New England Chronicles • Vol. 2 Slide 6 of 30
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Connecticut
January 14, 1639
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Widely considered the world's first written constitution, the Fundamental Orders established Connecticut's government structure. It declared that the authority of government lies in the free consent of the people.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 2 Slide 7 of 30
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Connecticut
May 10, 1662
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John Winthrop Jr. traveled to London and successfully obtained a Royal Charter from King Charles II. It united the Hartford and New Haven colonies and granted Connecticut an unprecedented level of self-governance.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 2 Slide 8 of 30
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Connecticut
October 26, 1887
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When Royal Governor Sir Edmund Andros demanded the surrender of Connecticut’s charter, local patriots suddenly blew out the candles. Joseph Wadsworth smuggled the precious document away and hid it inside a giant oak tree.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 2 Slide 9 of 30
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Connecticut
October 1701
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To train ministers and leaders, colonial pastors founded the Collegiate School in Saybrook. Relocated to New Haven in 1716, it was renamed Yale College in honor of benefactor Elihu Yale, becoming a premier global institution.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 2 Slide 10 of 30
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Connecticut
1708
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Connecticut ministers gathered in Saybrook to formulate a strict system of church governance. This platform bound local churches into associations, formalizing the union of religious doctrine and colonial law.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 2 Slide 11 of 30
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Connecticut
1709
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Thomas Short established Connecticut’s first printing press in New London. His publication of colonial laws and religious pamphlets dramatically accelerated the distribution of information across the state.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 2 Slide 12 of 30
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Connecticut
October 29, 1764
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Ebenezer Watson launched the Connecticut Courant (now the Hartford Courant). It is recognized today as the oldest continuously published newspaper in the United States, providing a critical voice during the American Revolution.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 2 Slide 13 of 30
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Connecticut
1775
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Jonathan Trumbull was the only colonial governor to support the rebel cause at the outbreak of the Revolutionary War. Under his leadership, Connecticut became the primary supplier of food and gunpowder for Washington's troops.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 2 Slide 14 of 30
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Connecticut
March 1776
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Wethersfield native Silas Deane was sent to Paris as America's first foreign diplomat. He successfully secured secret French military aid, weapons, and uniforms long before France officially entered the war.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 2 Slide 15 of 30
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Connecticut
September 22, 1776
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Captured by the British behind enemy lines in New York, Connecticut-born officer Nathan Hale was executed as a spy. His legendary final words, "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country," inspired the nation.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 2 Slide 16 of 30
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Connecticut
April 27, 1777
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British forces raided and burned Patriot supplies in Danbury. During their retreat, local militias led by General Benedict Arnold confronted them at Ridgefield, demonstrating brave resistance on Connecticut soil.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 2 Slide 17 of 30
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Connecticut
September 6, 1781
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Having turned traitor, Benedict Arnold led British troops in a devastating raid on New London and Groton. They captured Fort Griswold, massacred its defenders, and burned the prosperous shipping harbor.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 2 Slide 18 of 30
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Connecticut
1787
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At the Constitutional Convention, Roger Sherman of Connecticut proposed a two-house legislature. This "Connecticut Compromise" balanced power between large and small states, paving the way for the U.S. Constitution.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 2 Slide 19 of 30
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Connecticut
January 9, 1788
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By a decisive vote of 128 to 40 at the Hartford state convention, Connecticut officially ratified the United States Constitution. It became the fifth state to join the newly formed Union.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 2 Slide 20 of 30
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Connecticut
December 15, 1814
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Frustrated by the economic impacts of the War of 1812, New England Federalists gathered secretly in Hartford. They proposed constitutional amendments to protect regional trade and debated secession from the Union.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 2 Slide 21 of 30
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Connecticut
April 15, 1817
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Thomas Gallaudet and Laurent Clerc founded the American School for the Deaf in Hartford. It was the first permanent school for disabled children in the Western Hemisphere, establishing American Sign Language.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 2 Slide 22 of 30
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Connecticut
October 12, 1818
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Connecticut officially replaced its 156-year-old Royal Charter with a modern state constitution. The landmark document legally separated church and state and expanded voting rights for citizens.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 2 Slide 23 of 30
