Near those Who pass the coliseum With metal walls Verse 3, lines 7-9, Byron Preiss’s The Secret

coliseum: a large sports stadium or building designed like the Colosseum for public entertainments https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coliseum



This post details research and theories on Byron Preiss’s the secret, a treasure hunt puzzle book released in 1982. This post is focused on verse 3 out of 12, thought to be located in Boston, Massachusetts.

Fenway Park

The most popular coliseum used in theories. Famous for a green monster (a large green wall in left field wall – if have a chance to catch a game, the standing room only seats on the monster are fantastic and affordable).

Located near the fens, one of the most interesting parks in Boston secret-wise because of it’s location, many points of interest, and dig viability (for both searchers and for the Byron himself)

With metal walls

[the green monster] wall is made of wood, but was covered in tin and concrete in 1934 when the scoreboard was added. The wall was covered in hard plastic in 1976 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fenway_Park#The_Green_Monster

The skeleton of Fenway park is now steel and concrete, but for its early history, the park was mostly made of wood. A section of the left field grandstand burned in a fire in 1926 https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-red-sox/2015/04/13/11-things-you-didnt-know-about-fenway-park

It’s almost like the with metal walls is included specifically to say it’s not Fenway

Boston Garden

Built in 1928 above North Station (a main train hub) in Boston and demolished in 1998, the Boston Garden was an iconic sports arena and also hosted lots of other events. It was replaced by the TD Garden which is located right next the old location of the Garden.

Located in the North End, the Italian section of Boston, the garden’s location is a short walk from the Paul Revere house and the Old North Church and the freedom trail passes right by it on the way to Charlestown/bunker hill.

With metal walls

I’m pretty sure the building was made out of steel and reinforced concrete concrete.

Harvard Stadium

Built in 1903, the stadium is the oldest of it’s kind in the US. The Harvard Stadium is also famous for pioneering the use reinforced concrete.

It’s design is heavily influenced by the Colosseum in Rome. It’s also famous for it’s design influencing the introduction of the forward pass into American football. There are four possible verse references matching Harvard Stadium

Near those / Who pass the coliseum – stadium where forward passing was introduced

Coliseum – a coliseum modeled after the Colosseum

With metal walls – first use of reinforced concrete

“In truth / Be free” Harvard’s motto is Veritas

What do you think? Is the verse referencing one of these three stadiums, or some other place or thing entirely? Leave a message in the comments