1. On January 4, 1699, the Pennsylvania Assembly passed an act establishing the first public school in the colony. The school was located in Philadelphia and taught reading, writing, and arithmetic to children of all social classes.

2. In 1776, on January 4, the Continental Congress authorized the first national recruiting officers for the Continental Army to be established in Pennsylvania. The state played a crucial role in the Revolutionary War, supplying troops and resources to the cause.

3. January 4, 1867, saw the publication of the first issue of the Philadelphia Evening Telegraph, which quickly became one of the city's most popular newspapers. The paper continued to publish until 1918, when it merged with the Philadelphia Public Ledger.

4. On January 4, 1907, the Pennsylvania State Forest Academy was established in Mont Alto, Franklin County. The academy trained students in various aspects of forestry and played a critical role in the conservation and management of Pennsylvania's natural resources.

5. January 4, 1954, marked the debut of Channel 69, the first television station in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Over the years, the station has undergone numerous changes, becoming an affiliate of various networks and adopting new names, but it remains an important part of the Lehigh Valley media landscape.