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Connecticut
March 1833
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Quaker schoolteacher Prudence Crandall defied local opposition in Canterbury by establishing the first boarding school for young African American women, sparking a legendary legal battle for educational rights.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 2 Slide 24 of 30
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Connecticut
June 15, 1844
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After years of failed experiments and extreme poverty in Woburn and New Haven, Charles Goodyear patented vulcanized rubber. This process made rubber durable and weather-resistant, transforming modern manufacturing.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 2 Slide 25 of 30
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Connecticut
September 10, 1846
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Elias Howe patented the lockstitch sewing machine, later establishing massive production factories in Bridgeport. This invention revolutionized clothing production, making ready-to-wear garments affordable for families.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 2 Slide 26 of 30
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Connecticut
1855
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Samuel Colt opened his landmark Colt's Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company along the Hartford riverfront. Its blue onion dome became a symbol of precision engineering, pioneered by interchangeable parts.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 2 Slide 27 of 30
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Connecticut
1871
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Showman P.T. Barnum made Bridgeport the winter headquarters for "The Greatest Show on Earth." Barnum served as mayor of Bridgeport, driving public infrastructure, local parks, and water systems.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 2 Slide 28 of 30
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Connecticut
September 14, 1939
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In Stratford, aviation pioneer Igor Sikorsky designed and piloted the VS-300, the world's first practical single-rotor helicopter. His design set the fundamental standard for modern helicopter flight.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 2 Slide 29 of 30
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Connecticut
January 21, 1954
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The General Dynamics Electric Boat shipyard in Groton launched the USS Nautilus, the world's first nuclear-powered submarine. She shattered all speed and endurance records, navigating beneath the geographic North Pole.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 2 Slide 30 of 30
New England Chronicles • Vol. 3 Slide 6 of 30
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Rhode Island
1639
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Following disagreements in Portsmouth, William Coddington led settlers to the southern tip of Aquidneck Island to found Newport. Blessed with a deep natural harbor, it quickly grew into a vital maritime merchant center.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 3 Slide 7 of 30
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Rhode Island
1642
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Religious dissenter Samuel Gorton purchased land at Shawomet from Sachem Myantonomy. After fierce legal and armed disputes with Massachusetts, he renamed the settlement Warwick to honor his English protector.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 3 Slide 8 of 30
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Rhode Island
March 14, 1644
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To protect the independent towns from aggressive neighboring colonies, Roger Williams sailed to England. He successfully secured a parliamentary patent, uniting Providence, Portsmouth, and Newport under one government.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 3 Slide 9 of 30
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Rhode Island
1658
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Attracted by Rhode Island's policy of religious tolerance, Spanish and Portuguese Jewish families arrived in Newport. They founded the historic Congregation Jeshuat Israel, constructing the iconic Touro Synagogue.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 3 Slide 10 of 30
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Rhode Island
July 8, 1663
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John Clarke negotiated a revolutionary Royal Charter with King Charles II. It officially created the "Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations" and uniquely guaranteed full "lively experiment" religious liberty.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 3 Slide 11 of 30
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Rhode Island
December 19, 1675
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During King Philip's War, colonial forces launched a preemptive strike on a fortified Narragansett winter camp in South Kingstown. This tragic battle shattered the Narragansett tribe and altered local history forever.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 3 Slide 12 of 30
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Rhode Island
1700s
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Throughout the 18th century, Newport became a major hub in the transatlantic "Triangular Trade." Rhode Island merchants built enormous wealth by distilling rum, trading molasses, and financing slave-trading voyages.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 3 Slide 13 of 30
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Rhode Island
June 9, 1772
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Luring the hated British customs ship HMS Gaspee aground at Namquid Point, local Sons of Liberty boarded the vessel. They wounded her captain and burned the schooner, marking the first armed act of rebellion against the King.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 3 Slide 14 of 30
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Rhode Island
May 4, 1776
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Two full months before Philadelphia, Rhode Island’s General Assembly passed an act formally severing all political ties with King George III. They were the very first American colony to declare absolute independence.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 3 Slide 15 of 30
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Rhode Island
August 2, 1776
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Stephen Hopkins, former governor and patriot leader, signed the Declaration of Independence. Because of a shaking palsy in his hand, he guided his right hand with his left, stating, "My hand trembles, but my heart does not."
