1. In 1776, the second Continental Congress voted in favor of independence from Great Britain. This historic event occurred on June 2, and marked the beginning of a new era in American history.
2. On June 2, 1899, the first-ever automobile race in New Jersey took place in Newark. The race was organized by the Newark Automobile Club, and featured several different types of vehicles competing on a five mile course.
3. In 1933, New Jersey became the first state to allow voters to cast ballots by mail. This groundbreaking law was signed into law on June 2 by then-Governor A. Harry Moore.
4. The famous Jersey Shore amusement park, Palace Amusements, opened its doors to the public on June 2, 1888. For over 90 years, visitors flocked to the park to ride the Ferris Wheel, Roller Coaster, and other attractions before it was demolished in 2004 to make way for retail space.
5. Jazz musician and composer, Joe Wilder, was born in Colwyn, Pennsylvania on June 2, 1922. Wilder grew up in Philadelphia and went on to become a highly-respected trumpeter, performing with the likes of Billie Holiday, Lionel Hampton, and Dizzy Gillespie. He passed away in 2014 at the age of 92.