1. In 1929, the Holland Tunnel connecting Jersey City to New York City opened to the public. The tunnel, named after its chief engineer Clifford Milburn Holland, was a massive engineering feat consisting of two tubes running under the Hudson River and stretching over 8,000 feet in length.

2. On October 24, 1776, General George Washington and his army retreated through New Jersey after their defeat in the Battle of White Plains. This marked a low point in the American Revolutionary War, as the British were close to victory and morale was low among the American troops.

3. In 1875, the first intercollegiate football game was played between Rutgers University and Princeton University in New Brunswick, NJ. Rutgers won the game 6-4, and this marked the beginning of a new era in American sports.

4. The famous poet William Carlos Williams was born in Rutherford, NJ on October 24, 1883. Williams is known for his innovative poetry style that focused on the everyday experiences of ordinary people.

5. On October 24, 2012, Hurricane Sandy made landfall in New Jersey, causing widespread damage and destruction along the coast. The storm caused billions of dollars in damages and led to long-term recovery efforts in affected communities.