1. In 1899, the Ohio National Guard was dispatched to Akron to help quell a riot that had broken out at the city’s newly constructed Ohio State Penitentiary. The riot began when a group of four convicts went on a rampage in the prison’s shoe shop, sparking a larger uprising among the inmates. Over the course of the next few days, the prisoners barricaded themselves inside the facility, while National Guard troops and police officers worked to regain control. When the dust settled, one inmate had been killed, dozens were injured, and the prison was severely damaged.

2. In 1905, the S.S. Clarion, one of the most well-known steamboats on the Ohio River, sank near Portsmouth, Ohio. The ship was carrying a load of coal from Pittsburgh to Cincinnati when it hit a submerged sandbar and began taking on water. Although the crew attempted to pump out the water, the Clarion eventually sank, taking ten of its crew members down with it. The accident spurred a wave of regulatory changes aimed at making river travel safer, including requirements for lifeboats and improved signaling systems.

3. In 1969, Ohio State University became the first team in the history of the NCAA to win the football championship four times in six years. The Buckeyes achieved the feat under the leadership of legendary coach Woody Hayes, who led the team to its fourth championship victory on May 18, 1969, with a 27-16 win over USC in the Rose Bowl.

4. On May 18, 1995, a massive food-poisoning outbreak struck the small town of St. Clairsville, Ohio, sickening over 1,000 people and killing one. The outbreak was caused by a rare strain of E. coli bacteria that had contaminated ground beef sold by local supermarkets. The incident prompted calls for tighter food safety regulations and stricter oversight of the food industry.

5. Finally, on May 18, 2008, a tornado ripped through the village of Sunbury, Ohio, causing widespread damage and injuring seven people. The tornado was one of the most powerful to hit the state in recent years, with winds reaching up to 175 mph. Despite the severity of the storm, no one was killed, thanks to the quick action of emergency responders and the tight-knit community spirit of Sunbury’s residents.