Joe Louis was more than a boxing champion — he was an American icon. But what many people don’t know is that this global sports hero once lived quietly in the heart of Pompton Lakes, New Jersey. The accompanying video on Joe Louis and The History of Pompton Lakes was filmed and edited by Christopher Fetchik of Art 2 educate, and written and directed by Paul Bastante, for the historical documentary film, "Friendly Tolerable Characters".

In this episode of Something Happened Here, host, Paul Bastante explores the surprising local history behind one of the greatest boxers of all time.

From the rise of the Brown Bomber to his peaceful days in Passaic County, we trace the legacy of Joe Louis and how his presence impacted a small North Jersey town. We also explore the broader history of boxing in America — from its roots to the legends it created. The video clip included in the video was written and directed by Paul Bastante and Filmed and edited by Chrisopher Fetchik of Art 2 Educate LiveStreaming.

If you love untold stories, sports history, or local legends, this episode is for you.

Something Happened Here is the podcast that uncovers powerful stories hiding in plain sight — because history isn’t always in textbooks… sometimes it’s right down the street.
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