1. In 1783, the first American hot air balloon flight took place in Boston. The balloon was launched from the Boston Common and traveled about 8 miles before landing in Dedham.

2. In 1915, Boston's Fenway Park was purchased by Red Sox owner Joseph Lannin for $1 million. Fenway Park is now the oldest ballpark in Major League Baseball.

3. In 1878, the first telephone exchange in Boston was opened by the Bell Telephone Company. It had 77 subscribers and was located in a rented space in a Boston office building.

4. In 1958, the Boston Celtics beat the Minneapolis Lakers 173-139 in the highest-scoring game in NBA history. The game was played at Boston Garden and featured future Hall of Famers Bill Russell and Elgin Baylor.

5. In 1943, Massachusetts native and future President John F. Kennedy was appointed as a lieutenant in the United States Navy. Kennedy would go on to earn a Purple Heart for his service in World War II.