This is the fifth of a series of Six Questions with dedicated searchers of The Secret (A Treasure Hunt) published in 1982 by Byron Preiss. Each Six Questions of the series will take a look into a location for a buried Casque of The Secret Armchair Treasure Hunt. There were 12 buried casques of which only two have ever been found.
The following takes a look at the believed location for a Casque in Boston. Adrian proves that someone relatively new to the hunt can discover exciting items and make a persuasive case for a location of the buried casque! Enjoy!
It is believed Image 11 matches with Verse 3 for Boston
- Q1) When did you first hear about the secret?
In the first airing of Expedition Unknown January 2017
- 2Q) What inspired you to look for the Boston Casque?
I love Boston, it’s a beautiful city with precious history of America it’s the place where American revolution erupted, so out of 12 puzzles Boston and New York are my favorites!
- 3Q) What makes you believe the Casque is in Boston? Would you mind sharing some of the highlights of your solution?
There are numbers in the painting that matches Boston coordinates and also I discovered that the numbers that are close to the flowers in the painting, if you read them backwards, make up a zip code for the north end neighborhood in Boston: (Lots more on this theory after the Six Questions)
- 4Q) What is the most unique thing you found while searching or what did you enjoy most about your search?
The most unique thing that I found in the Secret is definitely how the Secret make treasure hunters learn about history, their family roots, architecture and everyday surroundings that we usually don’t pay attention too. I truly find this fascinating!
- 5Q) What would you say is the major obstacle preventing a successful unearthing of the Casque?
A major obstacle I think is definitely time. It’s been almost 40 years since Byron Preiss buried the casques, and parks statuses have changed– some became national landmarks and most were renovated over time.
- 6Q) Do you have any advice for someone else looking for this treasure or is there something more you would like to add?
If you have kids get kids involved with the puzzle. It’s a great way to bond with your kids in the age of internet. Keep it simple but always have an open mind and don’t get stuck in one thing if it doesn’t work!
MORE ON ADRIAN’S BOSTON TREASURE THEORY
My theory starts with a clue from the painting that are numbers. I came up with an idea to run the numbers backwards and see if they work as a zip code and it did. It turns out that zip code for the numbers 02113 is North End, Boston.
So just to explain something, after getting this result I decided to start looking for clues through google earth and try to match it with the features in the painting, even though I was skeptical for the possibility that the casque location could be in North End because I noticed almost no one was looking in that area and also because North End is a very old area with an incredible history and landmarks. It’s hard to believe Preiss would bury a casque somewhere in that kind of sensitive place. This is the reason I think people overlooked North End not because there aren’t any clues.
So immediately I started finding Clues one by one until I came up with a Dig spot and everything that I needed was in North Square. The way I ended up with a solution through a short cut and not needing the first lines of the verse, like what was Colosseum or metal doors. Even though I was very confident with my solution, I still wanted to try and solve it step by step from the beginning of the verse. That way I would confirm even more that I am right with my spot!
I believe it’s about Paul Revere and his Midnight ride:
Take five steps
In the area of his direction
The verse is telling us to go along Revere’s route because all five riders took different routes
A green tower of lights
In the middle section
Near those
Who pass the coliseum
A green tower of lights are many traffic lights right at the beginning of Freedom Trail Foundation that pass the Colosseum.
Face the water
Your back to the stairs
You follow the Freedom Trail through Hanover street and then Richmond street and here if you look straight you see the ocean (face the water). With your back from the stairs of Rachel Revere square (wife of Paul Revere ).
Feel at home
I feel this is Paul Revere’s house that is right in front of Rachel Revere square. Ok so now we arrived in north Square Park which is the location of major clues from the painting and the remaining verse including the x marks the spot! North square park shape in the painting is shown in the right sleeve of the woman.
North square park has North Sq street and Moon street Forming a triangle. The Moon st and North Square is in the painting and it’s located in the circle blue space inside the window above woman’s head. You have the Moon inside and the North Star (square play of words) just as in the North sq park. Moon street and North sq street.
All the letters
Are here to see
Here is talking about seaman’s Bethel House, which was a charitable school for sailors wife’s to learn how to write to their husbands that were away. –letters Here to sea (see) – Today Bethel House is a Catholic Church called Sacred Heart and the address is 12 Moon Street.
Eighteenth day
Twelfth hour
Here we have number 18 and letter D in a building that is in opposite corner from Sacred Heart Church– 18 D and 12 H– Inside the church!
Next line also pinpoints my X mark the spot .
Lit by lamplight
In truth, be free.
“ Lit by lamplight “ is an old lamppost that is located right across the Paul Revere’s house and is in a small triangle parchment of grassy area which has been there since at least the 60’s. However, I heard work was being done in north square park and got some new pictures from locals that shows that the park was renovated- but the lamppost and the box is still there. I am not sure if they disturbed the soil around it.
“ in truth,be free.”
Freedom trail runs right next to the lamppost which is with red bricks and has a marker like this:
.
Best of luck with all that you seek! Always Treasure the Adventure!
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Have you dug at the site and how certain are you that this is the location?
Planning an expedition in Aug. 2019 for the day of exploring.
Any work of advice?
Any luck in August??