Silverbrook On The Web

"Silverbrook On The Web" includes articles and links to webpages across the web that reference Silverbrook Cemetery or those interred here.

Ripley's Believe It or Not 'Fence in the Tree' Lives On

Ginny Tyler Silverbrook On The Web

Neal Mikel, cemetery superintendent, built this new memorial to the Staples Family fencing that was featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not, which blew over in a storm in July. Our Friends of Silverbrook group designed and purchased this informational sign, complete with photos of the fencing in the tree and photos on it's back side of the tree that fell.

Neal cut the fencing piece out of the giant tree stump and created this memorial on the Staples family plot.

Visit the Old Ground, Section 4 area and read about the corner's history. You can see the new sign from Cherry Street, across from the City water tower.

Thank you Neal!

Related article: Tree, fence forever united at cemetery

 

 

Fence In Tree Sign Front\

Fence In Tree Sign Back

Andrews University Change Day 2019 comes to Silverbrook

Ginny Tyler, Debby Barkman, Bob Nightingale Silverbrook On The Web
Each fall, Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan, sponsors a Change Day. Their students sign up for community service projects in the area around their campus.  They volunteer their time, talent, and energy for churches, schools, cemeteries, beaches and city clean-up projects.  The third annual Change Day 2019 brought a group of over twenty students to Silverbrook to clean markers in our oldest sections of the cemetery.  Many of these burial sites will be featured on our Saturday, October 19th tour of the cemetery, which the History Center is planning along with our Friends of Silverbrook Cemetery group. 
 

Change Day 2019 

 
Four of the freshman and sophomore students posed for us at the Morrow family markers where they were cleaning.  Many thanks to Andrews University for sending their hard working students to spend a day volunteering in our cemetery.  The City of Niles appreciates their efforts, and so do we at Friends of Silverbrook.  WNDU from South Bend was also there to cover their story. 
 
 
Thank you Students!
 

2019 Annual Cemetery Tour Oct. 19

Bob Nightingale Silverbrook On The Web

Join the Niles History Center and Friends of Silverbrook at 10:00am on Saturday, October 19 for a stroll through the cemetery to learn about historical people who played an important role in the history of Niles, This year's tour will place special emphasis on women.

The tour meets at Silverbrook Cemetery, corner of Main and Cherry Streets. The tour is free but donations are appreciated and will benefit the Friends of Silverbrook and Niles History Center. Reservations are recommended as tour space is limited.

Please call 269-845-4054 to register.

Public asked to attend funeral for Vietnam Veteran

Bob Nightingale Silverbrook On The Web

Vietnam Veteran Wayne Lee Wilson will be laid to rest at Silverbrook Cemetery July 17 at 2 p.m.  Ceremony will take place in front of the mausoleum.

Wilson served in the U.S. Army from 1971 to 1977.  He has no living relatives.  All members of the public are invited to attend to pay their respects for an American hero.

Thousands share support for local veteran’s funeral in Niles Daily Star.

Wayne Lee Wilson Obituary at Brown Funeral Home

Interview with Drew Mikel of Brown Funeral Home on WNDU.

Large Tree Falls After Summer Storm

Bob Nightingale Silverbrook On The Web

On Wednesday July 10, Niles experienced a brief yet very heavy rainstorm. A big  tree took out part of the fence in the Old Grounds section 4.  Read about other damage in the city that night it in the Niles Daily Star.

  Tree fell 7/10/19 in Bond Section

It was a pretty big tree.

Tree fell 7/10/19 in Bond Section Tree fell 7/10/19 in Bond Section

This is after Neal Mikels had a turn with chain saw on Friday.  Click here to see all the photos. 


Tree fell 7/10/19 in Bond Section

Below for comparison are pictures of the rotten tree the previous March.  It had to happen eventually!

Tree with fence in it March

Tree before fall last March

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