Memorial Avenue was built after the Second World War, between 1946 - 1948. It was built with the assistance of the government and the Anglo-Newfoundland Development Company who formed a new housing division called the Grand Falls Ex-Serviceman's Housing Association Ltd. The executive consisted of Bill Lannon, George Forward and Bill Cool.
The first 14 houses were built of the same design specifically for Veterans. The Great War Veterans Association leased the land from the Anglo-Newfoundland Development Company at 1c per annum. Rent was 32.50 a month. The Anglo-Newfoundland Development Company provided water, sewer and power lines to the street. One home was situated closer to the mill for an employee who was injured in the war.
Depending on the time of the year the Anglo-Newfoundland Development Company provided employment for close to 3000 men. During the summer months over 1500 worked at the mill. A large proportion of those on the payroll were young military aged men. The shortages in manpower created by enlistments also caused issues at the mill. Women and boys well below military age were employed in the mill. Hundreds of outport workers were also brought in.
There were 600 volunteers for the First World War from the area, most of which worked in some way for the Anglo-Newfoundland Development Company. The company was heavily involved in the forming and supporting the Newfoundland Forestry Corps. Many of the men who enlisted were either too young or too old to go into the fighting services or had been discharged from the Newfoundland Regiment after being wounded at the front.
Over 60 men were lost from the town, most of which worked in some way for the Anglo-Newfoundland Development Company. The Goodyear family alone sent five sons overseas (they worked in cartage and as woods contractors for the company) with their only daughter serving as a nursing sister. Three of the five boys would end up on the war memorial.
The company had guaranteed the men who served that they would be hired back in either their old positions or higher paying positions. The company started a new house building program during the war in the area behind Church Road.