New England Chronicles • Vol. 3 Slide 16 of 30
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Rhode Island
August 29, 1778
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Continental and French forces attempted to recapture British-occupied Newport. Although a massive hurricane disrupted naval plans, the land battle in Portsmouth showed fierce, organized American defensive tactics.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 3 Slide 17 of 30
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Rhode Island
1778
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To meet enlistment quotas, Rhode Island formed the first military regiment consisting primarily of African American and Native American soldiers. They fought with legendary bravery, especially at the Battle of Rhode Island.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 3 Slide 18 of 30
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Rhode Island
December 1793
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English immigrant Samuel Slater memorized British industrial designs and rebuilt them in Pawtucket. His water-powered spinning mill on the Blackstone River sparked the birth of the American Industrial Revolution.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 3 Slide 19 of 30
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Rhode Island
May 29, 1790
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Fearing federal power and insisting on a Bill of Rights, Rhode Island delayed ratification for years. They finally approved the Constitution by a tiny margin, becoming the last of the original thirteen states to join the Union.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 3 Slide 20 of 30
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Rhode Island
1831
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Jabez Gorham founded Gorham Silver in Providence, pioneering mechanical casting and stamping. It grew into the largest sterling silver manufacturer in the world, creating masterpieces for royal houses and the White House.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 3 Slide 21 of 30
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Rhode Island
1841-1842
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Frustrated by archaic colonial charter voting laws that restricted the vote to wealthy landowners, Thomas Wilson Dorr led an armed uprising. Although defeated, this rebellion forced the state to adopt voting reforms for all citizens.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 3 Slide 22 of 30
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Rhode Island
1861-1865
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During the American Civil War, the Providence Tool Company became a vital industrial supplier for the Union. They manufactured tens of thousands of Springfield rifles, heavy weaponry, and machinery for northern forces.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 3 Slide 23 of 30
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Rhode Island
1877
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The Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) was founded by a pioneering group of local women, primarily funded by assets from the Centennial Exposition, creating a global center for arts, textiles, and design.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 3 Slide 24 of 30
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Rhode Island
1880s-1890s
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America's wealthiest industrial tycoons, including the Vanderbilts and Astors, constructed legendary summer "cottages" in Newport. These colossal limestone palaces made Newport the social capital of the Gilded Age.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 3 Slide 25 of 30
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Rhode Island
1881
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The Newport Casino hosted the first U.S. National Lawn Tennis Championship. It established Newport as a premier historic center for athletic competition, eventually hosting the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 3 Slide 26 of 30
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Rhode Island
October 4, 1895
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The Newport Country Club hosted the very first U.S. Open golf tournament, won by Horace Rawlins. This historic event established structured professional golf championships in the United States.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 3 Slide 27 of 30
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Rhode Island
October 1828
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The Blackstone Canal opened, connecting industrial Worcester directly to the maritime port of Providence. This major engineering marvel drastically lowered freight costs, accelerating regional growth.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 3 Slide 28 of 30
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Rhode Island
1816
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Positioned on a notoriously treacherous, storm-battered peninsula, the octagonal stone Point Judith Lighthouse was constructed. It provided a vital beacon of safety for countless commercial vessels entering Narragansett Bay.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 3 Slide 29 of 30
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Rhode Island
June 28, 1969
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The Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge was completed, spanning two miles across the West Passage of Narragansett Bay. The suspension bridge linked Jamestown and Newport, transforming regional transportation and tourism.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 3 Slide 30 of 30
New England Chronicles • Vol. 4 Slide 6 of 30
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New Hampshire
1690s-1700s
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British surveyors marked NH's massive white pines with a three-strike "Broad Arrow" symbol, reserving them for Royal Navy shipmasts. This colonial timber monopoly angered local loggers, fueling early anti-royal sentiments.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 4 Slide 7 of 30
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New Hampshire
1722-1725
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Fierce boundary disputes between NH colonists and the Abenaki-backed French erupted into Lovewell's War. A famous woodland battle near Pequawket (Fryeburg) resulted in Captain John Lovewell’s death, but weakened tribal defenses.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 4 Slide 8 of 30
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New Hampshire
April 13, 1772
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In Weare, mill owners refused to pay fines for cutting giant white pines. An angry mob of local citizens assaulted the Royal Sheriff and cropped his horse's ears, an act of defiance that foreshadowed the Boston Tea Party.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 4 Slide 9 of 30
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New Hampshire
December 14, 1774
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Warned by Paul Revere that British troops might reinforce Portsmouth, local patriots raided Fort William and Mary in New Castle. They captured ninety-seven barrels of gunpowder, later used at the Battle of Bunker Hill.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 4 Slide 10 of 30
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New Hampshire
January 5, 1776
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Six months before the national Declaration of Independence, New Hampshire established its own provincial congress. They adopted the first independent state constitution, officially severing colonial ties with Great Britain.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 4 Slide 11 of 30
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New Hampshire
August 16, 1777
