1. In 1777, Fort Ticonderoga and Crown Point were captured by American forces led by General John Stark during the Revolutionary War. This victory helped secure the northern frontier of the fledgling United States.

2. August 16, 1842 saw the opening of the Rutland and Burlington Railroad, the first railroad in Vermont. The line would eventually be incorporated into the Rutland Railroad, which played a significant role in the state's transportation infrastructure.

3. One of Vermont's most famous figures, Norman Rockwell, was born on August 16, 1894, in New York City. While he did not move to Vermont until later in life, the state would inspire many of his most iconic paintings.

4. On August 16, 1927, the first radio station in Vermont, WDEV, went on the air. The station would become an important source of news and entertainment for the state's residents.

5. In 1951, Middlebury College inaugurated its new president, Carl W. F. Stockenstrom, on August 16. Stockenstrom would go on to lead the college until 1963, overseeing a period of significant growth and development.