1. In 1871, the Connecticut State Senate passed the first law in the country prohibiting the sale of cigarettes to minors. This law came decades before the Surgeon General's warnings about the dangers of smoking and helped pave the way for further tobacco regulations.

2. On April 7, 1835, Elias Howe, inventor of the modern sewing machine, was born in Spencer, Massachusetts. Although not a native of Connecticut, Howe spent much of his professional career in the state and is considered one of its most famous inventors.

3. In 1924, the first Charles W. Morgan Day was celebrated in Mystic, Connecticut. The Charles W. Morgan was a historic whaling ship that had been restored and placed on display in Mystic. The day was meant to honor the ship's history and promote tourism in the area.

4. On April 7, 1775, Connecticut's Governor Jonathan Trumbull issued a proclamation calling for a Day of Fasting and Prayer in response to the growing tensions between the American colonies and Great Britain. This day was just one of many examples of how religious beliefs played a significant role in colonial life and politics.

5. In 2007, Connecticut became the first state in the nation to enact a law mandating that all new housing developments include a certain percentage of affordable housing units. The law, known as the "10% affordable housing law," aimed to address the state's growing affordable housing crisis and has since been adopted by other states and municipalities across the country.