By By KATHIE HEMPEL / Niles Daily Star
NILES-It will happen one stone at a time. Restoration on one of the oldest gravestones in Silverbrook Cemetery began this past weekend.
The first stone to be put together after being broken decades before is that of C.F. Wilson. This stone is part of a historical tour Carol Bainbridge of the Fort Saint Joseph Museum conducts. Its history dates back to the time of Abraham Lincoln and the slaves, Candace Skalla, President of the newly formed group, said.
Young and old gathered together at Silverbrook Cemetery Saturday. With rakes and shovels, ammonia and scrub-brushes, they took on the cause of the Friends of Silverbrook Cemetery.
"We have marked off what is known as the Bond portion of the cemetery with red flags. This is the oldest section. It is here we stand to lose the most of our history if we do not do the work," Skalla said.
As the top of the stone was bonded to the section from which it broke years ago, the sense of accomplishment was evident on the faces of those working on the project.
"It is really something to see that go into place. We have brought in experts to assist us. The Friends of Oakridge Cemetery and Lyle Sumerix have been a great help. Bob Cooley, here, of the Berrien County Genealogy Society, has restored many old stones in a number of cemeteries. We are so lucky to have him. He even found the original slot on which to bond this stone," Skalla said.
Some Ring Lardner Junior Honor Society students participated by cleaning out and bagging debris that had gathered over the winter. Others began the work of cleaning off years of dirt and moss in the oldest area of the cemetery.
Amanda Albright, Krystal Avance, Sarah Smith, Shimen Tacket, Kara Bouwkamp, and Joseph Weiser sat at the base of a stone dedicated to Rebecca Burke who died April 17, 1885.