A wood cross, known as the Cross of Memory, was installed at Victoria Avenue in 1918. Made by James Parker, it rested on five steps (one for each year of the First World War). The cross was dedicated by the Great War Veterans Association in honour of men from Niagara Falls who had given their lives in the First World War. The Great War Veterans Association eventually evolved into Branch 51 of the Royal Canadian Legion. When the wood of the Cross of Memory deteriorated a granite and stone cenotaph was built in its place and a dedication ceremony was held in 1951.
In 1971, the Victoria Avenue Branch and property was expropriated for use as an on ramp to the 420 and the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 51 moved to a new location at Valley Way. An opening ceremony for the Branch’s new home was held in May 1972. In October of that same year, a dedication ceremony was held for the relocated cenotaph and newly constructed memorial wall, featuring bronze plaques which honour those who gave their lives in the First and Second World Wars and Korean War. The memorial wall was designed and constructed by local Veteran and stone mason, Don Evans along with Len Shaw and Don Bogar (all long standing members of Branch 51).
Branch 51 was forced to downsize in 2008 which resulted in a move to Fraser Street, adjacent to Fairview Cemetery. The granite and stone cenotaph was also moved, however the granite cross was installed much deeper into a concrete base (nearly covering the inscription date), and the bronze plaques and components of the memorial wall were placed in storage for safe keeping.
The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 51 closed its doors in 2019. The cenotaph and remnants of the Memorial Wall were dismantled in the spring of 2019 and relocated and restored by Monument Restoration Experts, Anderson Cemetery Contracting in August of 2019. The new home for the cenotaph and Memorial Plaques is in Fairview Cemetery’s Field of Honour, adjacent to the Tomb and Memorial of the Unknown Soldier.
On September 14, 2019, the City of Niagara Falls Cemetery Services, in partnership with Royal Canadian Legion Branch 479, held the annual parade of the Unknown Solider. The service included a ceremony to bless and unveil the relocated and restored cenotaph. Representatives from all levels of government, as well as the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Royal Canadian Legions and the Lincoln Welland Regiment Museum participated in the ceremony. The total cost of the project, which was funded entirely through the City of Niagara Falls Monument Restoration Program, was approximately $25,000.
