The search for the Secret Casque in Milwaukee!
Even after 40 years, searchers continue to contemplate clues within the matched images and verses of The Secret Treasure Hunt. The hunt was released in 1982 by Byron Preiss, and of the 12 treasures buried, only 3 have ever been found. Nine remain. One of which is believed buried in Lake Park, Milwaukee.
I was following some of John Limbach’s adventures on scouting out Lake Park for a buried casque. His excitement, positive attitude, and humble approach towards his search inspired the thought of doing another round of ‘In Search Six Questions on The Secret‘. I was so happy he agreed. I always love to share the wonderful experiences and memories being made in the search – they are treasures as well.
So a huge thanks to John for launching this first of the second – In Search Series. Enjoy! Might another casque be on the verge of being discovered?!
(If you have gone BOTG for a casque, and would like to participate in this secret series of Six Questions, please message me at Treasure@MysteriousWritings.com or on the MW Forum and we can chat)
Six Questions with John:
- 1Q) The Secret treasure hunt was first launched over 40 years ago. What has inspired you to take up the challenge of finding the buried casque in Milwaukee?
I must start by telling you how tickled and honored I was to get your message. I have so much respect and admiration for you not only for the quality of content that you deliver, for providing a safe, virtual gathering place for treasure and mystery seekers, and the commitment to Mysterious Writings, but even more so for how charity is woven into your efforts each year. You are a true treasure.
I had heard of The Secret many years ago, but that the creator had died, and the prize of a jewel was no longer guaranteed if found. That was obviously misinformation because Byron Priess’ family is not only cherishing his memory after his tragic passing but has continued to have jewels ready to be delivered if the key in each remaining casque is returned to them. The Boston Find episode of Expedition Unknown where the three casque find groups are brought together with the family and the amazing painter, John Jude Palencar (JJP), was fantastic. I can’t imagine any treasure hunter not wanting to be part of that exclusive club.
As I was turning my attention away from the aftermath of Forrest Fenn’s The Thrill of The Chase and looking for other things to satiate my wanderlust, my interest was rekindled by Dan “Copper Dan” Hedblom who was also looking for new hunts to move on to and is currently working on the Tribute hunt in Louisville.
With the Milwaukee painting and verse “settled law” by most and downtown Milwaukee only fifteen minutes from my home, it was an easy choice to dive into it and be able to be Boots On The Ground very easily. Since October, I have made five BOTGs, spent many hours looking at clues and the verses to match, and let’s just say some “investigation”.
The Secret just like Forrest Fenn’s TTOTC or Kit Williams’ Masquerade really hits my sweet spot for the hunts that I like. You have the best elements of both armchair and BOTG hunts where you solve the location based on poetic verses and imagery.
- 2Q) What elements caused you to match Verse 8 with Image 10. Do you have any doubt this pair go together?
I’ll answer in reverse order (appropriate because the painting has the juggler passing the items in reverse order to figure out “Milwaukee”).
I do not have any doubts on the park but would never claim that I am right with no evidence to show for it. I will be more than happy to congratulate a finder that uses a different verse for this painting and finds it anywhere in Milwaukee. I think everyone wants to be a finder, but I also believe that many in The Secret community are cheering for others to find more casques. It is always so cool to find out how they figured it out and accomplished it.
Milwaukee was one of the easier images to figure out in my opinion just by the exact match of City Hall. The color in the background was also an easy one for me as Milwaukee is not only known as “Brew City”, but also the “Cream City” for all the creamy, yellow limestone brick that was used to build up many of the oldest landmarks here. And with the verses, Mitchell is such an iconic name in Milwaukee from the airport name, to “The Domes”, to the building at UWM – Billy Mitchell is certainly at the top of the list for leaving the largest mark on Milwaukee. ‘Cast in Copper” I agree is referring to a penny. Lincoln Memorial Drive is the scenic drive along Milwaukee’s Lakefront with a statue of Lincoln in front of the War Memorial. The 92 steps match the Grand Staircase at Lake Park. I laughed out loud when Josh Gates did the “Laverne & Shirley” theme song on those steps. There are several more verses where the words match geographic and landmark imagery. It’s a match for me.
- 3Q) What clues of the Verse and Image do you feel most confident on?
Oh, I got ahead of you…continuing with that thought, “You’ll see a letter from the country of wonderstone’s hearth”, matches with the Walcott statue not only in verse but to the technique that Byron used in having chiseled words or iconography in stone somewhere in the verses of the found locations.
I guess I had what I will coin “proximity bias” living so close to the most agreed upon casque locations for Milwaukee. No one can say who is wrong or right until it is found, but I do believe that it is (or was) in Lake Park. I literally have spent hundreds of hours in Lake Park throughout my life. As a kid, our moms would drive us up and down Ravine Road or as we kids called it, “Snake Drive” (off Lake Drive). I also played many a round of golf on the executive Par 3 course and was half of a duo that won the Twisted Fork Charity Golf Outing there. And yes, there used to be two round, red tee markers on each tee box back then. They are navy blue and diamond shaped with hole numbers on them now. Lastly, the pavilion is home to one of if not the best restaurants in Milwaukee, Lake Park Bistro. It is a James Beard award winner restaurant and my wife’s favorite.
