1. On August 23, 1873, the first public telephone exchange in Connecticut opened in New Haven. This exchange allowed for direct communication between phone users, marking a major advancement in the telecommunications industry.

2. The first recorded copyright in Connecticut was issued on August 23, 1783 to Mark Leavenworth for a hymn book titled "The Christian's Duty." This copyright represented a significant milestone in the history of intellectual property rights in the state.

3. On August 23, 1901, the Connecticut State Hospital for the Insane at Middletown admitted its first patients. This hospital, which was later renamed Connecticut Valley Hospital, played an important role in the treatment of mental illness in the state for many decades.

4. August 23, 1924 marked the opening of the Connecticut State Police Academy in Meriden. The academy was established to provide advanced training for state police officers, and has since become a leading institution in law enforcement education.

5. On August 23, 1973, the Connecticut Supreme Court ruled that the state's death penalty was unconstitutional. This decision made Connecticut one of the first states in the country to outlaw the death penalty, a move that sparked nationwide debate on the issue of capital punishment.