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Welcome! My name is Julie and I'm from Michigan. If you'd like to contact me directly about my theory, email me! Happy hunting!
Note: Updated again 8/24/21 at 7:00pm EST. Based on input received. Shout out to Xcessive-Watcher on Reddit.
This site was updated 8/29/21 at 10:20am EST. The new changes have a gray background. I've add new pics, changed some text, and fixed a few things.
Hi, I'm Julie from Michigan! I would love to discuss my theory for the Montreal puzzle. I started the treasure hunt about a month ago after watching Expedition Unknown. My husband gave me the book as an early birthday present and that started my armchair hunt.
My solution is really very simple. I used brute force on the line "Beneath the only standing member Of a forest" and studying the legeater image. And the rest fell into place. (More on that later in my solution.) Every day after I figured out that line of the verse, I backfilled in the rest of the puzzle by studying google maps and painting 9. I hope if you have the ability to dig this treasure out using my proposed solution, you will provide me some credit. :)
As a prelude to reading this, let me just say I haven't found any theories or ideas leading to this location in the FB groups or Reddit. However, if you think you thought of it first, I apologize. It seems all things that were thought to be "truths" are not even close to this theory. As you read on, you'll find that it's undeniable where I believe the area of the casque is located. There are SO many clues that I found hidden in the painting that would not have been found, unless you knew where the real location is buried.
CABBOT? ABBOT? Ugh, no. Want to know the real secret to this mystery? Park trails.
Just as an FYI, I had to switch to using Bing maps, because it showed the trails better than google maps.
Now, not everything will be correct in this theory, as obviously, some of the verse was up to my interpretation. However, once I get the ball rolling and you settle in for a good read, you will find things that I didn't. I will update the images and text to reflect new findings (especially since my images are terrible). I just wanted to get this theory out there to our happy hunters as quickly as possible.
I used Picture 9 and Verse 5. I lightened up the pic, so you could see a little more detail, If necessary.
Picture 9 and Verse 5
Picture 9 and Verse 5
Lane
Two twenty two
You’ll see an arc of lights
Weight and roots extended
Together saved the site
Of granite walls
Wind swept halls
Citadel in the night
A wingless bird ascended
Born of ancient dreams of flight
Beneath the only standing member
Of a forest
To the south
White stone closest
At twelve paces
From the west side
Get permission
To dig out.
Lane
Lane
This has been long debated, but when I looked at this verse with painting 9, I knew it wasn't a street or an avenue. Too vague. I looked at a map of Montreal and a few things stuck right out to me. The legeater looked like the 2 ponds In the photo. More on that later, but for this clue, I knew it looked like wordplay to me. I realized it was a contraction without the contraction.
Short for LA FONTAINE PARK - Get It?
Legeater
Legeater
This is in the shape of the trails around the two ponds. I think it has a dog's head because there is a dog park close to the dig site.
Old map of La Fontaine Park
Old map of La Fontaine Park
Note the paths around the two ponds. The circle where the red lines meet is the tip of the dog's nose.
My best attempt at an outline of the trails. I'm sure someone else could make a better rendition.
Outlined map of LaFontaine Park.
Page 222
Page 222
Origins and Whereabouts of the Fair People
Page 88-89
Page 88-89
Team Spirits
Rosa petrus a.k.a. canis calidus
Canis calidus means hot dog In French. Rosa Petrus means Pete Rose.
You’ll see an arc of lights
You’ll see an arc of lights
This is the fountain in the middle of the pond. It's not germane to the solution, so it doesn't matter. I think this is just to ensure you are in the right place, similar to the Boston puzzle.
The fountain can be seen in picture 9 above his arm on the left side of the pic in certain versions of the photo reproduction. It looks a lot like this photo In the shadow/highlight. Take a close look.
Together saved the site
Of granite walls
Together saved the site
Of granite walls
It establishes that Montreal is the right city for the verse.
"You can literally follow in the footsteps of history in Old Montréal. The granite paving stones throughout the streets, sidewalks and public spaces of Old Montréal mark the buried remains of the 18th-century fortified city’s stone walls and main sites." Read about old Montréal here.
There is a statue of Adam Dollard Des Ormeaux in the corner of the park. He was the defender of New France.
Weight and roots extended
Weight and roots extended
Notice it's not "weights." It's weight, as in singular. Again, not germane to the solution. However, I think this refers to Babar the elephant that was a feature at the Garden of Wonders zoo which existed around the time the book was published. Unfortunately, the zoo closed around 1988/89. Thankfully, the casque is not buried near here and I believe it can still be found.
