1. In 1931, the infamous gangster Al Capone was sentenced to 11 years in prison for tax evasion in a Chicago court, but the trial had a direct impact on New Jersey as well. Capone had hidden some of his assets with Jersey City officials, leading to a corruption scandal that resulted in the conviction of several officials and the resignation of the city's mayor.

2. On February 18, 1952, a massive blizzard struck the northeastern United States, including New Jersey, dropping up to 40 inches of snow in some areas and causing widespread damage and disruption. The storm, known as the "Great Appalachian Storm," is still considered one of the worst winter storms in US history.

3. In 1989, a United Airlines flight from Denver to Chicago crashed on approach to Stapleton International Airport, killing all 12 passengers and crew members aboard. The flight had diverted to Newark Airport in New Jersey earlier in its journey, due to bad weather.

4. The historic Trenton Battle Monument in Trenton, New Jersey, was dedicated on February 18, 1893. The monument, which stands 148 feet tall, commemorates the Battle of Trenton during the American Revolution, in which George Washington's army defeated the Hessian forces of the British Empire.

5. On February 18, 1930, Thomas Edison made his final public statement to the press before his death later that year. Edison, who had moved to West Orange, New Jersey in 1887 and established his famous laboratory there, was known as the "Wizard of Menlo Park" and is credited with inventing the light bulb, phonograph, and motion picture projector, among many other technological innovations.