1. Birth of Augusta Jane Evans: On October 15, 1835, Augusta Jane Evans, a beloved southern novelist, was born in Columbus, Georgia. She is best known for her book "St. Elmo," which was incredibly popular when it was released in 1866.

2. West Virginia Statehood: On October 15, 1861, West Virginia officially became a state. It was the 35th state to join the Union, and remains the only state that was formed as a direct result of the Civil War.

3. Bridge Day Festival: Each year on the third Saturday of October, BASE jumpers from around the world converge on the New River Gorge Bridge in Fayetteville, West Virginia for Bridge Day. The festival is an opportunity for people to jump off the 876 ft. bridge, and it draws a huge crowd of spectators.

4. Coal Mining Disaster: On October 15, 1946, a coal mining disaster occurred in Bishop, West Virginia. 36 miners were killed and 4 others were injured in the accident. It remains one of the deadliest mining accidents in the state's history.

5. John Brown's Raid: On October 15, 1859, abolitionist John Brown led a group of men in a raid on the federal armory in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. The raid ultimately failed, but it heightened tensions between abolitionists and slave owners in the years leading up to the Civil War.