…where the + is the casque site, the -‘s were trees, $’s are fencepost and fixture, and the =’s are fence or wall (not drawn to scale).

boogieman

Ringo, here’s something to ponder, something that has been bugging everybody for years.  The letter/road map that looks like a “G” to the right of the fairy.  We are almost sure the the hair outline of the woman represents the outline of Boston from overhead (go to
www.local.live.com
to see it).  Anything stand out for you that might be our “G”?  The old Garden maybe?  A map or the first letter of a landmark, maybe?

I had read a post from someone wondering if the hair was a map of the harbor, which I like better than the skyline theory.  It doesn’t seem to fit the harbor though.
Although the skyline theory would closer resemble the Cleveland find with the outline of the building.  I know I keep looking for connections, but the more I try to find a pattern between the two known finds the more I’m thinking there may NOT be a pattern AND on purpose so that once a few were found the rest wouldn’t just topple in succession.  Think about this from a business sense:
BP probably hoped for some good media coverage each time a casque was found.  This would hopefully lead to more book sales.  Now if a story came out that detailed the first and second and even third find, such stories would probably involve interviews in which the finders would describe in detail what they did.  Such stories could lead others to the remaining locations faster and allow less time for more book sales.
I’m still hoping for a decent pattern of similarity, and I’m going to continue looking for one.  I think the outline of buildings may be too close to the Cleveland find though.
I’m hoping to have lunch with my father tomorrow.  He is a pilot and until last year had been flying in and out of Logan on a frequent basis.  He has talked about how pretty the skyline is from the air coming down.  I’ll throw the theory by him, as I think he as a pilot probably has a much better grasp on that than I could.
As for the “G” shaped crack in the wall:
I have been hoping it would turn out to be a street map or path in a park.  It resembles a “G” but I didn’t take it to be a letter.  In a way it would hurt to be a road because so much has changed in Boston due to the “big  dig.”  It could have meant something and we would have a hard time discovering what that something is.

Unknown

Unknown:
As for the “G” shaped crack in the wall:
I have been hoping it would turn out to be a street map or path in a park.  It resembles a “G” but I didn’t take it to be a letter.  In a way it would hurt to be a road because so much has changed in Boston due to the “big  dig.”  It could have meant something and we would have a hard time discovering what that something is.

Look at a satellite pic of the Charles River. It bears more than a passing resemblance.

I just did and I DO see what you mean.  The darker part of the crack in the wall looks more like a mark on the wall than a part of the crack.  Being thicker and darker.  It doesn’t feel like it “fits” with the rest of the line.  Not drawing any conclusions just making an observation.

Have you guys listened to the new “Shhhh The Secret” podcasts? They give really good insight in how the solved puzzles were deciphered and what themes/tricks might be used to solve the others.

Thanks Haarstick. I have heard the first two podcasts. They are a great source for informed and experienced perspectives.

gManTexas

For what it’s worth, I found someone’s detailed solve online. They place the casque by a cherry tree near the Rose Garden.
https://thesecretatreasurehunt.wordpress.com

Unknown

Unknown:
While many people see a ‘112°’ written in the flower petals to the bottom left of said map. I believe that this actually reads ‘212°’, as 212° is the boiling point for water. This is a reference to John Boyle O’Reilly

Oh thanks, I’ll check this ou-

gManTexas

I’m on the fence about the jewels in the images being in the location where they are buried relative to the other landmarks/map overlays/geographical features. Image 12 (NY) and Image 1 (SF) don’t seem to fit that mold, although we don’t have either of those casques, so hard to tell.

