1. On August 1st, 1862, the U.S. government enacted the first income tax law, which imposed a 3% tax on incomes above $800. However, it was not until August 17th, 1863, that the first income tax was actually collected in the state of Massachusetts.

2. On August 17th, 1956, the Boston Red Sox signed Ted Williams to a one-year contract worth $125,000, making him the highest-paid player in baseball at the time. Williams, a Hall of Fame outfielder, spent his entire career with the Red Sox and is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the game.

3. On August 17th, 1969, Hurricane Camille made landfall on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, causing widespread destruction and claiming the lives of more than 250 people. While Massachusetts was not directly impacted by the storm, it served as a reminder of the devastating power of hurricanes and led to increased awareness and preparedness efforts across the country.

4. On August 17th, 1978, Boston Mayor Kevin White declared a state of emergency in the city in response to a series of violent clashes between anti-busing protesters and police. The protests were sparked by a court-ordered plan to desegregate Boston's public schools by busing students to different neighborhoods. The unrest continued for several months, and the issue of school desegregation remained a divisive and controversial topic in the city for years.

5. On August 17th, 1996, the Big Dig project officially began construction in Boston. The project, which involved rerouting and burying the city's central freeway system, was one of the largest and most expensive public works projects in U.S. history, with a final cost of over $22 billion. The project faced numerous delays, cost overruns, and quality control issues, but ultimately resulted in a significant improvement in transportation infrastructure and urban planning in the city.