LEWISTON – Senior Private Paul Robitaille, after nearly 33 years as a Lewiston firefighter, retired on June 30.

“Robi,” as he is known, joined in November 1971 and split up his years between Central and Lisbon Road stations, but spent the first 22 years at Central, where he worked on the snorkel for 13 years, Ladder 1 for five years, Engine 7 for five years, and ended up on Engine 3 at Lisbon Road the final eight years of his career.

Robitaille was active in the department, as he gathered old records and photos and created a “historical picture,” which has recently been taken over by others.

He served in the union, helping with the Constitution and Bylaws Committee, and on the Gravemarker Committee, which sees that graves of all deceased firefighters are visited and flags placed annually for Memorial Day. Robitaille was also sergeant-at-arms for many years.

He was at the “Old Central,” located a block away from the present Central, and worked a couple of years with the “old-timers,” saying he had a blast.

“I will miss the fun times … the practical jokes. I enjoyed the work, but will miss the guys the most,” he said.

Much has changed since he first started. For instance, there was a 1933 pumper in service at that time. Automatic transmissions weren’t around then, and double clutching and “grinding” were the norm.

Robitaille recalls a gag when he threw a stink bomb while working a shift at the old Lincoln Street station. He laughingly remembers it was so bad that Pvt. George Wright had to reluctantly throw out his perfectly good steaming steak.

Robitaille said he came close to losing an eye at a three-alarm fire at Lisbon and Arcadia as a master stream of water hit him in the face. He was out for more than six weeks, but no permanent damage was done.

The firefighter enjoyed cooking for the “boys” and recently was awarded a prize for his chili in a Sunday River sponsored cookoff. Other hobbies include playing pool, golf, doing a little carpentry and riding his motorcycle. Robitaille looks forward to working part time and traveling a little.