Weight = Elephant / Roots extended = Trees
I thought at first it was just trees, but then I thought about his trunk. Now I get it, it's now changed to this:
Weight = Elephant / Roots extended = TRUNK (whew!)
It looks like the zoo inside the park had two windmills. This ties the painting with the dutch. Also, I found an exhibit at the zoo while watching the old videos that showed the Dutch with the Indians.
Map of the zoo
Map of the zoo
Another windmill in the zoo
Another windmill in the zoo
Windmill in the fairy tale area of the zoo
Windmill in the fairy tale area of the zoo
Windmill, the P is a flag on top, the 7 is the peak. The lines outside are a trail or a road. Notice the people in the back
Windmill, the P is a flag on top, the 7 is the peak. The lines outside are a trail or a road. Notice the people in the back
Wind swept halls
Wind swept halls
La Fontaine Park has an outdoor theater. It's closed for renovations now, but was definitely open In 1982. When the wind blows, the theater is swept.
Citadel in the night
Citadel in the night
I personally think Byron put this clue here to help people tie the city to a place that has a citadel.
It's more than likely the baseball field lit up In lights, it has a building behind the baseball diamond. Could be that, too. Or perhaps you can see the old Citadel from the park. After you get through all of the clues, maybe you will be able to come up with a better theory for this, but honestly, It doesn't really matter so don't get too hung up on It.
A wingless bird ascended
Born of ancient dreams of flight
A wingless bird ascended
Born of ancient dreams of flight
I don't know If this clue was tied to the zoo. I don't think you'll ever find the perfect tie-in to these lines in the verse, because the zoo doesn't exist anymore. However, I found a YouTube video with lots of pictures of what the zoo looked like in the 60s. I believe the line is quite possibly tied to Mother Goose and Charles Perrault, as you'll see In the video. FAIRY tales, interesting. The zoo had everything from Mother Goose to Cinderella. Please check out the videos on YouTube. You might find something in there to really tie it in. These lines really don't mean anything to me, but I'll tell you what did.... the next lines of the verse...
Important note, on a second read of page 88, under "Habits," there is a sentence that refers to a knuckleball spreading their wings and lowering their flaps. I now think that "A wingless bird ascended" refers to a baseball being hit.
The full text: "They can nudge a knuckleball over the corner of the plate, and, by spreading their wings and lowering their flaps, transform an arrogant pitcher's fastball Into a hanging curve, or "gopher ball." Like wise they can cause a long flyball to remain suspended In the air above the fence until caught and steer a slow bunt to either side of the foul line."
Garden of Wonders
La Fontaine Park - 1967 Video on YouTube
Garden of Wonders
La Fontaine Park - 1967 Video on YouTube
Video of the zoo in the park. The zoo closed 1988/89. In french, the name of the park is Le Jardin des Merveilles. Added here for your viewing pleasure.
Exhibit with a dutch woman, asian, indian, etc
Exhibit with a dutch woman, asian, indian, etc
Close up shot from the video
Close up shot from the video
What does the white shirt signify? (I used someone else's pic, cuz they already outlined it.) I think it's the mouth of Jonas the Whale that I believe is still currently in the park. If it is not the mouth of the whale, It's more than likely an outline of the parks' trails. I will leave this one up for debate.
What does the white shirt signify? (I used someone else's pic, cuz they already outlined it.) I think it's the mouth of Jonas the Whale that I believe is still currently in the park. If it is not the mouth of the whale, It's more than likely an outline of the parks' trails. I will leave this one up for debate.
This is Jonas the Whale and is still in the park. Notice the mouth of the whale is in the shape of the collar around his neck.
The whale currently looks like this.
1960s version of the whale.
Another 1960s pic of the whale.
The nose has always bothered me. I figured out it was the whale, but it took me some time to realize the eyes were the tail. The shapes next to the nose, his mouth and cheek lines, are the gates around the whale.
The nose has always bothered me. I figured out it was the whale, but it took me some time to realize the eyes were the tail. The shapes next to the nose, his mouth and cheek lines, are the gates around the whale.
View of the gates in front of whale. Check out the tail.
View of the gates in front of whale. Check out the tail.
