The committee was composed of 20 of the town’s notables and businessmen, including Philibert Cliche, president of Megantic Manufacturing Company.
A public subscription was organized, which allowed to collect $1,500. Mr. Cliche bought the land and organized the land development via his company. The cross was also built in Mégantic Manufacturing Company’s shop at the end of 1950.
The cross is 21 meters high and 9.5 meters large. Its first illumination was on December 16, 1950. It comprises around 100 light bulbs, which were red at the time.
The cross blessing, headed by His Excellency Most Revered P.S. Desranleau, diocese’s archbishop, was held on Sunday, August 12, 1951 in front of a crowd of citizens and a number of dignitaries of the surroundings. Lac-Mégantic acquired the location in 1989 with the aim of creating a park.