Congrats to our Great Key Hunt winners!

Winners shared the grand prize!
Seated on the blue couch at Erie News Now, from left, are Gary Peterson and Brenda Castillo. Standing are Tom Tobin and Janice Tobin.
Brenda Castillo worked with her brother, Don Niles, to figure out the clues.
Janice Tobin and her extended family worked together to find the key.

Congratulations to The Great Key Hunt winners Brenda Castillo and Janice Tobin ... and their family/team members including last year's champs. The winners found the key at the same time.

Seated on the blue couch, from left, are Gary Peterson and Brenda Castillo. Standing are Tom Tobin and Janice Tobin.

Here it is: all the clues, the locations, the answers and grand finale!! Week by week:
A lot of the clues worked together, so the explainers will be the same on a few of these:

8/18 Clue #1
Burned to the ground in protest
Because things were becoming permanent
Changing hands several times
Decorated with things that fly
Location: Fort Site at foot of Parade Street (Erie) –
Keyword: Goat’s
What this has to do with the final location: Goat's Town refers to the English translation of the Anglo-Saxon word that Gotham is derived from. Gotham was first coined by Washington Irving in 1807 to refer to New York City.

8/25 Clue #2
Poor souls long forgotten
resting without markers
See their new home of eternal slumber
Location: Almshouse Cemetery (Fairview)
Keyword: Town
What this has to do with the final answer: If you put Goat's and Town together, this is it: Goat's Town refers to the English translation of the Anglo-Saxon word that Gotham is derived from. Gotham was first coined by Washington Irving in 1807 to refer to New York City.

09/01 Clue #3
First of its kind
But no longer an active aid
Third times a charm for this mainstay
Location: Erie Land Lighthouse (Lakefront)
Keyword: Almighty
What this has to do with the final answer: The phrase 'Almighty Dollar' was first used by Washington Irving.

9/8 Clue #4
Frozen figures
Decorate the place
Of the man
with the bearded face
Location: Girard Borough Building/Dan Rice (Girard)
Keyword: Dollar
What this has to do with the final answer: The phrase 'Almighty Dollar' was first used by Washington Irving.

9/15 Clue #5
Taps and tubes
Puts you in a mood
To learn about
Virginia’s book
Location: Hurry Hill (Edinboro)
Keyword: Jonathan
What this has to do with the final answer:
Jonathan Oldstyle was a pseudonym that Washington Irving used early in his career.

9/22 Clue #6
John had a wild life,
Battled Napoleon,
Went whaling in Greenland,
Entertained the Hero of Two Worlds
See his coffee shop for your next clue
Location: Dickson Tavern (Erie)
Keyword: Oldstyle
What this has to do with the final answer: Jonathan Oldstyle was a pseudonym that Washington Irving used early in his career.

9/29 Clue #7
Find the place
That commemorates
One that trots and sells plots
Location: Colt Station Marker (Rt. 89 and Rt. 430 - Greenfield) AND on German Street north of East 5th Street.
Keyword: Park
What this has to do with the final answer: This clue led you to Washington Park, named in honor of Washington Irving.

10/6 Clue #8

There is a house that exists
Built by pioneering fish
Go inside and you will find
Exhibits of all kinds
Location: Sturgeon House
Keyword/phrase: In bushes behind sign
What this has to do with the final answer: This clue led you to where the final key was hidden, in the bushes behind the sign for Washington Park

DID YOU KNOW: Washington Irving is tied to the former Irving School located at 2310 Plum St., which was renamed in recognition of the American author in 1914 and later closed. While the author Washington Irving was not from Erie, the school's name ties his legacy to the city.

Thanks for playing!

Thanks to our partners at Erie News Now and our sponsor Erie Federal Credit Union

Here’s how it works:

History Center Director of Programming & Visitor Experience Adam Macrino announces one clue per week, starting August 18, during the Monday morning newscast at 6 a.m. on Erie News Now. The segment will be repeated on the 4 p.m. newscast. In case you miss it, you can catch up on the Erie News Now YouTube page. And, we’ll repost the clues on our social media.
The Clue will lead contest participants to a public place where they will find an object that has the History Center logo on it, along with a keyword.
The keyword will be one of 8 clues that will lead contestants to the location of the final physical key. You find that key, present it to the History Center, subject to verification and win the grand prize of $1,500.
The placards will be placed outdoors in a public area.
Do not remove the placard or disturb it in any way.
Be respectful.
Grand prize winners may not be affiliated in any way with the Hagen History Center, Erie News Now or the sponsor, Erie Federal Credit Union.
Keywords are placed the night before the clue is unveiled on ENN.
Keywords will remain in the location for one week. When the new clue is put in place, the previous keyword will be taken down.
The final key will be placed on the last day of the contest. You can only search for the grand prize key during the a specific time period to be announced.

Rules for Contestants

The clue will lead you somewhere in Erie County
It will be a public, outdoor space.
You will not have to dig or disturb anything for the actual keyword.
Please DO NOT REMOVE THE KEYWORD
Do not damage property
Be respectful toward other contestants
The clue will have the Hagen History Center logo on it.
Employees and family members of History Center and Erie News Now are not eligible.

For more information, contact Adam Macrino amacrino@eriehistory.org

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Congrats to our Great Key Hunt winners!

Here’s how it works:

Rules for Contestants

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