Same here. On the one hand, the map of GGP in San Francisco would place the Gem over the ocean. On the other hand, there’s that new theory (maybe it’s mine, idk if I was the first) that the neck where the pearl is is an exact x-marks the spot of the grassy dig location.
And, while we’re on the topic, is there any explanation for the jewel’s placement in image 2? It really screams “JJP forgot to put a gem in there and just put it somewhere at the last moment”

drunknerds

Oh thanks, I’ll check this ou-

“There’s no one that can dig a tunnel faster than our machines” said the white man.
“I can” said John Holmes
and they raced, and John Holmes won. Exhausted, he leaned on his hammer, but felt vibrations.
Suddenly, from over the hill came a man who could tunnel harder than any man or machine. It was whoever wrote this theory.

drunksy, I think you meant John Henry… John Holmes is the long schlong guy.
Anyway, I’m trying to builld up my puzzle-foo in this reverse-engineered perspective for Cleveland,
Is there something like this to be had for Boston’s Charlesgate area?

erexere

drunksy, I think you meant John Henry… John Holmes is the long schlong guy.

Omigosh. That IS embarrassing, especially since I specifically looked up John Henry to make sure I got the name right. Everyone, feel free to laugh at my freudian slip!

drunknerds

Omigosh. That IS embarrassing, especially since I specifically looked up John Henry to make sure I got the name right. Everyone, feel free to laugh at my freudian slip!

Yeah, I was waiting for the punchline…

E: Posted a cool pic of what I think is going on in Boston, but I pulled it for the time being. If anyone saw it before I pulled it, feel free to comment. I’m going to PM it to BINGO since he’s doing a lot of explorations at the site currently.

erexere

This makes like negative sense to me, which sucks because I really want to make sense of it. How come there are zero features in common between the two pictures?

I’ve selected particular features that seem to fit, but may not immediately make sense to anyone. It’s all just a crapshoot from where I sit, but if you’re so inclined, you might wonder if the sphere on the wall is a placeholder for a large urn at the site. The other factor is the hoof of the centaur might be pointing down for a reason. Also, look closely at how I’ve scaled the actual picture of the site so that the width of the base from urn to urn is matching the first level base of the painting’s wall. Sorry if it looks funky and all, but that blue boxed area is the actual spot you get when you count the bricks across and then down.
E: I’ve also made a comparative overlay of how the jewel in the painting might suggest an axis for finding the dig spot.

I have a question for all of the 2C’s image match fans. Would you agree that the perch and the box handle match the boat dock(as seen in numerous maps) and the hatch shell?
To clarify, I am not asking if you have a different interpretation of these clues. Only if the imagery matches these items as well as the imagery matches the 2C’s.

GoldenMartyr

I have a question for all of the 2C’s image match fans. Would you agree that the perch and the box handle match the boat dock(as seen in numerous maps) and the hatch shell?
To clarify, I am not asking if you have a different interpretation of these clues. Only if the imagery matches these items as well as the imagery matches the 2C’s.

Yes.

If we have two image matches in close proximity that are as good as the 2c’s, why is there a continued focus on the 2c’s area and less focus on the esplanade near the hatch? This has always puzzled me.

GoldenMartyr

If we have two image matches in close proximity that are as good as the 2c’s, why is there a continued focus on the 2c’s area and less focus on the esplanade near the hatch? This has always puzzled me.

I’m not a huge fan of the CG (Charles Gate) structure. If anything, it a way point. In simplistic terms, it is a visual that people can latch onto. Also, it has been widely published on the WIki site, so people tend to believe it.
The lack of meaningful visuals has caused people to focus on the CG since it is one of the few things in the Image that can be plainly seen, right or wrong.

I completely agree with you.

If it is home plate then could the old field house at Back Bay Fens make sense? There used to be another set of bleachers on the water side of the field and the field house has been greatly renovated since 1980. Maybe “feel at home” means stand at home plate? If you look towards the field house you might be able to see the tower for the Orthodox church across the street? Maybe that view is similar to the image in the box? There wasn’t a lot of lighting on the field back then so “lit by lamplight” could have pointed to one particular spot. But five steps towards whose direction???? There is a small statue of Roberto Clemente that I think is shaped like a home plate but was it there in 1980? More questions……

