1. Independence Day Celebrations: July 1st marks the anniversary of the first Independence Day celebrations in Massachusetts. The celebrations took place in Worcester in 1781, and included a parade, a public dinner, and fireworks.

2. Ratification of the Constitution: On July 1, 1788, Massachusetts became the sixth state to ratify the United States Constitution. The state played a crucial role in the formation of the Constitution, with leaders such as John Adams, Samuel Adams, and James Bowdoin playing key roles in the Constitutional Convention.

3. Establishment of the Massachusetts Bay Colony: July 1, 1629, marks the date when the Massachusetts Bay Colony was established. The colony was founded by a group of Puritans, led by John Winthrop, who sought religious freedom and a new life in America.

4. The Stirbridge Martyrs: On July 1, 1834, six abolitionists were killed by a mob in the town of Stirbridge. The group had gathered to plan the establishment of an anti-slavery newspaper, and their deaths sparked outrage and intensified the abolitionist movement in Massachusetts and across the country.

5. The First U.S. Postal Route: On July 1, 1755, Benjamin Franklin established the first official postal route in the United States. The route ran between Boston and New York, and helped to improve communication and commerce between the two cities.