1. In 1862, the Battle of Princeton occurred during the American Civil War. Confederate troops under Brigadier General Henry Heth engaged Union forces under Colonel Samuel Beatty. The Union was ultimately victorious, but the battle caused significant casualties on both sides.

2. In 1906, the West Virginia House of Delegates passed a bill to establish West Virginia's first wildlife refuge. The refuge, known today as the McClintic Wildlife Management Area, was created to protect the state's dwindling deer population.

3. On May 15, 1933, the Farm Credit Administration was established in the United States. This government agency was created as part of Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal to help American farmers who were struggling during the Great Depression. The agency still exists today and provides loans and other services to farmers across the country.

4. In 1953, a mine explosion at the New River Mine in Fayette County killed 16 miners. This tragedy, which occurred on the evening of May 15, was caused by a buildup of methane gas in the mine.

5. More recently, on May 15, 2018, a powerful storm system moved through West Virginia, causing widespread flooding and severe damage. The flooding was particularly severe in the eastern part of the state, where some areas received more than 5 inches of rain in just a few hours. Numerous roads and bridges were washed out, and several communities were left without power or water for days.