The St. Lawrence-Lewis School Library System collection consists of high school yearbooks from area high schools. The Spotlight is the annual yearbook of the Hammond Central School.

A political rivalry developed between Aaron Burr (1756-1836), Vice President of the United States from 1801 to 1805, and Alexander Hamilton (1757-1804), Secretary of the Treasury from 1789 to 1795, when Hamilton repeatedly used his influence to oppose Burr's ambitions, often attacking his motives and character. A reference printed in the Albany Register of April 24, 1804, at the time of Burr's defeat for governor of New York, led to the fateful correspondence which culminated in the tragic "interview" (their euphemism for a duel) at Weehawken, N.J.
Between the dates of June 18 and July 9, 1804, an extensive communication by correspondence took place between Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, and their appointed seconds, Nathaniel Pendleton for Hamilton and William P. Van Ness for Burr, in an attempt to resolve the confrontation initiated by Burr's reaction to Hamilton's statement that appeared in the Albany Register. During the course of the correspondence, both men declined to resolve the dispute when such opportunities arose. Hamilton's long practice of criticizing and vilifying Burr had finally exhausted Burr's patience. Hamilton felt he would destroy his own reputation if he refuted a position he believed to be based on truth. Burr demanded an apology of all derogatory remarks Hamilton had ever made about him. Both men refused to make the statements which would have enabled them to defuse the confrontation. On the day of July 11, 1804, Burr, Hamilton, and their seconds crossed the Hudson River from New York in boats and held their now famous duel at a site near Weehawken, N.J. In the duel, Burr shot and killed Hamilton.

The village of Hamilton, chartered in 1812, was initially known as Payne's Settement in reference to the importance of Elisha Payne, a prominent local farmer, in the development of the village. Payne's Settlement experienced prosperity in part due to its connections to larger markets. The Skaneateles Turnpike, opened in 1808, offered a connection to western markets. From 1834 to 1878, the Chenango Canal linked Hamilton to the Erie Canal.

Heralding the growing importance of higher education in the region, Baptist Theological Society established the Hamilton Literary and Theological Institution in the village in 1819. In 1827, Elisha Payne's brother Samuel donated his farm to the theological institution, which changed later its name to Colgate University in 1890. The university has greatly influenced the development of the village, having a significant cultural and economic impact.

The Colgate Inn, located on Payne Street in the center of Hamilton, sits on the former site of the Park House inn, which had served guests for over one hundred years. Built in 1925 and currently owned by Colgate University, the inn offers forty guest rooms as well as a tap room.

May Halleran married Ralph Ludwig circa 1910 in Jericho, N.Y. When Mr. Ludwig died, May’s brothers George, John (a.k.a. Lott) and Marty Jr. came out to help their sister May run the carriage repair/blacksmith shop, owned by Ralph Ludwig. Their parents, Martin and Beatrice Halleran, Sr. joined them and they all lived upstairs in an apartment over the garage. Martin Halleran, Sr. drove the school bus in addition to working in the shop. Beatrice worked in the post office. In the early 1930’s the locals decided to form a fire department. Martin Sr. and Marty Jr. were both founding members of the Jericho Fire Department. Marty Jr. became a Nassau County policeman, and his wife Signe was the first female postmistress in Jericho and the youngest in Nassau County. Descendants of the Hallerans still reside in Jericho today.

The Half Hollow Hills Library is located in Melville, NY. In 1958, the Sunquam-Melville Parent Teachers Association provided the original spark for a library in the Half Hollow Hills area with a donation of $200 towards a library fund. A library committee was formed and began its work by looking for a location for the library. The Board of Education of the Half Hollow Hills School District granted permission for the use of a large room in the basement of the "old Melville School" on Sweet Hollow Road. The original volunteers recruited 30 local Boys Scouts. Together, the Boy Scouts and twenty-five adult library enthusiasts conducted a house-to-house canvas for books. Members of the community built the book shelves and decorated the new library.

Melville is a hamlet located in the town of Huntington in Suffolk County, NY. In the 17th century it was known as Samuel Ketcham's Valley, named for a local resident. Afterwards it was known as Sweet Hollow. This name was replaced by Melville in school records in 1854. Melville is home to the U.S. headquarters of several national and international corporations, including Canon USA.

The Town of Guilderland is located in the Albany, New York area. It was established in the late eighteenth century. During the Revolutionary War era, the citizens of Guilderland were half Loyalists and half Patriots, causing tensions for a time. After the war ended, however, Guilderland was known for its growth in the agricultural and industrial areas.