VIDEO/PHOTO: Firefighters are used to getting to their destinations in a hurry. Hubie Widmer took 10 years to complete his quest.
“I said, ‘You know, I want to get my picture taken in front of every fire department in the state,’” Hubie said.
In March, the Watertown firefighter completed his task. Over a decade, Hubie visited 775 fire departments – as best as he can tell relying on state records – every fire department in Minnesota.
“We kind of didn't think it was ever going to get done,” Denice Widmer, Hubie’s wife, said with a laugh.
Denice traveled with Hubie on most of his trips, crossing off towns on a 20-page list and photographing her husband in front of the fire stations they visited.
The pictures Denice took of her husband fill 14 photo albums.
“We’ve basically been to every town in the state of Minnesota.” Hubie says.