Google street view of cairn marking the location of the Neutral Indian Ossuary, at southwest corner of Pinestone Road and St. Paul Avenue, Niagara Falls.

Laura Secord, on her historic walk from Queenston to Decew House, St. Catharines, made a brief stop in St. David's. She had intended to speak to her brother Charles Ingersoll about continuing her mission however he was ill and unable to travel. Instead Laura's niece Elizabeth Secord joined her, accompanying her for three hours before returning to the village. Upon leaving St. David's Laura and Elizabeth travelled south, unknowingly passing by the Indian Ossuary which was no longer in use by that time. She also followed and crossed a number of Native trails on her historic trek.

In 1828 the largest Neutral Indian burial ground in Ontario was discovered near St. David's, Niagara on the Lake. The burial ground, or ossuary, was discovered after a large tree was blown down in a violent storm and flint, bones and Indian relics were found among the tree roots. A similar discovery was made in 1908 in a sand and gravel quarry nearby as well as when St. David's Ravine Rd was constructed. At first it was thought that this has been the site of a great battle or terrible plague however this changed when more indepth research was done. There appear to have been a large number of mass graves and plots with bodes gathered from across the peninsula.

The Niagara Peninsula was an ideal area for European and early First Nations settlement, with plenty of agricultural land, the Niagara Escarpment for protection against the elements, elevation for wet seasons and extensive trail networks. The ossuary is located at the crossroads of a number of major trails: the Iroquois, Mohawk and Four Mile Trail, as well as the Four Mile Creek, making it the ideal spot for quick movement throughout the region and an ideal settlement area.

Some of the artifacts collected include clay, brass and copper cooking containers, beads, items made of shells, clay and stone pipes and a large number of bones. In these communities it was the tradition to hold communal burials every seven or eight years along with the Feast of the Dead. Bodies might be temporarily interred or preserved in beaver or otter skins, then placed in pits lined with fur for an extended ceremony at the communal gathering place. St. David's is central to the Niagara Region and has soft, sandy soils, making it easier to break ground compared to clay soils atop the Niagara Escarpment.

Today the burial ground is no longer in evidence. The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Recreation performed three major excavations and declared that they believed that all remains and artifacts had been removed from the area. A subdivision of over 300 houses was built on the site of the Indian Ossuary, near the intersection of St. Paul St and Mountain Rd.
In 1934 a stone cairn was unveiled by the Lundy's Lane Historical Society, marking the site of the Ossuary and indicating the area where the burial ground was discovered and located. Atop the cairn is a limestone arrowhead which points to a location some 200 yards northwest, to the ossuary. Nearby are two marble tablets describing the ossuary and Sir Peregrine Maitland's house which was located across from the cairn.

From Toronto:
1. Take the Queen Elizabeth Way, follow signs for Niagara/East Hamilton/Fort Erie
2. Drive 65.5 km then take exit 34 for Regional Road 101 E/Mountain Road
3. Turn left onto Mountain Rd/Regional Rd 101
4. At the roundabout, continue straight to stay on Mountain Rd/Regional Rd 101
5. Drive 2.2 km then turn left onto St Paul Ave/Regional Rd 100

Destination will be on the left side, at the intersection of St. Paul Avenue and Pinestone Rd.

From Niagara:

1. Head north on Queen Elizabeth Way toward Toronto
2. Take exit 34 for Regional Road 101/Mountain Road
3. Turn right onto Mountain Rd/Regional Rd 101 (signs for Mountain Road E)
4. At the roundabout, continue straight to stay on Mountain Rd/Regional Rd 101
5. Drive 2.2 km then turn left onto St Paul Ave/Regional Rd 100

Destination will be on the left side, at the intersection of St. Paul Avenue and Pinestone Rd.

See Google Street View

Intersection of St. Paul Avenue and Pinestone Rd
St. David's, Ontario
L2J 4K2 Municipality Niagara Falls