1. On May 5, 1780, a small force of British troops led by Benedict Arnold raided and burned the town of Danbury, Connecticut. The attack was in retaliation for American raids on British positions in the area, and it marked a low point in the Revolutionary War for Connecticut.

2. May 5, 1818, is the day that Connecticut officially became a state, after being a colony and then a part of the Confederation of Independent States. This date is now celebrated annually as Connecticut Statehood Day, with parades, fireworks, and other festivities throughout the state.

3. The Yale School of Forestry was founded on May 5, 1900, making it the oldest such program in North America. The school has trained generations of conservationists and environmental managers, helping to protect Connecticut's natural resources for future generations.

4. On May 5, 1921, the famous composer and conductor Gustav Mahler conducted the New York Philharmonic Orchestra at Yale University. This performance marked the first time that Mahler had conducted in the United States, and it helped to establish him as a major figure in 20th-century music.

5. May 5, 1970, was the day that thousands of students and anti-war activists marched on the Connecticut state capitol in Hartford to protest the Vietnam War. The protest was part of a nationwide movement against the war, and it helped to draw attention to the growing opposition to the conflict.