New Flagpole for Corporal Nolan

The Friends of Silverbrook Cemetery would like to recognize and thank the Warriors Oath Veteran group, and  leader James 'Diesel' Stevens, for the recent fundraising,  purchase, and installation of a new flagpole marking the grave of Corporal Joseph A. Nolan.  Corporal Nolan served in the Philippines in the Spanish-American War and was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his service. 

The new flagpole was dedicated on Memorial Day 2022.

The new flagpole has solar lighting and both the American Flag and Medal of Honor flag are now being flown properly.  And, flying proudly on the hill at the corner of South Eleventh and Cherry Streets over Corporal Nolan's grave marker.  Congratulations to the whole Warriors Oath group of Veterans for this effort!  

2018 Annual Memorial Day Parade Finishes at Silverbrook Cemetery

The Niles Daily Star reports that the Annual memorial day parade will start at 10 a.m. Monday, May 28. The lineup will begin on State Street and proceed down Main Street and to the historic Silverbrook Cemetery. The events are free and open to the public to attend.

At the end of the parade will be a ceremony to honor our veterans who have given so much to ensure our freedom. Robert Ahrens, the parade organizer and commander of the American Legion Post #26, will be a featured speaker at this year's ceremony.  The parade will feature a variety of floats, classic cars and band music played by local high school students.

Photo link:  Memorial Day 2016 at Silverbrook Cemetery

 

Niles History Center and Friends of Silverbrook team up for cemetery tour

On October 21 at 10:00 am, the Niles History Center is teaming up with the Friends of Silverbrook to offer cemetery tours. Learn about historical people and famous folks who played an important role in the history of Niles, including Orville Coolidge, John Gipner and Ella Champion. Several individuals who were instrumental in the business and industrial development of the city, such as Carmi Smith, former mayor and real estate developer, and Kawneer founder Francis Plym are interred here as well.

This year’s tour will place special emphasis on the Garden of Memory. Attendees will walk through the 1930s addition to the cemetery with special stops at the Chime Tower and Silverbrook Abbey. The Silverbrook Abbey was built in 1926 and serves as the final resting place for many area residents, including well-known optician, Dr. Fred Bonine and William Harrah, a co-founder of National Standard. The tour is free but donations are appreciated and will benefit the Friends of Silverbrook and the History Center. Reservations are recommended as tour space is limited. Please call 269-845-4054 to register.

Please check the Niles History Center's website, www.nileshistorycenter.org, for more information or call 269-845-4054. The Niles History Center is located at 508 E. Main Street, Niles, MI. To receive first notice of upcoming programs and events, consider becoming a member of the History Center.

High Winds Down Tree in Cemetery

High Winds Downs Tree

The March 1st tornado and winds hitting the east side of Niles also caused a large pine tree along Silverbrook Creek to fall in our cemetery.  It was located on Hamilton Drive, which is the main roadway into the cemetery, crossing the creek.  The tree was on the left hand side of the road.  Cemetery employees have removed the downed tree. 

Memorial Day Flower Event at Silverbrook

Phil Huributt and Peg Maiers from The Flower Cart

This year, Silverbrook Cemetery was pleased to have Phil Hurlbutt and Peg Maiers from The Flower Cart join the American Legion Post 26 Memorial Day Ceremony in front of the Mausoleum at Silverbrook, representing The Memorial Day Flower Fund, a new nationwide program which donates red roses to cemeteries across the nation for families to place a free red rose on a Veteran's grave. Across the United States, 300 retailers and organizations participated in and donated to the Memorial Day Flower Event. The City of Niles, The Friends of Silverbrook, and all local citizens who attended would like to thank Phil and Peg for bringing this new program to Silverbrook Cemetery. The red roses were beautiful, and meaningful for all the families who participated in this year's ceremony. This year at Arlington National Cemetery, 200 volunteers handed out and placed 140,000 roses on graves in Arlington, VA. What a nice gesture to honor our Veterans.

Click here to see more photos from Memorial Day 2016 at Silverbrook Cemetery.