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NH General John Stark led a brigade of local militias to victory against British forces at Bennington. Stark’s pre-battle rally, "There they are, boys... or this night Molly Stark sleeps a widow," became legendary.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 4 Slide 12 of 30
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New Hampshire
June 21, 1788
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By a state convention vote of 57 to 47, New Hampshire ratified the U.S. Constitution. As the ninth state to do so, they officially triggered the activation clause, making the Constitution the supreme law of the land.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 4 Slide 13 of 30
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New Hampshire
February 2, 1819
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In Dartmouth College v. Woodward, alumnus Daniel Webster argued before the U.S. Supreme Court. The landmark ruling prevented New Hampshire from converting the private college into a state university, protecting private charters.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 4 Slide 14 of 30
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New Hampshire
1831
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The Amoskeag Manufacturing Company was established in Manchester. Capitalizing on waterpower from the Merrimack River, it grew into the largest cotton textile plant in the world, employing thousands of European immigrants.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 4 Slide 15 of 30
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New Hampshire
November 1852
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Hillsborough native Franklin Pierce was elected as the fourteenth President of the United States. To date, Pierce is the only U.S. President born in and representing the state of New Hampshire.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 4 Slide 16 of 30
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New Hampshire
July 3, 1869
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Sylvester Marsh built the Mount Washington Cog Railway, the world's first mountain-climbing cog locomotive. This industrial triumph allowed Victorian tourists to safely ascend New England’s highest peak.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 4 Slide 17 of 30
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New Hampshire
January 1882
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Norwegian immigrants established the Nansen Ski Club in Berlin, New Hampshire. Officially recognized as the oldest continuously operating ski club in the country, it popularized ski jumping and winter sports in America.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 4 Slide 18 of 30
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New Hampshire
1900-1911
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Renowned poet Robert Frost moved with his family to a farm in Derry. The scenic New Hampshire landscape, stone walls, and local neighbors inspired many of his most famous poems, including "Mending Wall" and "Birches."
New England Chronicles • Vol. 4 Slide 19 of 30
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New Hampshire
September 5, 1905
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Negotiated at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard under President Theodore Roosevelt, the Treaty of Portsmouth formally ended the Russo-Japanese War, earning Roosevelt the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 4 Slide 20 of 30
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New Hampshire
March 14, 1916
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New Hampshire held its first presidential primary. By 1952, with the addition of direct voter balloting, it solidified its legendary status as the "first-in-the-nation" primary, shaping the modern presidential selection process.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 4 Slide 21 of 30
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New Hampshire
April 12, 1934
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Observers at the Mount Washington Observatory recorded an astonishing 231 mile-per-hour wind gust. It stood for decades as the fastest surface wind speed ever measured by human scientific instruments.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 4 Slide 22 of 30
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New Hampshire
July 1944
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Delegates from forty-four nations gathered at the Mount Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods. They established the post-WWII global financial system, creating the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 4 Slide 23 of 30
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New Hampshire
1805
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Surveyors Luke Brooks and Francis Whitcomb first documented the famous "Old Man of the Mountain," a natural profile of five granite ledges on Cannon Mountain. It became a beloved symbol of New Hampshire resilience.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 4 Slide 24 of 30
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New Hampshire
1863
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NH native Sarah Josepha Hale, editor and author, spent decades writing letters to presidents. Her tireless campaign finally succeeded when President Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 4 Slide 25 of 30
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New Hampshire
January 28, 1986
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Concord High School social studies teacher Christa McAuliffe was selected by NASA to be the first private citizen in space. Her bravery and commitment to education continue to inspire students worldwide.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 4 Slide 26 of 30
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New Hampshire
November 1996
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Jeanne Shaheen was elected as New Hampshire's first female governor, later becoming the first woman in U.S. history to be elected as both a governor and a United States Senator.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 4 Slide 27 of 30
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New Hampshire
1872
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The launch of the paddle-steamer Mt. Washington initiated a massive boom in summer tourism on Lake Winnipesaukee. It transformed the Lakes Region into a premier recreational destination for eastern cities.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 4 Slide 28 of 30
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New Hampshire
1907
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Marian MacDowell established the MacDowell Colony in Peterborough. As the nation's first structured artists’ retreat, it fostered the creation of iconic American works by composers, writers, and artists.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 4 Slide 29 of 30
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New Hampshire
May 3, 2003
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Despite decades of heavy cable and turnbuckle reinforcements, the "Old Man of the Mountain" profile collapsed due to natural erosion, sparking statewide grief but solidifying its timeless presence on the state quarter.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 4 Slide 30 of 30
New England Chronicles • Vol. 5 Slide 6 of 30
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Vermont
March 13, 1775
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Angry citizens occupied the courthouse in Westminster to block New York-affiliated legal proceedings. Royal officers fired upon the unarmed crowd, killing two men and pushing Vermont closer to open rebellion.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 5 Slide 7 of 30
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Vermont
May 10, 1775
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Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold co-led a daring dawn raid across Lake Champlain. Surprising the sleeping British garrison, they captured Fort Ticonderoga "in the name of the Great Jehovah and the Continental Congress."
