In May 1920, the City of Portland dedicated 52 (eventually 100) Linden trees along Baxter Blvd. as a "memorial grove" to honor service in the First World War. The dedication ceremony, held in Payson Park on May 7, 1920, featured speakers such as Portland's mayor Charles B. Clarke, Franklin R. Redlon from Portland's Park Commission, Harold J. Walch from the Harold T. Andrews American Legion Post, with Dr. Thomas Burrage serving as chairmen of exercises.

The initial trees represented fallen servicemen, with later trees representing veterans who survived the war.