1. On October 16, 1859, abolitionist John Brown arrived in Maine on his way to Harpers Ferry, where he would lead a raid on a federal armory in an attempt to start a slave rebellion. Brown's raid and subsequent execution became a rallying cry for the abolitionist movement.

2. The first recorded snowfall of the season in Maine occurred on October 16, 1904, in Caribou. While early snow can be a nuisance for some, it signals the beginning of winter sports season for many Mainers.

3. On October 16, 1914, a devastating fire destroyed much of downtown Bath, Maine. The blaze was caused by a spark from a railroad locomotive and destroyed over 100 buildings, including the post office and several of the city's largest hotels.

4. Maine's first television station, WCSH-TV, began broadcasting on October 16, 1953. The station, which is still in operation today, is the oldest continuously operating television station in the state.

5. Maine-born writer Stephen King published his novel "Pet Sematary" on October 16, 1983. The horror novel, set in a small Maine town, has since become a classic in the genre and has been adapted into two feature films.