"History records and explains past events, while folklore preserves what people widly remember.

Arthur Krueger rose to fame after the Greendale, WI, Board of Health established its polio quarantine on Aug. 30, 1944—and required all children to stay at home in their own yards. Krueger sprung into action, patrolling Greendale ensuring the mandate was followed.

But Krueger didn't stop there, he sang songs and stories over the loud speaker on his patrol car, entertaining children and earning the title, "Polio Romeo."

His nickname arose from a town contest—the winning entry was made by one Bess Kendellen, who won two tickets to the theatre for her efforts.

Town folk who were children during the time said it was a long summer. They longed to go outside their yards and play. Although the quarantine lasted until September 22 the same year—some 24 days—Kathleen Hart (Kendellen) said, "It seemed a lot longer than that."

Krueger and his wife, Leona, first applied to be residents in Greendale in March of 1938. They were denied because Krueger's income was $10 over the maximum allowed. But they were finally accepted in April, when Leona was pregnant with their daughter, Sally. Art and Leona eventually had eight children.

Referring back to the polio quarantine, Leona told a story of the time her four daughters needed their tonsils removed but could not go to the hospital because of the quarantine. So a Dr. Brown came to the house and performed the operations on their dining room table. Talk about out-patient surgery."