1. On August 7, 1782, Connecticut Governor Jonathan Trumbull issued a proclamation announcing the end of the Revolutionary War in the state. The state had played a crucial role in the conflict, including providing troops and supplies, and many of the war's most significant battles had been fought on Connecticut soil.

2. August 7, 1886, is the date of the infamous Litchfield Female Academy fire. The prestigious school, which had educated many of Connecticut's most influential women during the 19th century, burned to the ground, tragically taking the lives of two teachers and several students.

3. In 1937, August 7 marked the opening of the Connecticut Turnpike. The road, now known as Interstate 95, connected the state to New York City and helped to transform travel and commerce in the region.

4. On August 7, 1954, bridge designer David Steinman completed construction of the Baldwin Bridge over the Connecticut River, linking the towns of Old Saybrook and Old Lyme. The bridge, which remains a vital transportation artery to this day, was hailed as an engineering marvel upon its completion.

5. Finally, on August 7, 1998, Governor John G. Rowland signed legislation authorizing the creation of the Connecticut Higher Education Trust (CHET), the state's official college savings program. Since its inception, CHET has helped thousands of families save for their children's educational futures.