This elaborate memorial can be found in the center of a decorative garden in Merritt Park. It follows along the winding walking path through the trees in the park, creating a very beautiful environment. This monument looks right over the Welland Canal within the historical district of Welland, adding to the heritage significance of the place.This monument in Welland, that rests along side of the Welland Canal is a tribute to all the people who had migrated to the Niagara Region in order to build the Welland Canal, for William Hamilton Merritt. The monument had been built in 2001 by the region as well as through many generous donations. This is a recognition of the contribution as well as the hardships faced by the men during this time.

The plans of the Welland Canal were finalized in 1825. It had called for two canals, with two summit levels and two entrances to Lake Erie, beginning from Lake Ontario. The construction for the project started in July 1825 on the easterly branch, due to the issues of the terrain, engineers for the project chose a route at seemed to produce the least amount of difficulties (Atkinson,1979). In order to do this, they had used natural water channels as much as possible. These included mostly the Twelve Mile creek and the Welland River. They had also used the landscape to their advantage, the waterway had been cut across valleys where rivers previously ran, creating a more efficient water route. Also, to avoid technical issues of changing elevation, the approach taken was to develop a gradual slope, while working with the environment (Atkinson,1979).

The first significant problem faced while constructing the Welland Canal occurred during the building in Port Dalhousie in November, 1828. The high banks at the deep cut of the canal slipped, caving in and filling in the basin of the Canal. It had been quickly determined that it had been the result of soil composite (Atkinson,1979). Although mostly clay, at a depth of 50 feet there had been a stratum of quicksand, which had given way to the weight which had been piled along the sides of the cut. In order to stop further collapses, the plans were forced to be changed once again. The cuts needed to be more shallow so that the quicksand soil underneath the clay would remained undisturbed. Unfortunately for the Canal to be an available source for large ships to move the Canal needed to be 56-feet deep. otherwise it would be inaccessible for large shipments of goods (Atkinson,1979).

To ensure that the canal remained approximately 56-feet in depth another source of water was needed for the project. Lake Erie could not be its only feeder. Thus the next best source available had been the Grand River. With this new source of water connecting to the canal, four more locks were required at both the north and south end of the canal (Atkinson,1979). The Grand River cuts through Wainfleet, which is a long distance away from the Canal, Therefore the connection would need to be extremely long and much smaller than the Canal in order to establish deeper water. This newly cut small river would only be available for recreational purposes and small boats. Overall despite many fall backs the Canal had been completed on November 30th 1829 and the small channel from the grand river to the Canal was completed in 1833 (Atkinson,1979).

The Welland Canal Worker's Memorial is the 11th destination on the Merritt Family Historical Tour

Atkinson. C (1979). First Annual Niagara Peninsula History Conference. City of St. Catharines ON & Department of Geography at Brock University.