For more than 60 years, firefighters from St. Paul Firefighters Local 21 have brought a carnival to current and former Gillette patients. The first carnival, held on the shores of Lake Phalen in 1960, was started by Burt Behr, a St. Paul fire captain whose two boys were treated for polio at Gillette. Bill Lee is a retired St. Paul firefighter, who’s been helping to stage the carnival since 1988 and participating in it since 1979

#062 | Bill Lee

October 13, 2022

“It is my little project. Everything is free. There are games and prizes for all, food, balloons and pony rides. It’s the least we can do for them, and it makes the kids feel good. Lots of firefighters bring their own kids to help.”

Related Stories

No items found.

MORE Gillette STORIES