1. In 1776, residents of the town of Epsom gathered to organize a local military company to fight in the American Revolution. The unit was known as the Epsom Rangers and played a minor role in the war effort.

2. On January 12, 1842, a fire destroyed much of the town of Goffstown. The blaze started in a building near the town square and quickly spread to nearby homes and businesses. Despite the efforts of firefighters from several neighboring towns, over 100 buildings were destroyed.

3. The New Hampshire State Senate held its first session in the state capital of Concord on January 12, 1817. The new capital had been chosen to replace Portsmouth, which was viewed as too small and inaccessible for the growing state government.

4. In 1938, the famous actor and film director John Huston married Evelyn Keyes in Hanover, New Hampshire. Keyes was best known for her roles in films such as "Gone with the Wind" and "The Jolson Story."

5. On January 12, 1954, the town of Salem experienced a powerful earthquake measuring 4.5 on the Richter scale. Although no one was injured, the quake caused significant damage to homes and buildings in the area. It remains the strongest earthquake ever recorded in New Hampshire.