1. In 1888, the Great Blizzard of 1888 struck Massachusetts, causing massive snowdrifts and disrupting transportation and communication systems throughout the state.

2. On November 9, 1938, the infamous Kristallnacht pogrom against Jews occurred in Germany, which had a profound impact on the Jewish community in Massachusetts and inspired many to become involved in the civil rights movement.

3. In 1965, Massachusetts Governor Endicott Peabody announced a plan to build a new central artery highway through downtown Boston, which would eventually become the controversial Big Dig project.

4. On November 9, 2000, George W. Bush was declared the winner of the presidential election after a contested vote count in Florida, which led to nationwide protests and legal challenges.

5. In 2018, the Merrimack Valley gas explosions took place in Massachusetts, killing one person and injuring dozens more, and causing widespread destruction and gas service disruptions in the affected communities.