Haarstick

If it is home plate then could the old field house at Back Bay Fens make sense? There used to be another set of bleachers on the water side of the field and the field house has been greatly renovated since 1980. Maybe “feel at home” means stand at home plate? If you look towards the field house you might be able to see the tower for the Orthodox church across the street? Maybe that view is similar to the image in the box? There wasn’t a lot of lighting on the field back then so “lit by lamplight” could have pointed to one particular spot. But five steps towards whose direction???? There is a small statue of Roberto Clemente that I think is shaped like a home plate but was it there in 1980? More questions……

That’s a possibility. Can you share the info or pics you found of the other bleachers? They do look like steps. Also, which set of bleachers was the home side?

I am curious on the thoughts of the design on her left cuff. I’ve been dwelling on this for a while. Part of me thinks it looks like the old old school red sox logo sock, touching home plate.

gManTexas

That’s a possibility. Can you share the info or pics you found of the other bleachers? They do look like steps. Also, which set of bleachers was the home side?

I just dont think it is any old home plate though, with the other design next to it. the old school red sox logo was more of a stocking style, like the design show next to it. but that field in the fens could be something. the roberto clement monument has been there since 73…i used to play softball on that field years ago…i’ll take a walk over there sometime this weekend and do a little investigation.

MrBackstop

I just looked at those maps too from 1978 Haarstick. And gMan, it’s like I said yesterday the monument was just moved across to where it is now from the traffic island. It doesn’t change any of our thoughts to this point concerning the stairs. I see what appears to be stairs in the same spot.
Now with the Boylston Bridge still being the target let me throw this at you. Erin ( Our statue woman ) is in front of this side of the bridge. The circle behind her is the opening above the water and the reflection connected. It represents the water view you would see. The stone around it is the bridge and some reflection of the bridge.
If you look loosely at the lighter circle within the water circle, you see the top half is highlighted and the bottom isn’t…..you can notice as it comes into view in your brain that that is the opening of the other side of the bridge and its reflection on the river.
The star behind her head in the circle represents the Huge Celtic Cross that is behind her on the statue (other side of the Boyle O’reilly monument).
Now here is something interesting concerning the number 18 and 12 with the bridge.
You notice the half moons and globe in Image 11. These represent the half circles on top of the bridge of the main leg supports. Check it out on Google Earth. What I really find interesting is that if you count the stones across the railing of the bridge (not including the end cap stone) the 18th stone is in the curve of these main leg supports. Also, I believe in Image 11, the the bottom half circle with the lighter and darker colors represents the stones under the bridge. That’s why it’s the bottom half circle.
The fairy holding the jewel is showing us that the jewel is to the right of the opening of the Boylston Bridge. If you stand facing the river with your back to the stairs and turn to go North (12 O’clock”) until you get to the 18th stone on the top railing in that first Half Circle Leg, you should be able to line that 18th stone with wherever the light from the Lamp creates a shadow on the ground and we have our target.
What do you think?

Makes sense, maybe one of the Boston guys can check it out this weekend. It would be great to get photos from multiple angles, and possibly panoramic. The mother’s rest area is not well photo documented. Maybe also head over to Clemente Field area in the same visit.

“Feel at home” is idiomatic for “make yourself comfortable” or “stay awhile”. Taken to mean a baseball field, it could be a distance no more than an arm or a fair folk legs length in the direction of Boston’s Fenway Park. I like the idea, but where do we take that measurement from?
Another thought, it could be directly relating to the falcon in the painting. Has it made itself comfortable on its perch? “Feel at home” would then mean we need to find that specific “perch” and then continue on to the next clue if that’s not also the closest point to the dig spot. I like this idea even more. The waist high black wall of metal fencing at Charlesgate has “T” posts that look much like the falcon’s perch.
I also like Longfellows Landlords Tale, but that’s a given with the 12th hour 18th day lines.

gManTexas

Makes sense, maybe one of the Boston guys can check it out this weekend. It would be great to get photos from multiple angles, and possibly panoramic. The mother’s rest area is not well photo documented. Maybe also head over to Clemente Field area in the same visit.

