1. In 1858, a severe storm hit Portland, Maine, causing over $1 million in damage and killing 19 people. The storm, known as the Portland Gale, remains one of the deadliest in New England history.

2. On August 5, 1910, the first commercial radio broadcast in the United States was transmitted from the Westinhouse factory in East Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. While not directly related to Maine history, this event played a significant role in shaping the way we consume news and entertainment.

3. In 1953, Ed Whitehead, a veteran of World War II, set a new world record for deep-sea diving when he descended to a depth of 312 feet off the coast of Maine. He spent over 40 minutes underwater and became the first person to use a "closed-circuit" breathing apparatus.

4. On August 5, 1958, the Russian icebreaker Arktika became the first surface ship to reach the North Pole. The expedition, which was led by Captain Aleksandr Nikolsky, traveled over 3,000 nautical miles from Murmansk and successfully navigated through thick ice and harsh weather conditions.

5. Finally, on August 5, 1999, the Maine Turnpike Authority officially opened a new interchange in Gray, Maine, providing better access to both Portland and Lewiston-Auburn. The interchange, which cost over $15 million to build, was part of a larger effort to improve traffic flow and safety on the turnpike.