Site Of First House

Recently I was at Niagara Falls State park and I stopped at a placard I have driven by hundreds of times. You may have as well.
This is what is said:
«First House
Built By Judge Porter In 1808.
Many Notable Visitors And Friendly Indians Were Received Within Its Walls.»
Its standing in a open lot, so the house is long gone.
Judge Augustus Porter was a chief land surveyor for the Connecticut Land Company in the late 1790’s. He is thought to be one of the first white settlers to the area (still occupied by various Indian tribes at the time). He bought this land near Niagara Falls, and built a sawmill (using the water power) and some other things.
He was also a politician at the time, and was the State Assembly man for the Genesee and Ontario District at some point.
He and his brother understood the value of the Falls as a tourist attraction and were able to make that happen. They built a bridge to Goat Island, got a ferry to cross the river, and planned gardens for people to come and enjoy.
He was a busy man, and had a general store in the area, and then was a judge (the first for Niagara County) and postmaster (the first for Niagara Falls). A man of many talents. This was the site of the first home he built in the area.
He had 5 children.
Worth a quick stop along the road.