1. In 1863, the Battle of Harpers Ferry took place in West Virginia during the American Civil War. Union troops, led by General Benjamin Franklin Kelley, forced Confederate troops to retreat from the town, which was a key location for transportation and communication during the war. The Union victory at Harpers Ferry helped secure control of the region for the Union army.

2. On January 2, 1934, the West Virginia state capitol building was destroyed by fire. The building, which was completed in 1932, was the third capitol in the state's history. The fire began early in the morning and quickly spread, destroying most of the building and its contents. No one was injured in the fire, but many important documents and artifacts were lost.

3. In 1960, West Virginia Senator Robert Byrd was sworn in for his first term in the United States Senate. Byrd, who served in the Senate for 51 years, was known for his mastery of parliamentary procedure and his ability to secure funding for projects in his home state. He was also the longest-serving member of Congress in U.S. history.

4. January 2, 1979, was a significant day for coal mining in West Virginia. The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) implemented new safety regulations in response to a series of deadly mining accidents. The regulations required mine operators to provide better ventilation, more thorough inspections, and improved escape routes for miners. The new regulations helped to reduce the number of mining fatalities in West Virginia and across the country.

5. On January 2, 2006, West Virginia University played against Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, one of the major bowl games in college football. The Mountaineers, led by head coach Rich Rodriguez and quarterback Pat White, won the game 38-35 in a thrilling match that went into overtime. The win helped to establish West Virginia University as one of the top football programs in the country.