1. On June 9, 1934, the famous boardwalk in Atlantic City was destroyed by a major fire that burned for several hours. The blaze started in a shop on the boardwalk and quickly spread, destroying several businesses and a section of the boardwalk itself. It took nearly six hours for firefighters to fully extinguish the fire, and the damage was estimated at more than $3 million.

2. On June 9, 1954, the state of New Jersey adopted its official state flag. The design features the state coat of arms (which includes a horse's head and a cornucopia) on a buff-colored background. The flag was designed by George Washington's personal physician, Dr. Johnathan Elmer.

3. The Revolutionary War Battle of Monmouth, which took place on June 28, 1778, actually began with a skirmish on June 9. British and Hessian troops were marching through New Jersey when they encountered a detachment of American troops under the command of Brigadier General William Maxwell. Although the skirmish was relatively small, it gave the American troops confidence and set the stage for the larger battle that was to come.

4. On June 9, 1902, the world's first automatic submarine was successfully tested in New Jersey. The "Holland VI" was designed by Irish-American inventor John Philip Holland, and was able to dive and resurface without assistance. The submarine was later used by the US Navy during World War I.

5. June 9 is also the birthday of Bill Stern, a famous sports broadcaster who was born in Rochester, New York in 1907. Stern began his career as a radio announcer in the 1930s, and became known for his colorful and dramatic style. He covered several famous sporting events, including the 1938 World Series and the 1948 Olympics. Stern was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1988.