1. In 1831, the first steam-powered ferry service in New Jersey, the "John Stevens," begins operation between Hoboken and Manhattan. This was a major breakthrough in transportation and led to the development of more efficient means of travel across the state.

2. On November 17, 1858, Edwin E. Stevens, son of John Stevens, is born in Hoboken. He would go on to become a successful businessman and philanthropist, donating money to various charitable causes and founding the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken.

3. In 1922, the New Jersey State Highway Commission announces plans to construct a new bridge across the Delaware River to connect Trenton and Morrisville, Pennsylvania. The bridge, known as the Lower Trenton Bridge, would open in 1929 and become a major transportation artery for the region.

4. On November 17, 1960, the Newark Bay Bridge, also known as the Albertus L. Meyers Bridge, opens to traffic. The bridge spans Newark Bay and connects Newark and Bayonne, providing a vital link between the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway.

5. In 1970, the New Jersey Nets basketball team plays their first game as a member of the American Basketball Association (ABA) at the Rutgers Athletic Center in Piscataway. The team would later move to various locations, including Long Island and Brooklyn, before finally settling in Brooklyn as the Brooklyn Nets in 2012.