Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Rover Is Unleashed

The Challenge Has Begun!

Good Hunting!

What is Rover?
Rover means Rootin’ Out Visalia’s Exciting Record. It is a treasure hunt challenge designed to lead you from one clue to another. The first person to successfully go through all the clues will win the prize. Rover is first of all, about you having fun. It is designed to let you feel the excitement of the hunt. Secondly, in the course of “Rootin’ Out”, you will undoubtedly learn something about Tulare County and Visalia history. Fun and learning local history go together.

Object of Rover:
The object of Rover is to be the first one to get the clues, decipher them correctly, and follow them to the treasure.

Rover Etiquette:
Rover is suppose to be fun, and in the course of the hunt you will come in contact with people involved in the challenge, so an appropriate please, thank you, excuse me or I’m sorry will always be appreciated. Rover will also take you to places of business with customers, so please be considerate to those that allowed us to use their business location.

Rover Eligibility:
Only those on the Historic Happenings subscription list are eligible to participate and win the treasure.

Rover Rules:
**Pretty simple. Follow the clues. Use whatever resources you can muster. Remember the first HH subscriber to reach the prize wins.
**No one connected with any of the clue locations is eligible to participate.
**If you have questions about the Rover rules or anything about the challenge you can email me at histerry@comcast.net or call me at (559) 901-3227.

Rover Treasure:
Obsolete and original Visalia Fire Alarm Box

On Your Mark, Get Set, Go!
Here is your first set of clues. The clues that follow will identify the telephone number of a well-known gentleman who is anxious to help you move to the next clue. He’ll only help you if you follow these instructions exactly (more about that later.) But before you talk to him, you need to decipher his 10-digit telephone number:

**The first 3 digits of his telephone number is the area code. His area code number is assigned to a portion of the San Joaquin Valley. If you add the individual numbers together, it adds up to a total of 19.

**The next digit in the telephone number is the number of election precincts the Tulare County Court of Sessions established for the county in 1852.

**The 5th digit is the number of comedians that made up the famous comedy team in the classic 1930 film called Soup to Nuts.

**The 6th is the number used by early travelers to our area in and around Visalia which describes the number of creeks. This area was known as _________ Creeks.

**The 7th and 8th digits are the two numbers used in the 1920s and 1930s to describe a patron at a bar who was not to be served any more alcohol or a patron who was asked to leave the bar. Some still use this 2-digit term today.

**The last two digits are the year in the 1800s when Fresno County was formed breaking off the northern section of Tulare County.

Well, there you have it. Once you are satisfied that you have the correct telephone number, check it with the following: If your number is correct, the total of all the numbers added together should be 54.

When you are ready to make the call, have a pen and paper handy. You will need to take notes. Punch in the number. When the gentlemen answers say these exact words, “Terry told me to call.” He will then give you instructions to the next clue. If his voicemail picks up when you make your call, leave the following message, “Terry told me to call” and leave a clearly stated call-back number and your name, nothing else.

If you fail to follow these directions precisely, you will not get the next set of clues. Good luck.

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