1. Columbus Day: October 12th marks Columbus Day, which celebrates the arrival of Christopher Columbus to the Americas in 1492. In New Jersey, this day is a state holiday where many schools and businesses are closed.

2. First Women's College: On October 12th, 1865, the state of New Jersey granted a charter to the Women's College of Baltimore, which eventually became known as Goucher College. This was the first women's college in the state of Maryland and one of the first in the United States.

3. Historic Ferry Service: On October 12th, 1790, the first ferry service between Hoboken and New York City was established by John Stevens. This historic ferry service helped to increase trade and transportation between the two cities.

4. First Synagogue: On October 12th, 1858, the first synagogue in New Jersey, Temple Beth El, was founded in Jersey City. The synagogue is still active today and is one of the oldest in the state.

5. Firefighting History: On October 12th, 1898, the Passaic Fire Department was officially organized. This marks the beginning of the city's formal firefighting history, which has since expanded to include 10 fire companies and over 200 firefighters.