1. On July 15, 1777, Vermont became the first territory to abolish slavery. This was a significant step towards the state's eventual admission as the 14th state of the United States in 1791.
2. In 1888, on July 15, Mt. Mansfield in Vermont was struck by a severe thunderstorm that resulted in the deaths of four tourists who were caught in its path. It remains one of the deadliest lightning strikes in Vermont history.
3. On July 15, 1904, the Vermont Marble Company constructed a 92-ton block of marble that was unveiled at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis. The block, named the "Rock of Ages," eventually became the centerpiece of the Vermont exhibit and remains a symbol of the state's marble industry.
4. In 1916, on July 15, the famous poet Robert Frost moved to the town of Franconia, Vermont, where he wrote many of his most famous works. Frost would eventually become one of America's most renowned poets and a fixture of Vermont's literary scene.
5. On July 15, 1947, the Vermont State Police was officially established by an act of the state legislature. The agency has since become an iconic institution in Vermont, known for its distinctive green and gold cruisers and rigorous training program.