1. On August 12, 1855, the American novelist William Kennedy was born in Albany, New York. He graduated from Siena College in Loudonville, New York, and later moved to Albany where he began his career as a journalist.

2. In August of 1956, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority was established, which is the organization that controls public transportation in the greater Boston area. The MBTA was created by an act of the Massachusetts General Court and has since become one of the most widely used public transportation systems in the world.

3. On August 12, 1938, the musical comedy "The Boys from Syracuse" opened on Broadway. The show was based on the play "The Comedy of Errors" by William Shakespeare and featured music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Lorenz Hart.

4. In August of 1923, the first carillon bells in the United States were installed at the First Baptist Church in Newton. The bells were a gift from Mrs. Gilbert E. Hood, who wanted to honor her late husband, who was an avid lover of music.

5. August 12, 1989 was a significant moment in Massachusetts sports history, when Greg Harris of the Boston Red Sox became the first pitcher in Major League Baseball to switch arms during a game. Harris threw left-handed for five innings, then switched to his right hand for the final four outs. The Red Sox ended up losing the game to the Cincinnati Reds, but Harris's unique achievement made baseball history.