New England Chronicles • Vol. 5 Slide 8 of 30
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Vermont
January 15, 1777
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Declaring independence from both New York and Great Britain, delegates established the sovereign Republic of Vermont (initially called "New Connecticut"). It operated as an independent nation with its own currency and postal system.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 5 Slide 9 of 30
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Vermont
July 2, 1777
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Meeting in Windsor, delegates drafted the Vermont Constitution. It became the very first written constitution in North America to completely ban adult slavery, establish public education, and grant universal male suffrage.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 5 Slide 10 of 30
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Vermont
July 7, 1777
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The only Revolutionary War land battle fought entirely on Vermont soil took place at Hubbardton. The heroic rearguard defense by Green Mountain Boys slowed the pursuing British army, saving the retreating American forces.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 5 Slide 11 of 30
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Vermont
October 16, 1780
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A British-led force of three hundred indigenous warriors launched a surprise assault on Royalton along the White River. They burned down the settlement and took twenty-six prisoners, marking the last major raid of the war.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 5 Slide 12 of 30
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Vermont
1785-1788
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The Vermont General Assembly authorized Reuben Harmon Jr. to mint copper coins in Rupert. These beautiful coins, inscribed with "Vermontis Res Publica" and a rising sun over the mountains, symbolized the state's economic independence.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 5 Slide 13 of 30
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Vermont
March 4, 1791
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After paying New York thirty thousand dollars to settle outstanding land claims, Vermont officially dissolved its sovereign republic. It proudly entered the Union as the fourteenth state, the first admitted after the original thirteen.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 5 Slide 14 of 30
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Vermont
1789
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Schoolteacher Justin Morgan acquired a small, exceptionally strong bay colt named Figure in Randolph. This remarkable stallion founded the "Morgan Horse" breed, highly celebrated for its versatility, speed, and endurance.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 5 Slide 15 of 30
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Vermont
November 3, 1791
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Established by the state legislature, the University of Vermont (UVM) was founded in Burlington as a non-sectarian institution. It was designed to promote agricultural science, democratic ideals, and higher learning.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 5 Slide 16 of 30
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Vermont
1808
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Constructed in Burlington by John and James Winans, the Phoenix became the second commercial steamboat in the world. It established a highly successful transportation network across Lake Champlain, connecting NY, VT, and Canada.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 5 Slide 17 of 30
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Vermont
September 11, 1814
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During the War of 1812, VT militias rushed to support American forces on Lake Champlain. Under Master Commandant Thomas Macdonough, the American fleet defeated the British navy, protecting New England from northern invasion.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 5 Slide 18 of 30
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Vermont
June-August 1816
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Following the volcanic eruption of Mount Tambora in Indonesia, global temperatures plummeted. Massive snowstorms blanketed Vermont in June, destroying summer crops and triggering widespread regional famine and migrations.
