1. In 1973, the Maine Turnpike speed limit was decreased to 55 mph, due to the oil embargo and resulting fuel shortage. This measure was part of a national effort to conserve gasoline and reduce dependence on foreign oil.

2. On December 31, 1852, a landmark case was heard in Portland, Maine, that set a precedent for women's suffrage. Several women attempted to vote in a local election, but were turned away by election officials. The case was brought before the Maine Supreme Court, which ruled that women were entitled to vote under the state's constitution.

3. In 1862, during the Civil War, a Confederate raiding party under the command of John Mosby captured the town of Calais, Maine. This was the northernmost Confederate action of the war, and resulted in the destruction of several public buildings and considerable damage to private property.

4. On December 31, 1936, the state of Maine adopted the first-in-the-nation "blue law" prohibiting Sunday sports and recreational activities. The law was controversial, and several attempts were made to repeal or modify it in subsequent years.

5. In 1999, the last day of the millennium, a crowd of thousands gathered in Portland, Maine, for a massive outdoor party and fireworks show. The celebration was part of a worldwide effort to mark the turn of the century and usher in the new millennium. Despite fears of Y2K-related computer glitches and other disasters, the event went off without a hitch.