1. On September 4, 1774, Boston held its first Town Meeting since the British government dissolved its colonial assembly. This meeting was significant because it demonstrated the colonists' commitment to resistance against British rule and laid the groundwork for the American Revolution.

2. In 1833, George Putnam founded the Salem Lyceum, a center for intellectual and cultural events in Salem, Massachusetts. The Lyceum hosted lectures by prominent thinkers like Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau and was a key institution in the growing intellectual and social communities of early 19th-century Massachusetts.

3. On September 4, 1890, the Woburn Train Wreck occurred, resulting in the deaths of 23 people and injuring over 100 more. The accident was caused by a faulty switch, and the tragedy sparked a national debate about railroad safety and regulation.

4. The Deerfield Massacre, a notorious attack by French and Native American forces on the town of Deerfield, Massachusetts, took place on February 29, 1704. However, on September 4, 1704, a group of Deerfield residents who had been taken captive during the massacre were finally able to escape and return home. Their bravery and resilience in the face of adversity became an enduring symbol of Massachusetts' colonial history.

5. The Boston Red Sox defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 19-0 on September 4, 1983. This was the largest margin of victory in Red Sox history, and the game included a record-tying 11 doubles by Boston's batters. The victory helped the Red Sox win the American League East division that season, but they ultimately lost to the Baltimore Orioles in the playoffs.