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Vermont
November 1843
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Strengthening its anti-slavery stance, Vermont passed the Personal Liberty Act. It forbade state officials from assisting in the capture of runaway slaves, nullifying the federal Fugitive Slave Act on Vermont soil.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 5 Slide 20 of 30
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Vermont
October 19, 1864
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A band of Confederate soldiers slipped across the border from Canada to rob three banks in St. Albans, Vermont. This daring bank heist marked the northernmost land action of the entire American Civil War.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 5 Slide 21 of 30
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Vermont
July 4, 1872
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Future president Calvin Coolidge was born in Plymouth Notch, Vermont. He famously took the presidential oath of office at his family's farm in 1923, sworn in by his father, a notary public, by the light of a kerosene lamp.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 5 Slide 22 of 30
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Vermont
January 15, 1885
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Using a microscope adapted to his camera, Jericho native Wilson "Snowflake" Bentley captured the world's first photo of a single snowflake. He went on to photograph thousands of crystals, proving no two are alike.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 5 Slide 23 of 30
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Vermont
Late 1800s
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With the introduction of metal sap spouts and flat-bottomed evaporators, Vermont's maple sugar industry boomed. The state quickly established itself as the leading producer of pure maple syrup in the United States.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 5 Slide 24 of 30
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Vermont
November 1927
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Following torrential autumn rains, New England’s worst natural disaster hit Vermont. Rivers breached, killing eighty-four people, washing away hundreds of historic covered bridges, and necessitating massive state rebuilding programs.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 5 Slide 25 of 30
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Vermont
1930
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The Green Mountain Club completed construction on the "Long Trail," spanning 273 miles from Massachusetts to Canada. It is celebrated as the oldest long-distance continuous hiking trail in the United States.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 5 Slide 26 of 30
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Vermont
May 5, 1978
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Using a correspondence course on ice-cream making, childhood friends Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield opened their first scoop shop inside a renovated gas station in Burlington, driving social responsibility in business.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 5 Slide 27 of 30
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Vermont
June 1997
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To equalize school funding across poor and wealthy towns, the legislature passed the Equal Educational Opportunity Act (Act 60). It reshaped property taxes to ensure every Vermont child has equal access to educational resources.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 5 Slide 28 of 30
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Vermont
1987
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The Vermont Housing and Conservation Board was established, creating a unique national model that permanently protects historical farmlands and natural habitats while funding affordable housing options.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 5 Slide 29 of 30
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Vermont
1968
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To preserve its natural, scenic mountain beauty, Vermont passed a landmark law banning all commercial billboards statewide. This progressive conservation act ensures unobstructed views of autumn foliage and green hillsides.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 5 Slide 30 of 30
New England Chronicles • Vol. 6 Slide 6 of 30
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Maine
1675-1678
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Tensions between expanding English settlements and local Abenakis erupted into a brutal frontier war. Conflict raged through Saco, Brunswick, and Falmouth, forcing colonists to abandon many northern outposts.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 6 Slide 7 of 30
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Maine
February 5, 1692
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During King William's War, a force of Abenaki and French officers launched a devastating surprise raid on York. The attack resulted in seventy-five colonial casualties and eighty-five captured citizens, shocking New England.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 6 Slide 8 of 30
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Maine
1692
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Governor Sir William Phips ordered the construction of Fort William Henry in Pemaquid. The massive stone fortress, designed as the northernmost English stronghold, was captured and destroyed by French forces four years later.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 6 Slide 9 of 30
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Maine
1722-1725
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French Jesuit priest Sébastien Rale championed Abenaki land claims, sparking a fierce colonial boundary war. English forces ultimately raided Rale's mission in Norridgewock, killing him and scattering the tribe.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 6 Slide 10 of 30
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Maine
June 1745
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Kittery merchant William Pepperrell commanded a citizen-militia of New Englanders, largely from Maine, in a successful siege of the French stronghold of Louisbourg in Canada. Gorges' descendants earned royal praise.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 6 Slide 11 of 30
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Maine
June 12, 1775
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Local patriots in Machias seized a merchant sloop, armed themselves, and successfully captured the British armed schooner HMS Margaretta. It was the first naval engagement of the American Revolutionary War.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 6 Slide 12 of 30
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Maine
October 18, 1775