Beneath the only standing member
Of a forest
Beneath the only standing member
Of a forest
Nope. It's not the last tree of a forest. Now bear with me, as my theory to where the casque is located is based on the rest of the verse. I had a feeling that Forest was a name, so I searched the monuments in the park for any names I could find on the statues. Monument Aux morts Francais de Montreal et aux Volontaires Canadiens de L’armee Francaise. And there It was... Forest Achilles. The monument shows his last name first, so his name was Achilles Forest. "A. Forest." Clever one, Byron. Notice the hands of the left soldier on the monument. Look familiar? I think they're not exact with picture 9 because JJP painted to look like he was holding a baseball. Maybe he was getting ready to pitch a knuckleball. That's up for discussion.
Yes. We're getting close. Look at the profile of that left soldier. It's part of the painting, too.
Monument Aux morts Francais de Montreal et aux Volontaires Canadiens de L’armee Francaise
Monument Aux morts Francais de Montreal et aux Volontaires Canadiens de L’armee Francaise
Left side of the monument with the inscription "Forest Achilles"
Monument Aux morts Francais de Montreal et aux Volontaires Canadiens de L’armee Francaise
Monument Aux morts Francais de Montreal et aux Volontaires Canadiens de L’armee Francaise
Front of monument.
Monument Aux morts Francais de Montreal et aux Volontaires Canadiens de L’armee Francaise
Monument Aux morts Francais de Montreal et aux Volontaires Canadiens de L’armee Francaise
Right side showing more detail on the stone.
Holding a baseball? I think In the black part beneath the crossed fingers, he is showing the building right outside of the baseball fence.
Can you see his profile in the hair of the painting?
Best pic I could find of the hands on the monument.
To the south
White stone closest
To the south
White stone closest
Walk about 300+ feet south you'll find a stone water fountain next to the baseball field.
The Fountain in the Park
The Fountain in the Park
This is the best shot of the drinking fountain I could get using google maps. The drinking fountain is right next to the baseball field in the park. If you were to look directly down at the water fountain from the top, it would look like the image from the painting on the right. The thick black hair to the right is the lip of the fountain.
The Fountain in the Painting
The Fountain in the Painting
Notice the little ball to the left of the fountain in picture 9. I think that is a baseball. I used photoshop to add some filters and it really does look like a baseball. The opal is in the hat, which is depicted as past the fence, so I'm assuming that to be home plate. I believe the hat, hair, and forehead area is a map to help you find the dig spot.
Whenever you see something that looks like a 7 In the painting, think FOUNTAIN.
At twelve paces
From the west side
At twelve paces
From the west side
12 paces is equivalent to about 30 feet. Walk 30 feet west from the white stone fountain and dig there.
I think it's between the tree and the fence but it's hard to tell on google maps the exact way west. I think you have to have boots on the ground. Here's an alternate view.
I think it's between the tree and the fence but it's hard to tell on google maps the exact way west. I think you have to have boots on the ground. Here's an alternate view.
Get permission
To dig out
Get permission
To dig out
This is a clue that tells you the dig site is near the dugout. The pictures I pulled from google maps shows there is a locked gate to the ball field.
A couple things to point out here. Notice the fence around the diamond? That is the checkerboard in the painting.
Whenever you see a checkerboard in the painting, it's a fence.
The steps around the neck are actually the bleacher seats. In the painting, one of the bleachers has more steps. If WEST is beyond the gates near the ball field, it may be another clue, as one of the bleachers in the painting has less steps. I've included a pic of it below.
One quick note, WEST may (probably) take you into the ball field. The baseball diamond is locked up, which is why you may need to ask permission. I see something in the red square behind the fountain in the painting that probably helps with the dig spot -- but I can't make it out. I'll update this site if I can find something in the red square using filters In Photoshop.
Ariel view of the park in winter without the trees in the way. The fountain Is to the right of the middle tree behind the middle bleacher.
Notice his face looks exactly like this baseball diamond? Yup, it does.
The flower on his chest is actually supposed to represent 3 twirling bats like written in the book. The wavy lines on the petals (the ones I did not fill in with orange) are supposed to be showing the movement of the bats. It took me so long to figure this out! The little balls, the "stamen" of the flower, are fingers wrapped around a bat. The quote from the book is:
"Many players try to win the good will of the Team Spirit by such time honored rituals as swinging three bats simultaneously, spitting frequently, or smuding black stuff beneath their eyes."
Ahhhh. Now I get why his eyes look weird. It's supposed to be smuding of black stuff under his eyes.
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