1. In 1850, the Michigan State Agricultural Society was organized at a meeting in Jackson, Michigan. This society aimed to promote and improve agriculture in the state, and it organized annual fairs to showcase new farming techniques and innovations.

2. On May 15, 1876, the first passenger train arrived in Marquette, Michigan. This marked the beginning of a new era of transportation for the region, as trains rapidly became the most efficient way to move people and goods across the state.

3. In 1911, the Michigan State Normal College (now Eastern Michigan University) was authorized to award bachelor's degrees. This marked an important milestone in the growth and development of the school, which had been established in 1849 to train teachers in the state.

4. On May 15, 1942, the Detroit News announced that a new type of synthetic rubber had been developed by researchers at the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company in Akron, Ohio. This breakthrough was seen as a crucial contribution to the war effort, as the United States needed to produce large quantities of rubber for military vehicles and equipment.

5. In 1963, the University of Michigan held its first-ever graduation ceremony in Michigan Stadium, in front of a crowd of over 50,000 people. The event was a huge success, and it set the stage for the university to become one of the largest and most prestigious public universities in the country.