These are taken at the base of the bridge pillar/bump out. I was there yesterday to scope it out for Mr.B. (He is correct, the bump outs are 18 cap stones from the end of the bridge.)
I got caught in traffic this morning so I didn’t have time to investigate where the street light casts its light at dark.
If the casque is/was in this area, let’s hope it was put on the high side of the fence. Major river level fluctuations have done a number on the bank.
https://flic.kr/p/Gf6YXm
https://flic.kr/p/EHR3Cz
This resident was feeling at home right next to Gman’s prospective spot. I thought he might be dead, just a heavy sleeper.
https://flic.kr/p/EHR3B2

erexere

“Feel at home” is idiomatic for “make yourself comfortable” or “stay awhile”. Taken to mean a baseball field, it could be a distance no more than an arm or a fair folk legs length in the direction of Boston’s Fenway Park. I like the idea, but where do we take that measurement from?
Another thought, it could be directly relating to the falcon in the painting. Has it made itself comfortable on its perch? “Feel at home” would then mean we need to find that specific “perch” and then continue on to the next clue if that’s not also the closest point to the dig spot. I like this idea even more. The waist high black wall of metal fencing at Charlesgate has “T” posts that look much like the falcon’s perch.
I also like Longfellows Landlords Tale, but that’s a given with the 12th hour 18th day lines.

Could be feel at home, as in the purpose of a hotel as well as landlord’s tale. Somerset Hotel.

I can’t believe I never thought of that before.

BINGO

These are taken at the base of the bridge pillar/bump out. I was there yesterday to scope it out for Mr.B. (He is correct, the bump outs are 18 cap stones from the end of the bridge.)
I got caught in traffic this morning so I didn’t have time to investigate where the street light casts its light at dark.
If the casque is/was in this area, let’s hope it was put on the high side of the fence. Major river level fluctuations have done a number on the bank.
https://flic.kr/p/Gf6YXm
https://flic.kr/p/EHR3Cz
This resident was feeling at home right next to Gman’s prospective spot. I thought he might be dead, just a heavy sleeper.
https://flic.kr/p/EHR3B2

What about it being on the opposite side of that same bridge…the boylston st stone bridge. More to the Ipswich street side. Ipswich could also be used for the final clue..in truth be free, as the town of Ipswich’s town seal signifies Ipswich as the “Birthplace of American Independence”

strike13

Could be feel at home, as in the purpose of a hotel as well as landlord’s tale. Somerset Hotel.

Great thinking! Could it also be the Charlesgate Hotel?

I don’t think so. There’s nothing that really says Charles gate a specifically as the Somerset is mentioned in the poem, though it mentions the Charles river.

erexere

“Feel at home” is idiomatic for “make yourself comfortable” or “stay awhile”. Taken to mean a baseball field, it could be a distance no more than an arm or a fair folk legs length in the direction of Boston’s Fenway Park. I like the idea, but where do we take that measurement from?
Another thought, it could be directly relating to the falcon in the painting. Has it made itself comfortable on its perch? “Feel at home” would then mean we need to find that specific “perch” and then continue on to the next clue if that’s not also the closest point to the dig spot. I like this idea even more. The waist high black wall of metal fencing at Charlesgate has “T” posts that look much like the falcon’s perch.
I also like Longfellows Landlords Tale, but that’s a given with the 12th hour 18th day lines.

If we consider the Landlord’s Tale for a moment:
One, if by land, and two, if by sea;
And I on the opposite shore will be,
Can this be our clues tied to the verse?
Eighteenth day
Twelfth hour
Lit by lamplight
Eighteenth = 6:00 or south direction from stairs.
Twelfth = 12 = 1 by land, 2 by sea. 1 something toward land, 2 something toward water?
LIt by lamplight
Or possibly we should be looking on the opposite shore by the victory gardens?