I was proud to become friends with the late, great Joe Bartolotta. He was a Milwaukee icon and is terribly missed by all who knew and loved him just like John Michaels in The Secret community. I unfortunately never had the pleasure of meeting, joking, or jousting with John; but the way people speak about him, it’s my loss. I have sat on the bench dedicated to him while listening to his podcasts with George Ward. It’s moving. His dedication and work on The Secret was amazing and has helped fuel my passion to potentially figure this one out. It is amazing to me that this hunt has been active for over 40 years and the casque may be buried at one my favorite and most sentimental locations just a few minutes from home. I keep coming late to these amazing hunts, but better late than never.
- 4Q) What clues of the Verse and Image do you feel least confident on?
Well, anytime you think you have figured out a clue and set a location, but the casque is not there, I’d be LION if I said it didn’t shake my confidence. Having the benefit of listening to how the other three locations were solved, and all being related to park locations and the ties to immigration; my confidence returns, and I head back out to investigate. For Milwaukee, I believe as many do from research by others and JJP’s own words that there is some “juggling” of verses and specifically the three lines that begin with the word “pass”. That was very confusing to me at first until I learned of the sleuthing others had done and listened to JJP talk about it in his own words.
- 5Q) From actively searching for the casque, are you finding that the clues in the Verse and Image are enough, once completely and fully understood, to pinpoint and unearth the casque? Or do you feel the passage of time has made it near impossible?
That is really the rub here. Those who learned and watched how the Boston casque was literally “saved” by one searcher working with a construction crew before it was demolished and lost forever makes the search in every other city a question mark. With Byron gone, there is no confirming body that can let us know if a casque still exists or if so, is still accessible at the location where he hid it. At least Tribute searchers know that one is out there.
In Milwaukee for example, while the terrain had remained mostly the same since the 1980s there have been significant projects in the parks where drainage has been redone, bridges have been repaired and relandscaped, and additional concrete has been placed around landmarks and on paths. I know that many have given up, especially with the stance of Milwaukee County Parks. I am a member of Lake Park Friends and contacted the parks department only to receive the same stock letter that many others now receive. I do understand some of the concerns because I have been dismayed to find unfilled and poorly covered digging that is most likely related to The Secret. I’m not encouraging anyone to violate park rules, but please give back to the earth what you taketh from it.
With that, the topography even around the bridges has not changed that drastically even on the slopes. The work on the footbridge was just completed and it has reopened. I’m not a believer that it is under Ravine Road back by the drive, and that whole area has been regraded and landscaped so if it was there, we may be out of luck. The level of grade around the Lion Bridges remains the same, but these were redone in several ways and including adding drainage around them so it could be the same there unfortunately. Also, if I had to guess, there have probably been 1,000 holes dug around the Walcott statue prior to my first BOTG. The ground is so soft in some aeras that a person with cane might have it sink in a foot if they are not careful.
But alas, even if I found just a shard of plexiglass or an identifiable piece of the casque, I’d consider that a win…and maybe call Josh Gates.
- 6Q) I always like to ask if those actively searching can offer any advice to those new to the search. What are some things you have learned from experience and would want to share? How are you enjoying the search?
The first thing is that I like to try is solving it on my own. To match the verse with the painting and see what you produce. Forming your own ideas and research before diving into all the great content and work that others have done for decades. As great as the info is after you have done this, they didn’t find it yet so even if you have one fresh idea, get it out of your head before you may cloud it with the work of others. But once you do that, then investigate the work of others. And if you like people, collaborate. Watch the Expedition Unknown episodes, listen to podcasts by George, Dustin, and others, join the Facebook groups, and lastly make a trip to see the site for yourself. The topography and actual viewing cannot be duplicated in a video or photos. Next, don’t get discouraged after your first miss. There aren’t many “one-hit wonders” in major treasure hunts. Plan on enjoying the experience without finding anything so that your expectations are solid. And finally, have life balance. It’s easy for hunts like these have smart, passionate people do some not so smart things regarding time. perspective, and integrity. If your family and friends say you are spending too much time or that your priorities are out of whack, they are usually right. Take a break and live to fight another day.
While it has been 40 years, I do think because of my life-long knowledge of the area and my research techniques that I have identified at least one new answer and some potential clarity on some others that I have not seen or heard mentioned anywhere.
I continue to learn and practice the lesson of giving gratitude. Gratitude to Byron for creating The Secret with JJP, and to his family for keeping The Secret an ever growing, fun mystery to solve.
This has really been a gift given to me by Forrest Fenn. Having a full life with a beautiful wife and grown kids, an executive career, and many other interests that took their rightful places for decades, I had further distanced myself from my love of nature and adventure that I had experienced in my youth. I was an accomplished scout that had so many arrows and badges that I had to untuck my shirt where my mom would iron and sew them on. I loved climbing trees and being out in nature. I never had the pleasure and honor of meeting Forrest, but I love the guy and thank him for creating something so unique and epic that it got me “back out” post-pandemic with travel, adventure, and trying to solve other hunts and mysteries.
I have really enjoyed going BOTG for The Secret Milwaukee. The trails and areas overlooking Lake Michigan are beautiful and a great workout while having fun. If a Milwaukee park is the place Byron picked, he did well. If not, you can still eat at a James Beard award winning restaurant, go lawn bowling, or play a round of pitch and putt golf there. All are welcome to the “Brew City”! Thanks again, Jenny. I look forward to our future chats.
