1. On August 24, 1664, the English took control of the Dutch colony of New Netherland, which included modern-day New Jersey. This event marked the beginning of English colonial rule in the region.

2. On August 24, 1781, the Battle of Springfield took place in New Jersey during the American Revolutionary War. The battle resulted in a victory for the American forces, who were able to thwart a British attempt to capture the town.

3. In 1821, the first steam-powered ferry service between New Jersey and New York City began operating. The ferry, called the Jersey City, connected Paulus Hook in Jersey City to Cortlandt Street in Manhattan.

4. On August 24, 1891, Thomas Edison received a patent for his motion picture camera, which he called the Kinetoscope. This device was the precursor to modern movie cameras and projectors and paved the way for the film industry to become a major cultural force.

5. One notable event that occurred on August 24, 1925, was the dedication of the Holland Tunnel. This engineering marvel is a 1.6-mile tunnel that runs under the Hudson River, connecting Jersey City to Manhattan. The tunnel was named after its chief engineer, Clifford Milburn Holland, who died before the project was completed.