1. On October 27, 1858, John Brown led his famous raid on Harpers Ferry, West Virginia in an attempt to start a slave rebellion. Brown and his men captured the federal armory in the town, but were eventually defeated by local militia and U.S. Marines.

2. On October 27, 1938, the New Deal-era Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) established Camp Potomac in Hampshire County, West Virginia. The CCC was a public works program that employed millions of young men across the country, including many in West Virginia, to perform environmental and infrastructure projects.

3. On October 27, 1954, the Interstate Commerce Commission approved the termination of passenger train service between Elkins, West Virginia and Marlinton, West Virginia. The decline of passenger rail service was a major blow to many small towns and rural areas in West Virginia.

4. On October 27, 1966, the Buffalo Creek Disaster occurred in Logan County, West Virginia. A coal waste dam collapsed, sending a flood of water and debris through the surrounding valley, killing 125 people and causing extensive property damage.

5. On October 27, 2018, West Virginia University's Mountaineer football team won a dramatic game against the Baylor Bears, 58-14. The game featured a historic performance by WVU quarterback Will Grier, who threw for 353 yards and three touchdowns in just three quarters of play.