Historic Passaic: Tales from the American Revolution to Rock ’n’ Roll

Join author Joseph Buga on an exploration of this working-class and indefatigable city. Passaic has a history that stretches the imagination. Back when the place was called Acquackanonk, it played a crucial role in the American Revolution. Later, its hospitable attitude toward immigrants established Passaic as a beacon of both stability and innovation. By the late 1800s, the city was becoming a national leader in all things textile and rubber--Edison used Passaic wire to electrify Lower Manhattan. Allen B. Dumont established WABD in Passaic, the fourth national TV network alongside ABC, CBS and NBC. The Passaic High School ＂Wonder Team＂ boasted the longest high school winning streak in any sport, and a Passaic athlete became the ＂world’s fastest man.＂ Passaic pop legends the Shirelles and Joey Dee and the Starlighters made it big and influenced an upstart British group, the Beatles.

Born in Passaic, Joseph Buga has been an active member of the community for more than fifty years. Currently, he is the mayor’s designee on the Passaic Public Library Board of Trustees and a member of the Passaic Optimist Club, which he joined in 1974. Dr. Buga holds a master’s degree in public administration from Rutgers University and completed further graduate work at Princeton University School of Public and International Affairs and the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service at New York University, before earning a a doctorate degree in urban systems conferred by Rutgers University and the New Jersey Institute of Technology.