1. On July 5, 1801, Maine became the 23rd state in the Union. Originally part of Massachusetts, Maine split off to become its own state due to differences in economic and political interests.
2. In 1865, the Great Fire of Portland began on July 4th, but continued into July 5th, destroying more than 1,500 buildings and leaving 10,000 people homeless. This fire remains one of the largest urban fires in American history.
3. On July 5, 1943, the Portland Pipe Line Corporation officially opened, linking oil reserves in Maine with refineries in Montreal. This pipeline played a crucial role in supplying Allies with oil during World War II.
4. Maine author E.B. White, famous for children's books like Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little, was born on July 11, 1899, but spent much of his life living and writing in Maine. On July 5, 1952, he wrote an essay for The New Yorker titled "Here is New York," which has become a beloved tribute to the city.
5. On July 5, 1969, the town of Wells, Maine became the unlikely location of a UFO sighting. Multiple witnesses reported seeing a strange object in the sky, which was later investigated by local authorities and the Air Force. The incident has become known as the "Wells UFO Incident."