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

New Sign Posts!

Newest Friends of Silverbrook Project!
 
If you are driving through the Garden of Memory section of Silverbrook, across the creek,  you will see new black posts placed in each Block with signs telling you what section those burials are in.  And, since the snow has melted, signs are being added in the New section--the areas on both sides of the main entrance at Main and Cherry Streets.
 
Genealogists and out-of-town family members often stop in the cemetery office, asking for help in finding graves.  We hope installing these markers throughout the cemetery will help in the search! 
 
These new signs along with Cemetery Maps will help families know where they are in the cemetery!  Maps are available Cemetery maps on the left hand tool bar on our home page. There is also a large map on the sign near the office--and paper copies are in the box near the sign.
 
We always try to use our donated dollars wisely in enhancing the cemetery.  As we receive more monetary donations over the coming year, we plan to install the same signage in the Bond, Old Ground, and City sections over the spring and early summer.
 
Please know we appreciate your support!  Look for more signs in the future!  
 
Friends of Silverbrook Cemetery
 
Sign Post GM Block A
 
Sign Post GM Block B
 
Sign Post GM Block D
 
Sign Post GM Veteran Block
 

Silverbrook Grave Search Featured at Joomla Day USA 2021

Bob Nightingale, the web designer and maintainer of the Friends of Silverbrook Cemetery website, presented "Extending Fabrik with Sourcerer" at the virtual conference for users of the Joomla Content Management System (CMS), Joomla Day USA 2021 on April 24, 2021. 

This presentation featured the Grave Search application on the website. The Grave Search has evolved from a simple spreadsheet download to a full-featured search of the 22,000 residents of the historic municpal cemetery in Niles, Michigan.  

Joomla has been the CMS for the Friends of Silverbrook Cemetery since 2007.

In 2019, the Grave Search was upgraded from a custom PHP application to one using Fabrik for better security and a consistent look-and-feel with the rest of the website.

During Bob's presentation, the following components were described:

  • Joomla Content Management System
  • Fabrik (Database presentation add-in)
  • Sourcerer (Software enablement add-in)
  • PHP (Programming Language)

For questions regarding how the Grave Search or any other part of the website was made, contact Bob at webmaster@friendsofsilverbrook.org.

 

Welcome to the Virtual Tour!

The Niles History Center and the Friends of Silverbrook Cemetery welcome you to the Virtual Tour of Silverbrook Cemetery!

Mollie Watson, assistant director of the Niles History Center, will be your guide on a series of videos as if you were stopping at talking points around the cemetery.  Currently we have stories of Lottie Wilson, Isaac Gray and Ella Champion.  We will add more pages to the tour in coming weeks.

In years past we have had a great turnout for the walking tour.  Unfortunately the coronavirus pandemic has made this impossible this year.  Silverbrook Cemetery is open to the public.  If you visit the cemetery on your own, you can listen to the tour on your smartphone.  Great to have you with us in any case!

UPDATE 10/29/20

Check out the updated Virtual Tour!  We've added stops for the Plym Family and John Gipner.  Also each of the videos have a text transcription as a "page 2" to the article.

UPDATE 11/13/20

Mollie has added more content to the Virtual Tour!  We now have stops on the tour for the families Hunter, Chapin and Coolidge.

Strange Year, Beautiful Sunrise

2020 will be a year to remember.  The coronavirus pandemic has affected every aspect of our lives.  Right now there are wildfires on the west coast and tropical storm Sally hitting the states along the Gulf of Mexico. At least Silverbrook Cemetery is an island of calm in a world of chaos.

With all the dust and clouds in the air, we are getting really pretty sunrises and sunsets for this time of year.  Below are some pictures taken at sunrise by Jim Meyer of Halbritter Wickens Funeral Services.  Enjoy!

 

 

Hazy Sun Gate crop - 200916

 

Hazy Sun Angel crop - 200916

 

 

Hazy Sun Abbey crop - 200916

 

 

Hazy Sun Tower crop - 200916

 

 

For a slideshow of other photos taken around Silverbrook Cemetery during 2020, click below:

 

Assorted 2020

 

No Memorial Day 2020 Parade

Veterans Flags May 2020

There is no Memorial Day parade this year.  However, we hope you can visit Silverbrook and honor our Veterans, who have flags marking their individual graves. New service flags are also flying in front of the Abbey. We value their service to our country.

Be safe and enjoy the holiday.