1. In 1636, the Town of Wethersfield in Connecticut voted to establish a public school for children, making it one of the earliest settlements in America to do so.

2. On October 4, 1777, British forces under General William Tryon raided the town of Danbury, Connecticut, burning numerous buildings and supplies that were intended for American forces during the Revolutionary War.

3. The first commercial telephone exchange in the United States was opened in New Haven, Connecticut on October 4, 1878, with 21 subscribers.

4. On October 4, 1893, the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago closed, having featured several exhibits and displays from Connecticut businesses, including Colt's Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company and the New Haven Clock Company.

5. In 1970, Connecticut Governor Thomas Meskill declared a state of emergency in response to the outbreak of violence and protests at multiple universities, including Yale and UConn, over the Vietnam War and other political issues. The National Guard was called in to restore order.