By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES – This Saturday is your chance to come out and see the restoration projects that have taken place inside the fences of Silverbrook Cemetery.
The Friends of Silverbrook, as well as Fort St. Joseph Museum Director Carol Bainbridge, will be holding a walking tour at 1 p.m.
Bainbridge will be speaking about the history of some of the most well-known families that have helped shape this town, including the Dodges, Ring Lardner, the Tylers and many more. Candace Skalla and Ginny Tyler, who have put more than 500 hours of volunteer work in at the cemetery just this summer, will also be on hand talking about the work they have done to the many different cemetery plots.
"People always drive by and see us out there working and we get asked a lot 'what are you guys digging at now?' Well, this is the chance for everyone to come see what has been done," Skalla said.
The walking tour will give people a chance to see first hand what this group of volunteers have done to Niles' largest cemetery. It's also a chance to learn about some of the interesting stories that lie behind once-prominent residents of the Niles community who are buried in the cemetery.
Skalla said the tour will last around an hour and a half and will be filled with plenty of information.
"There are 38 family plots that we will talk about and we've also uncovered some more interesting stories," Skalla said.
If you're interesting in taking the walking tour, meet at the main entrance of the cemetery at 1 p.m. Brochure maps will be available.
"I'm excited. We had so much fun when Glen Oaks (Community College) came. they really enjoyed the tour and want to come back," Skalla added.
The Friends of Silverbrook will be holding their regular meeting this Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Law Enforcement Complex. The public is invited to attend.