Hunt for Sheldon’s wrench begins Feb. 4

Smith Coffee & Café in Eden Prairie is hosting its 16th annual Sheldon’s Wrench Treasure Hunt beginning on Feb. 4. The grand prize is $250 cash and a $100 gift card to the cafe.

The hunt for Sheldon’s Wrench is a citywide treasure hunt for the fabled wrench that belonged to Sheldon Smith, who built the historic Smith-Douglas-More House, where the cafe now operates at 8107 Eden Prairie Road.

Each day at 1 p.m., a new clue will be posted in the cafe to help participants find the wrench, which will be hidden in a park in Eden Prairie. Participants are encouraged to look for hidden meanings in the clues and follow the City of Eden Prairie’s geocaching rules and policies.

For complete rules and information about Sheldon’s Wrench Treasure Hunt, visit the cafe’s website. The cafe asks that all participants be respectful of public and private property while participating in the hunt.

The following poem from Smith Coffee & Café 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 wrenched 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?”
The Winter is here and the quest will begin
Make a leap for the wrench we hope you all win!