Here’s a great aerial video of the gardens and Mother’s Rest! Gives some good perspective although it seems very recent.
Looking for the old filed house pics now….
https://www.shutterstock.com/video/clip … Ug:1:19/gg

And here’s the PDF doc with notes and old pictures re: renovations to the Fens from 1983 – so these pictures are very close to what Preiss actually saw. The field house castle-like features aren’t like the painting’s though. But the document is an interesting read as to what was changed after 1983.
https://www.cityofboston.gov/images_doc … -20783.pdf

gManTexas,
It’s really tough to say how Preiss means us to apply the Landlords Tale…if there is any application at all. Could be used any number of ways.

Interesting find…..on page 55 of this book there is a note by the author that when standing just outside the gardens at the corner of Boylston and Park, you can see Fenway’s lights (green tower of lights). If you then turn around and walk towards the gardens (all the letters are here to see) you’d be right in the middle of the gardens (in the middle section). You’d be on Row X (which is north of row T) and you’d be facing the water. Looking at a 1978 aerial, the paths don’t appear to have changed much. Not sure if they were lettered in 1980 but I think so. It’s that “take 5 steps in the area of his direction” that always loses me…….
https://books.google.com/books?id=TX7S2 … 80&f=false

Haarstick

Interesting find…..on page 55 of this book there is a note by the author that when standing just outside the gardens at the corner of Boylston and Park, you can see Fenway’s lights (green tower of lights). If you then turn around and walk towards the gardens (all the letters are here to see) you’d be right in the middle of the gardens (in the middle section). You’d be on Row X (which is north of row T) and you’d be facing the water. Looking at a 1978 aerial, the paths don’t appear to have changed much. Not sure if they were lettered in 1980 but I think so. It’s that “take 5 steps in the area of his direction” that always loses me…….
https://books.google.com/books?id=TX7S2 … 80&f=false

talks of home plate in the ground too a little bit further down, onto the next page.

strike13

talks of home plate in the ground too a little bit further down, onto the next page.

There’s a home plate/Cy Young memorial where the old baseball field used to be. It’s now World Series Way on the Northeastern Campus.
http://www.oldmetstadium.com/BosHuntington/index.html

strike13

I am curious on the thoughts of the design on her left cuff. I’ve been dwelling on this for a while. Part of me thinks it looks like the old old school red sox logo sock, touching home plate.

I am convinced it is a home plate.

Question for the locals: Looking down on the C’s from above, is it possible that the pattern of seams and cracks matches the edge of the window in P11?

Here’s my question: What is on the other side of those circles? If from the base of the stairs you face the water and take five steps, where does that put you? Perhaps there are markings on the other side of the wall like in the archway in the image.

I found this photo, maybe the resolution is good enough to see that the bricks are either new or old, hard to say.

who thinks that this P goes to Boston or Salt Lake City?

Either Boston, or Sal Pregnant Fish Marsh.

One set of the lat/long coordinates for this image point directly at Pocatello Idaho.
I never did understand the reasoning behind Salt Lake City.
c

the old guy wants to put his vote in for Edison, New Jersey, …one more time!

I think I may have just found proofs that Pocatello is likely to be the location for this image. (In addition to the latitude and longitudes (42-112):
The first picture could be the “Castle” and the second is very like the shadows under the girl’s chin.

interesting finds SC.  The castle looks similar to that of the box castle but (and only an opinion here) I am starting to think that since we have had so much trouble locating this castle.. it may just represent something other than imitate it.  I am a little skeptical about the mountains.  Yes, they look close…very close actually, but I think with enough looking, we could find several sets of like mountains all across the country.
One other thing that bothers me about Pocatello:  We have..
*Chicago & Cleveland found
&
good theories on San Fran, Milwaukee, Boston, Montreal, NY, Charleston, New Orleans, etc…  Why include Pocatello Idaho on this list?  Makes no sense…

