museum

Although it is scarcely noticed by passers-by today, this excellent monument was once very much a part of the south-end scene and presents an interesting chapter in Stamford's history. It was designed as a memorial to the long and beneficent reign of Queen Victoria and provided a constantly running source of water as a drinking fountain for man and beast.

Queen Victoria died in January, 1901, after a reign of over sixty-four years — the longest in British history, recently surpassed by Queen Elizabeth II. Her loyal subjects in Stamford Township and particularly the village of Drummondville decided to commemorate that long reign and their late beloved monarch in a way that would be both lasting and useful. Thus, a memorial drinking fountain was decided upon as an ideal project. Accordingly, most of the year 1901 was spent collecting contributions to finance the construction of the memorial, to which all in the Village and Township donated.

Victoria Fountain in front of Niagara Falls History Museum. Photograph taken from the north-east side of the fountain as it stands today to the north-east corner of the Niagara Falls History Museum. The two levels of fountain face the photographer, the human and animal level. Part of the Inscriptiion is visible,

This memorial drinking fountain stood for many years on this plot of historic ground, kept green with grass and bright flowers. With the passage of time, however, horses gave way to automobiles, which so increased in numbers that by 1923 the fountain had become a traffic hazard. Therefore, Stamford Township Council decided to move it to a site in front of the Township Hall, where it stood until 2010 when the fountain was moved from the north-east side of the Stamford Township Hall building to the north-west side of the building during the renovation of the Niagara Falls History Museum. The first moving of the monument took place on November 12, 1923, second in 2010.

Inscribed on the monument are the following words: "Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy" and "To commemorate the Beneficent Reign of Queen Victoria." It also bears a marble plaque on which is inscribed: "Erected by loyal citizens, A.D. 1901. Committee: Reeve G. Ellis, Chairman; Councillors E. Fraser, J. Forde, G. Shrimpton and Jas. Wilson. God save the King."

Now dry, the fountain stands as the only memorial in the city erected in memory of Queen Victoria.