Smith Coffee & Cafe in Eden Prairie is hosting its 17th annual Sheldon’s Wrench Treasure Hunt, beginning Monday, Feb. 24. The winner will receive $100 in cash and a $250 gift card to the cafe.
The citywide hunt challenges participants to find a hidden wrench said to have belonged to Sheldon Smith, who built the historic Smith-Douglas-More House – the site of Smith Coffee & Cafe at 8107 Eden Prairie Road.
Each day at 2 p.m., a new clue will be posted inside the cafe to help hunters locate the wrench, which will be hidden in a public park in Eden Prairie. Participants are encouraged to look for hidden meanings in the clues and to follow the City of Eden Prairie’s geocaching rules and policies.
Smith Coffee & Cafe reminds participants to respect both public and private property while searching for the treasure. For complete rules and more information, visit the cafe’s website.
The following poem from Smith Coffee & Cafe serves as the lore or backstory for Sheldon’s Wrench Treasure Hunt.
The Lore
1877 that was the year
when Sheldon Smith settled down here
Equipped with the tools he held in his hands
he constructed his home in which Smith Coffee now stands
His craft was true and tools were trusty
his wrench was prized albeit rusty
He reached for it once to tighten a bolt down
he realized he lost it while traveling through town
He and his family searched high and low
Mary and Amie wondered “where did it go?”
Winter is here and the quest will begin
Hunt for the wrench we hope you will win!
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