Because the latitude and longitude match EXACTLY.  That’s where I usually start with these pictures.
42 and -112.  42 is in her cuff, and 112 is over by the flower.
The mountains aren’t just “typical” mountains in the area—they are a
mountain formation
that is famous in the area:
Camelback Mountain.
That’s the sort of thing I look for. There’s another marker for this area, but I have to go home and blow up the picture and match it better first–I hesitated to add it to these because of its tenuousness.
But the hawk–that odd pattern of shadow on its body–the WHITE shadow–is simiilar to the SHAPE of the county Pocatello resides in. You can see that on Wiki (as much as I dislike using Wiki, they have okay maps).  Also, the configuration of the counties surrounding the Pocatello area are similiar in part to the crack on the right hand side of the image–the one with the “7” or “L” at the end. I didn’t put this up there first, because as I said, I wanted to make sure first–and the images are too small for me to work with here. I have to go home and use my tools on my home computer there.
You can check it out preliminarily, however, if you wish.
Pocatello has a website with several photos on it, including Camelback Mountain.
The other thing that I’ve noticed is that there are letters in the girl’s sleeve on the right–That first letter might be an H and it might be an I, turned 90-deg. I’m looking for other markers also–not merely going on these. Believe me, I won’t beat my ideas to a pulp…unless I find many many markers, I won’t pursue a connetion. I also hesitate to post anything because until I have a long list of stuff, I’m always afraid I’ll get yelled at for reposting old stuff.
The hawk itself is not “normal.” That extra-long wing…and the raised talon–are some other sort of thing, not regular hawk parts. I’ve just started on this image myself, and haven’t been working on it long.
I’ve already gone thru two images, and verses, though–and I’m only waiting for the ground to thaw to go dig in one locale.
ck

…aha, OK.
Here
.

I mentioned the Charlesgate Hotel the other day. That’s 4 Charlesgate E.

WhiteRabbit

…aha, OK.
Here
.

I do believe that is the spot strike13 is referring to.

strike13

Could be feel at home, as in the purpose of a hotel as well as landlord’s tale. Somerset Hotel.

this post

roughdraft274

This planter is located inside James P. Kelleher Rose Gardens…Need better pictures though…Has anyone posted this before?

…yep, there’s a set of close-ups
here
.

Nothing makes me feel less at home than being in a hotel, though? Like I can’t picture anyone making this puzzle, looking at a hotel, and thinking “feel at home, yes that’s the perfect way to describe this!”
That said, I don’t think there will ever be a case where we say “oh, nothing around here makes you feel at home,” it’s such a vague statement it’s easy to find qualifiers.

drunknerds

Nothing makes me feel less at home than being in a hotel, though? Like I can’t picture anyone making this puzzle, looking at a hotel, and thinking “feel at home, yes that’s the perfect way to describe this!”
That said, I don’t think there will ever be a case where we say “oh, nothing around here makes you feel at home,” it’s such a vague statement it’s easy to find qualifiers.

That’s exactly why I liked Mother’s Rest so much…

Unless… feel at home was a slogan for a hotel/chain in the area. But, Preiss didn’t strike me as someone who would put in some ad snippet in the middle of his boook about nature. Then again, the Citgo sign.
Edit: Okay, it looks like hotels the world over love the “feel at home” slogan. Knowing Preiss, this could have been that hotel.

Underneath the multiple overpasses is a small community of homeless people. A couple years ago, while hiding a shovel in the bridge girders, one of the men approached me and asked what the hell I was doing. Then asked me for money to get food. I told him that I wouldn’t give him any money, but I would buy him lunch if he answered a few questions for me.
I asked how long he lived under the bridge. He said 10 years on and off.
I asked how many people live there normally. He said 3-5 people was pretty standard.
I asked why the place was so popular for homeless to congregate. He said there was a food pantry just down the street.
I asked how long he lived in Boston. He said 55 years, his entire life.
I asked how far back could he remember homeless people living under the bridge. He couldn’t remember a time when the homeless didn’t live there.
My point is, to many of the homeless in Boston, that Bowker Overpass is Home.

