Blackwater Bones reveals Treasure Hunt solution

Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2010 Blackwater Bones Lost Treasure Hunt. Please take a moment to review the clues and their solutions. We hope that the solutions will help you understand the meaning of the clues and where information could be found to solve them. Reviewing the solutions will hopefully assist you in your efforts to prepare for next year. The Santa Rosa County Chamber of Commerce and The Santa Rosa County Historical Society look forward to bringing you another challenging treasure hunt that features more of Milton's rich history.

Clue 1

Seek EW's old spot, "two blocks from town,"

Where an office was built, with more offices inground.

Laid within an outer wall, now blemished with white,

Rests a stone of year '40, and me key, inscribed twice.

Clue 1 directs you to the Old Post Office on the corner of Caroline Street and Escambia Street. In the book "Images of America: Santa Rosa County Florida" (page 35), there are two pictures along with historical information about the Post Office. This information indicates that EW's old spot is referring to the old Ellis-Williams House and the house was moved from the site prior to construction of the Post Office. It tells that the Post Office was built in 1940 and would be located "two blocks from the town". The book also mentions that a basement was built in the Post Office to house more federal offices. On the front of the Post Office is a stone inscribed with information about the construction in 1940. The word supervising appears twice on the stone. The key is SUPERVISING.

Clue 2

A two-hour skirmish, and Spurling took command,

His troops made camp, Bagdad was in hand.

See th' history on a sign, read about th' brawl,

Th' soldiers left me key, in th' house on th' walls.

Clue 2 directs you to the two-sided historical marker located at the Thompson House on Forsyth Street in Bagdad. One side of the marker commemorates the "Skirmish on the Blackwater", the largest skirmish in Santa Rosa County in the Civil War that featured Confederates of the 15th CSA Calvary against Union Troops under the command of Lieutenant Colonel A. B. Spurling. The other side of the marker commemorates the "Thompson House", which was occupied by Union troops following a raid on Bagdad. The marker points out that Union soldiers left graffiti on the plaster walls in the house, including drawings and signatures. The key is SIGNATURES.

Clue 3

Our Imogene was burnin’, th’ firemen fought and saved,

But way back in '09, almost all th' town was razed.

In th’ department’s ole park, near th' remnants of a tower,

Find me key with a scar, on a relic of steam power.

Clue 3 refers to the fire that burned the Imogene Theater in downtown Milton in 2009, and how the firemen fought to save it. However, back in 1909, a fire leveled the whole business district in Milton. Before the fire station was located at its present site on Stewart Street, the fire station was located at Susan (now Bruner) and Berryhill Streets, on the site of the old waterworks and electric plant. You could find this information on the Milton Fire Department web site. In the book "Images of America: Santa Rosa County Florida" (page 48), there is a picture of the old town waterworks and electrical plant once located at the site. It tells you that the concrete tower bases(remnants) are still part of the park. In the park next to the old station is an old Underwriter Fire Steam Pump (relic). The label on the pump reads "Underwriter Fire Pump" and has a crack (scar) down the middle of it. The key is UNDERWRITER.

Clue 4

Use yer deadlights, man! walk west across th' river,

Spy a park as ye pass over, aye there's a clue to me silver.

Near th' end of th' bridge, a wee bit off th' starboard side,

Find me key with th' council, one line below Clyde.

Clue 4 directs you to walk west across the Blackwater River Bridge (hwy 90), located in downtown Milton. "Deadlights" means "eyes" in pirate talk. You are told to look at the Riverwalk Park as you cross the bridge which is where the key is located. The clue says that when you reach the end of the bridge, look on the right side(starboard) for the (city)council, which is located on the "Riverwalk Park" plaque in the park on the ground. On the Riverwalk Park plaque, below the word Clyde, is the word Bolley. The key is BOLLEY.

Clue 5

Just off th' path, of th' rail-trail way,

Find six jacks in a seal, proudly perched on display.

Their buckos serving broadside, protecting with loyalty,

Find me "key" with '99, in a memory beside th' royalty.

Clue 5 refers to the Blackwater Heritage State Trail, or "rail-trail", which runs through downtown Milton and follows the path of the former Florida and Alabama railroad. The trail passes near Milton City Hall, which is where the clue directs you. The City of Milton Seal is displayed on the front of City Hall and contains six flags (or jacks in pirate talk) in the center. Buckos (or friends in pirate talk) refers to the Milton Police Department, which is located next to (broadside) City Hall. Police "serve and protect" the community, which is mentioned in the clue. On the front of the Milton Police Department is a plaque, dated 1999. The clue tells you that the key is beside the word Prince (royalty), and is in parenthesis. The bottom of the plaque reads 'Dedicated in Memory of Councilman S. P. "CHUCK" Prince'. The key is CHUCK.

Clue 6

Th' book tells a story, of a school's original home,

A hall that was borrowed, when th' school was outgrown.

Seek Pine and Oak matey, go north ye will see,

A compass reveals th' place, above a Chain find me key.

Clue 6 refers you to the book "Images of America: Santa Rosa County Florida". On page 62 there is a picture of the "Santa Rosa Graded School", which is now the Santa Rosa County School Administration Building. There is a plaque on the front of the building that reads "This Building is the Original Home of Milton High School", as mentioned in the clue. The book points out that the nearby Masonic Hall was rented for class space when the school was outgrown. The clue directs you to go to the School Administration Building (which is located between Pine Street and Oak Street) and then go north where you will find the Masonic Lodge. The clue says a compass (a symbol used by the Masons) will show you where the key is located. The compass Masonic symbol is on a plaque located on the front of the Masonic Lodge (Canal St and Caroline St.). The plaque commemorates the Santa Rosa Lodge No. 16. On the plaque, above the name "John Chain", are the words "Worshipful Master". The key is MASTER.

Clue 7

A Bucko nicknamed "Jack", he was Sheriff from '81 to '93,

Embark on his resting place, th' website of SRSO will help ye.

Use th' map near th' entrance, find plot 5 with his three stones,

See the key above th' town, "Where Good Living Flows".

Clue 7 refers you to the Santa Rosa Sheriff Office web site. On the web site is a Wall of Honor, which contains historical information about the past sheriffs who have served in Santa Rosa County. The clue directs you to find the Sheriff (Bucko from clue 5) William Jackson Johnson, who was sheriff from 1881 until 1893. The article indicates that his nickname was "Jack" and that he is buried in the Milton Cemetery, located on Berryhill Road. The Clue directs you to use the map near the entrance of the cemetery to locate plot 5 which contains his three headstones. One of his headstones reads "William Johnson Founder of Milton". The city of Milton's motto is "Where Good Living Flows". Above the word 'Milton' is the word 'Founder'. The key is FOUNDER.

The keys reveal the Pirate Code:

STACK BY A DIAMOND FOUNDERS ROAD

From Clue 7, you would know that the 'FOUNDER' is referring to William Johnson. Therefore, 'FOUNDERS ROAD' is referring to Johnson Road. A 'DIAMOND' is another name for a baseball field. Locklin Baseball Field is located on Johnson Road. On the corner of Johnson Road and Highway 90, by the baseball field, is a 'STACK' of bricks. Within the 'STACK' of bricks, and near the ground, is a small gap. Inside this gap was a 'STACK' of coins, which was Captain Bone's Lost Treasure.