1. The first New Year’s Eve ball drop in Rhode Island took place at the top of the Industrial Trust Building in Providence in 1929. The illuminated ball, which weighed 1,200 pounds, was lowered from a flagpole atop the building, marking the transition to the new year.

2. On December 31, 1954, the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority opened the Newport Bridge, a 3.5-mile suspension bridge that spans the East Passage of Narragansett Bay. The bridge reduced travel time between Aquidneck Island and the rest of Rhode Island, and remains a key transportation link in the state today.

3. In 1975, Rhode Island hosted the first ever NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament game, held on December 31 between Providence College and Pennsylvania at the Providence Civic Center. Providence won the game 83-76.

4. On December 31, 1979, the Rhode Island Department of Health issued a “boil water order” for the entire city of Pawtucket due to potential contamination of the city’s water supply. Residents were advised to boil their water before using it for cooking or drinking.

5. December 31, 2012 marked the retirement of Rhode Island’s longest-serving state representative, Joseph Amaral Jr. Amaral, who represented East Providence for 38 years, was known for his advocacy on behalf of local veterans and his efforts to revitalize the waterfront area of East Providence.