Ararat

Cornerstone, Buffalo History Museum Collection
TEXT: "Ararat, A City of Refuge for Jews, Founded by Mordecai Noah in the month Tizri 5586, September 1825 and in the 50th Year of American Independence."

In 1824,  2,555 acres were purchased as a refuge for members of the Jewish race.  The enterprise failed because of a lack of interest.
One of the later owners of the cornerstone was Lewis F. Allen who wanted it for the Whitehaven settlement. The stone was quite an attraction there. The stone is now owned by the Buffalo Historical Society.