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It was a beautiful day on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in our historic cemetery for the annual tour!

Thank you for all who joined us and supported this annual event!

(If you missed it this year, watch for it in next October!)

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!  

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

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.