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A British naval squadron commanded by Captain Henry Mowat bombarded and burned the port of Falmouth (present-day Portland). The tragic destruction of over four hundred buildings helped unite the colonies toward absolute revolution.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 6 Slide 13 of 30
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Maine
July-August 1779
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A massive American naval armada attempted to dislodge a British base at Castine. Bad coordination led to disaster when a British fleet trapped the Americans, causing the worst naval defeat in U.S. history until Pearl Harbor.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 6 Slide 14 of 30
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Maine
January 10, 1791
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Commissioned by President George Washington, the Portland Head Light was lit for the first time in Cape Elizabeth. It was the very first lighthouse completed under the newly formed United States federal government.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 6 Slide 15 of 30
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Maine
June 24, 1794
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Bowdoin College was chartered in Brunswick while Maine was still part of Massachusetts. It grew into a prestigious liberal arts institution, educating legendary American figures like Nathaniel Hawthorne and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 6 Slide 16 of 30
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Maine
July 1814
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During the War of 1812, a British naval force captured Eastport and Castine, declaring the eastern coast of Maine to be part of British New Ireland. The occupation lasted until the signing of the Treaty of Ghent.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 6 Slide 17 of 30
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Maine
March 15, 1820
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Under the Missouri Compromise, Maine separated from Massachusetts and entered the Union as a free state, balancing the entry of slaveholding Missouri. It officially became the twenty-third state of the Nation.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 6 Slide 18 of 30
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Maine
1830s-1840s
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Harnessing timber from North Woods river drives down the Penobscot, Bangor grew into the premier "lumber capital of the world." Hundreds of ships left Bangor daily to carry timber to global ports.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 6 Slide 19 of 30
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Maine
1838-1839
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Tensions between Maine loggers and Canadian lumberjacks over the Aroostook River boundary led to a bloodless military mobilization. Known as the "Pork and Beans War," it was peacefully resolved without any casualties.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 6 Slide 20 of 30
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Maine
August 9, 1842
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Secretary of State Daniel Webster and British Envoy Lord Ashburton signed a landmark treaty. It officially established the northern border of Maine, permanently securing Aroostook County for the United States.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 6 Slide 21 of 30
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Maine
June 2, 1851
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Maine passed the nation’s very first statewide law banning the manufacture and sale of alcohol, championed by Portland Mayor Neal Dow. This landmark legislation served as the baseline blueprint for the national Prohibition movement.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 6 Slide 22 of 30
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Maine
July 2, 1863
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Defending the absolute left flank of the Union line on Little Round Top, Colonel Joshua Chamberlain and the 20th Maine ran completely out of ammunition. They launched a legendary, desperate bayonet charge that saved the Union army.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 6 Slide 23 of 30
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Maine
July 4, 1866
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A stray firecracker sparked a massive, uncontrollable fire in Portland, destroying over fifteen hundred brick buildings and displacing ten thousand citizens. The city rebuilt quickly, utilizing beautiful Victorian architecture.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 6 Slide 24 of 30
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Maine
1884
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Established along the Kennebec River, Bath Iron Works (BIW) grew into a world-famous steel shipbuilding center. BIW designed and constructed hundreds of naval and commercial vessels, earning the proud moniker "The City of Ships."
New England Chronicles • Vol. 6 Slide 25 of 30
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Maine
July 8, 1916
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President Woodrow Wilson created Sieur de Monts National Monument (renamed Acadia National Park in 1919) on Mount Desert Island. It was the very first national park established in the United States east of the Mississippi.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 6 Slide 26 of 30
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Maine
June 1, 1950
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Standing on the Senate floor, Skowhegan native Margaret Chase Smith delivered her famous "Declaration of Conscience." She became the first senator of her party to courageously denounce Joseph McCarthy’s smear campaigns.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 6 Slide 27 of 30
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Maine
1880s
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Granite quarrying flourished on Vinalhaven, Crotch Island, and Hall Quarry. Maine’s exceptionally hard, beautiful stone was shipped south to build the U.S. Capitol, the Brooklyn Bridge, and monumental skyscrapers in New York.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 6 Slide 28 of 30
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Maine
1875-1950
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Following the invention of high-speed canning, Lubec, Eastport, and Belfast became major centers for sardine packing. Millions of cans of Maine sardines were exported globally, providing a vital source of coastal employment.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 6 Slide 29 of 30
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Maine
October 10, 1980
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President Jimmy Carter signed the historic Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act, settling centuries-old land disputes. The landmark bill awarded eighty-one million dollars to the Passamaquoddy, Penobscot, and Maliseet tribes to buy back ancestral territories.
New England Chronicles • Vol. 6 Slide 30 of 30
