The town of Volney, New York, located in Oswego county, was founded in 1806.

The Town of Halfmoon is located in Saratoga County and was established in 1788. The town is named because it is shaped like a half moon crescent. The town lies between the Hudson River and the Mohawk River.

The European settlement of modern-day Clifton Park dates back to the Dutch in the late 1600s. The present towns of Clifton Park and Halfmoon were originally one town, Halfmoon. Families crossed the Mohawk River from the Schenectady area, first seasonally, and then created permanent settlements. Various land patents in the Clifton Park area were granted by European authorities in colonial times.

Transportation has played a significant role in Clifton Park’s history – the Erie Canal (opened in 1825) brought commerce and travelers. By 1828, the town of Halfmoon was too large and cumbersome to govern as a single town, and Clifton Park split away to form its own town. The first town meeting for Clifton Park was held in 1828 in the Grooms Tavern. The railway from Albany and Schenectady brought holiday-makers, and the creation of I-87 in the 1960s turned Clifton Park into a burgeoning bedroom community for Albany, Schenectady, and surrounding areas.

The Town of Ballston is located in Saratoga County, New York, north of Schenectady. The town was established in 1785 and was originally owned by the Mcdonald brothers but was then purchased from them by Eliphalet Ball. The town contains a water area known as Ballston Lake and a number of historic sites, including Indian Rock.

The objects in the tool collection were assembled through various donations during the Museum’s 80-year history.
General woodworking tools include awls, augers, planes, and race knives. These tools were used in a wide variety of trades including aboard whaleships.
Maritime tools include caulking irons, sailmaker’s needles, and fids. These tools were used at sea on many types of vessels.
Whaling tools include various harpoons and boat spades. These specialized tools were used to hunt and process the whale on board a whaleship.

The Ticonderoga Pulp and Paper Company, located in Ticonderoga, New York, was founded in 1882 by Clayton Delano. It was a successful business and at one point was the largest industry in Ticonderoga. International Paper Company purchased Ticonderoga Pulp and Paper Company in 1925.

The Thomas R. Bayles Local History Room, located in the Adult Department, is a room full of local history. Most of the books, pamphlets, postcards and photographs were donated by Mr. Bayles in 1976. The collection was dedicated in his honor on October 4, 1980. The portrait of him by Audrey Swanson Marlow that hangs in the room was donated by his wife, Gertrude Bayles and his son, Donald M. Bayles.
Mr. Bayles lived in Middle Island all his life. He was born February 4, 1895 and died June 29, 1977. He spent most of his life working for the Long Island Rail Road. He got his start in the freight office at Camp Upton during World War I. His father, Richard M. Bayles, had been a Suffolk County historian who wrote several books on the history of Suffolk County.

This collection highlights the life and contributions of one of Buffalo's most distinguished citizens in the first half of the 20th century. Thomas B. Lockwood was an attorney and businessman as well as philanthropist and bibliophile. He and his wife, Marion Birge Lockwood, donated the funds to construct the University at Buffalo's original Lockwood Memorial Library. When the building was dedicated in 1935, Lockwood presented his remarkable collection of rare materials to the University.