The book, written by J. Maurice Hicks of Roselle, relates a complete history of the Edison experimental generating station that supplied electric light to the community for 10 years. This work is the first to relate complete details of the role of county residents and communities in the development of incandescent lighting at the dawn of the Edison era. It covers the early history of Roselle and the people who settled it and traces Edison and his work from 1881 to before the turn of he century. The Roselle Illuminating Station located at Chestnut Street and E. 1st Avenue, was erected by the Edison Company for Isolated Lighting under the management of Roselle resident Miller Fox Moore. This site was just one of hundreds of "isolated lighting" plants. The book relates how the first Edison came over on the boat from the Netherlands with his mother and settled in Caldwell. It also reveals when and where the different ethnic and religious groups came from and were they settled in Roselle and it's growth of "from village to borough". The 96 page book, is complete with pictures of original photographs and indexed with notes.
A retired private investigator, Author J. Maurice Hicks (1914 - 1986) was presented with a resolution by Union County in 1979, citing him for his "innumerable hours of research and writing in order to complete this important historical work which details Edisons' first village plant construction in Roselle in 1882. Hicks is the founder of the Writers Guild of Roselle. This book was published by the Roselle Historical Society in September, 1979, coinciding with Roselle's celebration of the Centennial of Incandescent Light.