1. The Vermont State Hospital opened on October 19, 1891, in Waterbury, Vermont. The mental health facility was designed to be a model institution for the treatment of mental illness and provided innovative treatments at the time.

2. The first U.S. tractor-trailer truck was built in Montpelier, Vermont on October 19, 1914, by John W. Hill. The truck, called a "semi-trailer," could carry up to 5 tons of goods and was a significant development in transportation.

3. Vermont Governor Richard A. Snelling died on October 19, 1991 at the age of 64. Snelling served as Vermont's governor for three non-consecutive terms and was known for his work on environmental issues and job creation.

4. On October 19, 1777, the Battle of Saratoga ended with a decisive victory for American forces led by General Horatio Gates. The battle is considered a turning point in the American Revolution and boosted morale for the American army and its supporters.

5. The Vermont Catamounts men's basketball team played their first-ever Division I basketball game on October 19, 2005, against the University of North Carolina. Despite losing the game, the Catamounts went on to become one of the most successful mid-major basketball programs in the country.