Very interesting research methods. Good job Mr. Bingo.

BINGO

Underneath the multiple overpasses is a small community of homeless people. A couple years ago, while hiding a shovel in the bridge girders, one of the men approached me and asked what the hell I was doing. Then asked me for money to get food. I told him that I wouldn’t give him any money, but I would buy him lunch if he answered a few questions for me.
I asked how long he lived under the bridge. He said 10 years on and off.
I asked how many people live there normally. He said 3-5 people was pretty standard.
I asked why the place was so popular for homeless to congregate. He said there was a food pantry just down the street.
I asked how long he lived in Boston. He said 55 years, his entire life.
I asked how far back could he remember homeless people living under the bridge. He couldn’t remember a time when the homeless didn’t live there.
My point is, to many of the homeless in Boston, that Bowker Overpass is Home.

But were they there in 1982? Need photo evidence!
Just kidding, again this supports the notion that literally everywhere there is something that can fit “Feel at home”

Is there a name for it? I can’t find one.

JamesV

MF, need a second opinion here…does that “Utah” shaped brick in the top of the circle look more like Nebraska to you? I had a ton of homework to do last night, but instead chose to research landmarks around Omaha… (41 N lat, 95 W long)

yes it looks much more like nebraska (assuming you bent it into a curve) than utah.
I don’t think it’s either I think it is a 4 on one side and a site confirmer image on the left side.

BINGO

I do believe that is the spot strike13 is referring to.

exactly what i was referring to. i did also find this interesting, this guy posted on the wiki that he and his wife walked through the fens area. what i find most intriguing is how he sees an image match to the shadow on her neck. that is another part of the image that has been forever bugging me. He claims that the outline of the muddy river, when walking over the footbridge into the rose garden has that exact shape, which cannot be seen so well through google maps. i will be doing another walk through of that soon as well to get some other photos. this is his post, i thought a few of the images were great matches.
My wife and I have been to site a few times now to take a look around and we believe we have made some connections to the image. One is of the shadow cast by her neck and the rivers edge near the foot bridge (much more noticeable in person than google earth);
https://imgur.com/08HqZ9M
. Another possible connection is to the women’s left shoulder and the left shoulder at the WWII monument (at least we think i looks similar);
https://imgur.com/2TKhclm
. The last one has to do with a bird perch located near the rose garden;
https://imgur.com/C8Pz1gS
&
https://imgur.com/Wgpv2YE
. We have found out that the bird perch is for a red tailed hawk family, however based on information from the Emerald Necklace Conservancy, it was installed in 2010 (but who’s to say it wasn’t a replacement). Unfortunately we were denied permission to probe from the Boston Parks Dept.

strike13

exactly what i was referring to. i did also find this interesting, this guy posted on the wiki that he and his wife walked through the fens area. what i find most intriguing is how he sees an image match to the shadow on her neck. that is another part of the image that has been forever bugging me. He claims that the outline of the muddy river, when walking over the footbridge into the rose garden has that exact shape, which cannot be seen so well through google maps. i will be doing another walk through of that soon as well to get some other photos. this is his post, i thought a few of the images were great matches.
My wife and I have been to site a few times now to take a look around and we believe we have made some connections to the image. One is of the shadow cast by her neck and the rivers edge near the foot bridge (much more noticeable in person than google earth);
https://imgur.com/08HqZ9M
. Another possible connection is to the women’s left shoulder and the left shoulder at the WWII monument (at least we think i looks similar);
https://imgur.com/2TKhclm
. The last one has to do with a bird perch located near the rose garden;
https://imgur.com/C8Pz1gS
&
https://imgur.com/Wgpv2YE
. We have found out that the bird perch is for a red tailed hawk family, however based on information from the Emerald Necklace Conservancy, it was installed in 2010 (but who’s to say it wasn’t a replacement). Unfortunately we were denied permission to probe from the Boston Parks Dept.

