2024 marks the 150th year for the Silver Creek Cemeterial Association. The Association was established in 1874 in order to maintain the cemetery, since it was no longer affiliated with a congregation and needed oversight.
The Association plans to celebrate with some special activities on Sunday, May 19th. There will be educational activities and displays, as well as free food. We encourage all who have family buried at the cemetery or who are interested in local history to join us. The church will be open. The regular annual meeting will be held at 2:30, which is open to the public and all are invited to attend this brief meeting in the church. More details will be announced. The Association also plans to seek grants to assist with stone maintenance and repair, as well as repairs to the church itself.
On December 4, 1859, the congregation of the Stony Point Christian Church decided to give the old brick church building (built in 1824) to the "Baptist Brethren of Charlestown Church" in exchange for their promise to "repair or rebuild" the church for their use and benefit with the provision that free access to the adjoining cemetery be given to the Christian Church and all other religious denominations on funeral occasions. By 1861, the Baptists from Charlestown had built a new brick church on the site, using many of the bricks from the original building. Although no longer in use, the building stands today and is maintained by the Silver Creek Cemeterial Association. What we refer to today as the "Old Brick Church" is actually the "new" brick church, which was rebuilt in 1861 by the Baptist Church in Charlestown.
The Association plans to celebrate with some special activities on Sunday, May 19th. There will be educational activities and displays, as well as free food. We encourage all who have family buried at the cemetery or who are interested in local history to join us. The church will be open. The regular annual meeting will be held at 2:30, which is open to the public and all are invited to attend this brief meeting in the church. More details will be announced. The Association also plans to seek grants to assist with stone maintenance and repair, as well as repairs to the church itself.
On December 4, 1859, the congregation of the Stony Point Christian Church decided to give the old brick church building (built in 1824) to the "Baptist Brethren of Charlestown Church" in exchange for their promise to "repair or rebuild" the church for their use and benefit with the provision that free access to the adjoining cemetery be given to the Christian Church and all other religious denominations on funeral occasions. By 1861, the Baptists from Charlestown had built a new brick church on the site, using many of the bricks from the original building. Although no longer in use, the building stands today and is maintained by the Silver Creek Cemeterial Association. What we refer to today as the "Old Brick Church" is actually the "new" brick church, which was rebuilt in 1861 by the Baptist Church in Charlestown.
Donations Needed
The Silver Creek Cemeterial Association is responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the Old Brick Church and the Silver Creek Cemetery. Our only source of funding is via the sale of lots and donations. Since it is an old cemetery no longer affiliated with a church per se, sales of lots is minimal. We are most appreciative of charitable donations so that we can keep the grass mowed, a roof on the church and other upkeep. We thank you. Please mail donations to P.O. Box 65, Sellersburg, IN 47172.
Annual Meeting
Every year the Silver Creek Cemeterial Association holds an annual meeting. It is held in the old Brick Church on the third Sunday in May, which is the Sunday after Mother's Day. The meeting begins at 2:30 p.m. and all are welcome. The format is something like an old fashioned church meeting. There's a short business meeting, a few hymns are sung, and a brief service. It's a nice opportunity to see friends and appreciate the old church. Please join us.
Spring Clean Up
- Please help keep Silver Creek Cemetery looking clean. All decorations must be removed by March 15th, prior to the Spring Clean Up
- No planting bushes, shrubs or trees and no placing of benches. Please do not place glass items of any kind on the grounds.
- No grave markers to be placed without authorization.
- Your help maintaining the appearance of the cemetery will be greatly appreciated. If you use artificial flowers, please replace them now and then, and make sure they've not blown away.
- No planting bushes, shrubs or trees and no placing of benches. Please do not place glass items of any kind on the grounds.
- No grave markers to be placed without authorization.
- Your help maintaining the appearance of the cemetery will be greatly appreciated. If you use artificial flowers, please replace them now and then, and make sure they've not blown away.
News
For Sale
We have several lovely old church pews that we would consider selling. The pews originally came from the Stony Point Christian Church. They are circa 1849. We believe they are Poplar wood. They're 12' long. Very heavy, sturdy, beautiful simple square design. They're painted a dark wood brown. Some of them have the hymnal repositories on the back. All are in generally good condition, except here and there a critter has gnawed at a corner or two. That's one of the main reasons we have decided to sell them; we do not want them to become damaged any further. Additionally, funds from any sale would go into our Restoration Fund, which is how we maintain the church and historic features of the cemetery. They are $250 each, and the purchase is tax deductible (to the extent allowed by law). If you are interested, please contact us through the e-mail form on the contacts page.
Memorial Day Remembrance
We wish to thank the Girl Scout Troop for taking time to honor our service men and women, including those who served during the Civil War, Spanish American and Revolutionary War. That's how far back our cemetery goes. It was nice to see those honored who may no longer have family here to do so.
Maintenance Is Ongoing
Decades ago a decision was made to secure the Old Brick Church with very large metal shutters on the windows to protect from weather and other elements. This year they received a new coat of paint - what a difference it made! Thank you volunteers for keeping an eye on what needs to be done and doing it!
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Indiana Honored Settlers At Gravesites
The Indiana Archives and Records Administration celebrated the state’s Bicentennial by honoring its founders over three weeks this summer. One of those delegates is buried here at Silver Creek Cemetery. Thomas Carr, Sr. was honored in June, 2016. James Lemon, buried at Old City Cemetery in Jeffersonville also was honored. The administration held special ceremonies at the gravesites of 38 of the 43 early settlers who established Indiana’s statehood and drafted its Constitution 200 years ago. The commemorations spanned 22 counties. Five delegates from Clark and Floyd counties were honored.
New Sign
Sometime over the winter, vandals ripped our sign down and threw it in the creek. So we have a new sign now in place. This time it's two-sided and contains a bit more information. We hope you like it!
Church Maintenance
The Old Brick Church was in need of some repair and in 2015 we accepted bids from contractors for tuck pointing and mortar repair. Keystone Restoration was selected to do the work. They replaced spalled brick, and made joint repairs around the windows. Using old-style mortar, which was necessary for the old bricks' need to expand and to match the original color. They also filled in areas of the foundation that were in need of joint/mortar repair. They worked with great care and respect for the historic structure, and did such an excellent job, you can't see any of their work! See the photo below - look how expertly they matched the mortar. Well done Keystone Restoration!