1. On August 9, 1878, the first telephone exchange in Connecticut was established in Hartford. The Hartford Telephone Company was formed to connect businesses and homes in the city, and it quickly grew to become one of the largest telephone companies in the state.

2. August 9, 1910 saw the birth of Frank Capra, an acclaimed filmmaker who was born in Bisacquino, Italy but raised in Los Angeles. Capra directed such classic films as It's a Wonderful Life, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, and It Happened One Night, all of which received critical and popular acclaim.

3. On August 9, 1918, Connecticut's 102nd Infantry Regiment was engaged in battle in France during World War I. The regiment saw heavy fighting in the Meuse-Argonne offensive and suffered significant casualties, but ultimately played a key role in helping to secure victory for Allied forces.

4. August 9, 1956 marked the opening of the Merritt Parkway in Connecticut, a 37-mile stretch of road that connects Greenwich to Stratford. The parkway is renowned for its scenic beauty, with tree-lined lanes and art deco bridges that have made it a popular destination for tourists and locals alike.

5. On August 9, 1974, a fire broke out at the Governor's Residence in Hartford, causing significant damage to the historic building. Governor Thomas Meskill was not in the residence at the time of the fire, and no one was injured, but the incident sparked a debate about the need for greater security measures at the state's Executive Residence.