These are great finds! Let me ask, can you post a static map of the match for the shadow on her neck? Or maybe just the exact coordinates, then I map it.

exactly what i was referring to. i did also find this interesting, this guy posted on the wiki that he and his wife walked through the fens area. what i find most intriguing is how he sees an image match to the shadow on her neck. that is another part of the image that has been forever bugging me. He claims that the outline of the muddy river, when walking over the footbridge into the rose garden has that exact shape, which cannot be seen so well through google maps. i will be doing another walk through of that soon as well to get some other photos. this is his post, i thought a few of the images were great matches.
My wife and I have been to site a few times now to take a look around and we believe we have made some connections to the image. One is of the shadow cast by her neck and the rivers edge near the foot bridge (much more noticeable in person than google earth);
https://imgur.com/08HqZ9M
. Another possible connection is to the women’s left shoulder and the left shoulder at the WWII monument (at least we think i looks similar);
https://imgur.com/2TKhclm
. The last one has to do with a bird perch located near the rose garden;
https://imgur.com/C8Pz1gS
&
https://imgur.com/Wgpv2YE
. We have found out that the bird perch is for a red tailed hawk family, however based on information from the Emerald Necklace Conservancy, it was installed in 2010 (but who’s to say it wasn’t a replacement). Unfortunately we were denied permission to probe from the Boston Parks Dept.
These are great finds! Let me ask, can you post a static map of the match for the shadow on her neck? Or maybe just the exact coordinates, then I map it.
that was the wiki guy’s post…the second part i copied on the end…that is why i want to go there to photograph it myself so it is not viewed like that…

This planter is located inside James P. Kelleher Rose Gardens. It’s an insane resemblance and there are alot of other matches nearby. This just seems too uncanny. Need better pictures though. Wish I was in Boston, cause this is a big clue in my honest opinion. The casque might be buried right in front of it.
Has anyone posted this before?

These are all very good finds roughdraft. I don’t recall seeing many of them. Intriguing indeed.

BINGO

There is a set of stairs near that park very close to the waters edge. The concrete railing looks very similar to the image in the book that has the character sitting with a shovel. The Citgo sign is clearly visible from that spot as well. It is an interesting area.

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.3499367 … 312!8i6656
those stairs bingo?

strike13

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.3499367 … 312!8i6656
those stairs bingo?

Can someone get over there and take a bunch of photos? This could be worth following up on.

There is a set of stairs near that park very close to the waters edge. The concrete railing looks very similar to the image in the book that has the character sitting with a shovel. The Citgo sign is clearly visible from that spot as well. It is an interesting area.
https://www.google.com/maps/@42.3499367 … 312!8i6656
those stairs bingo?
Can someone get over there and take a bunch of photos? This could be worth following up on.
i will tomorrow….

strike13

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.3499367 … 312!8i6656
those stairs bingo?

BINGO!!

gManTexas

Can someone get over there and take a bunch of photos? This could be worth following up on.

erexere posted about this area quite some time ago. The outline of the brick pavers in the park area remind me of the general shape of the woman’s head and shoulders in the image. With the tree cover in that small park, really good aerial images were difficult to come by.
There are steps, water, the concrete railing, the light poles, multiple electrical boxes, the citgo sign and even a view of a building that has towers with a dome on the top. Lots of good stuff in that park.
Still nothing (in my opinion) that is photographic quality evidence that links it to the image.

Has anyone spotted this before? Seems to be just as good of a match as that other round park. But the notches in the picture patch up with the notches in the park. It’s right next to post office square also maybe referencing “see all the letters here to see”? Meaning letters being sent rather than alphabet?

roughdraft274

Has anyone spotted this before? Seems to be just as good of a match as that other round park. But the notches in the picture patch up with the notches in the park. It’s right next to post office square also maybe referencing “see all the letters here to see”? Meaning letters being sent rather than alphabet?

i like it! but i know that whole area of po sq was redone in about 95…there was a parking garage which was torn down and then rebuilt underground with a park on top…this parcel, however, still could have been there…