1. In 1814, the Treaty of Ghent was signed on December 24, officially ending the War of 1812 between the United States and Great Britain. This treaty restored the pre-war borders between the two countries and set the stage for improved relations in the following years.

2. On December 24, 1829, the Portland Observatory was dedicated in Portland, Maine. This tower was used to monitor shipping activity in Portland Harbor and became an important landmark for sailors navigating the coast of Maine.

3. In 1937, a massive snowstorm hit Maine on December 24, causing widespread damage and leaving thousands without electricity. This storm, known as the Christmas Blizzard, is still remembered as one of the most severe weather events in Maine history.

4. On December 24, 1941, the the Portland Pipe Line Corporation began operations, transporting oil from Portland, Maine to refineries in Montreal, Quebec. This pipeline played a key role in supplying Allied forces with oil during World War II.

5. In 1968, the USS Scorpion, a nuclear-powered submarine, was lost with all hands on December 24 somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean. The cause of the submarine's sinking is still a matter of debate, but this event remains a tragic chapter in Maine's naval history.