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Virginia City Nevada is home to many historical landmarks however the one being the most prestigious is the St. Mary Louise Hospital which today is now an art center.  I wanted to thank the staff of St. Mary Art Center and Retreat for sharing their wonderful historic stories with our team and taking the time out to show us around this monolithic brick building.  One of the main reasons we do what we do is to help preserve these sites, educate the public and promote the historical value so that they can continue to thrive in the future. As at one time this historical building was abandoned and people were physically breaking on in just to vandalize and steal from the property.  Today it is one of the most well known historical sites in Northern Nevada so with that in mind let me give you an incite into its rich history as well as a look into the haunting's that take place here.

The land that the hospital resides on was called  Van Bokkelen's Beer Garden which today is probably every drinking man's dream lol. However tragedy struck when Jacob Van Bokkelen was killed in an explosion that rocked his hardware store in 1873.  Bokkelen was the commander of the Virginia City National Guard which during this time period it was a necessity due to the fact that in the 1800's Virginia City was under the threat of Indian Raids. A small cannon stood above Tunnel #4 which was put into place to protect this boom town from a raid. 

The Beer Garden was roughly five acres of land once the death of Bokkelen occurred it was up for sale thus Mrs. John (Mary Louise) Mackay purchased the property. You can also read about the Mackay's and tour the Mackay Mansion which is another historically haunted investigation our group has done which is just a few blocks away from the hospital.  Her husband John Mackay was one of the four Bonanza Kings in the Comstock Lode which was one of the wealthiest mining districts in the world. 

When 1875 came around Mary Louise Mackay decided to donate the land to a Father Patrick Manogue later a bishop from the St. Mary's Church which is just up the road from where the present hospital exist. We also investigated the church it is a designated haunted site but also an architectural masterpiece.  In 1875 the hospital began its construction it was a masterpiece able to hold up to 70 maybe even 80 patients. It cost about $45,000 dollars which today would have cost 10 times more then that.  The hospital had an upper and lower deck along with four stories and 36 rooms. It also had four wards and 12 private rooms. The private rooms were used by doctors and nurses who volunteered at the hospital. It had two kitchens as the patients that were bedridden were fed to regain their strength. Although it was a hospital it was built for comfort with pretty views of Virginia City and mountains that surround it. It had an area even for recreation where games of chess could be played. More or less the nuns that operated the hospital furnished the rooms and even though some were hospitalized it was designed to make the patient feel that they are at home.

Funding to operate the hospital came at an expense as most of the miners and men who worked at the mill would donate a dollar per month.  Even today funding is a struggle according to the curator. You can spend 1100 dollars to spend the night and ghost hunt there but funding is short no less with the way our economy is now. Also what went from a 5 hour $35 dollar ghost hunt has now gone to $1100 dollars. Unfortunately not everyone is willing to pay this amount to ghost hunt here. Since I know the Art Center will read this may I make a reasonable suggestion? Charge a flat rate of $50 fpr four hours to rent the art center. That will booster the funding for the art center greatly considering that the more people that can afford it will be willing to partake in an offer such as this. However I was told by the curator that the reason why they decided to change the policy is because ghost hunters were physically destroying artifacts within the hospital and defecating in the pillow cases. Our site is to educate people so that this does not happen and if people are aware of who is doing it you need to call the law. it is absolutely very offensive that someone could ever mistreat or abuse such a beautiful historical site given its history.

The hospital was 14 thousand square feet which had Brussels carpets, marble topped washstands and even cold/hot running water. The lights within the hospital ran on gas and steam piped heat ran throughout the building during the cold winters that struck the region. The hospital also had a chapel keep in mind it was operated by Nuns so theology was just an important part of this buildings function. The operating room was on the lower floor and on the second floor would be where the priest would deliver Sunday mass at. The attic did have to public wards but it also had two private rooms for the staff as well as the nuns that lived at the hospital. As a matter in fact I felt the art was about as creepy as I felt watched by an unseen force. I almost felt being I been doing this for many years that those nuns were still in that attic perhaps because they spent so many years reading the bible here and a huge part of their lives was devoted to helping the sick. More then often the type of patients they received were miners who had terrible accidents like H. Williams whose arm was severed over at the Yellow Jack Mill & Mine. More information about this incident is further on this page and it just is a fact that even though some were severely injured others never even made it to the hospital.  I was lucky enough to see all 36 rooms which can be found within the hospital most of them are nicely furnished with pieces of history. 

When 1876 rolled around the Daughters/Sisters Of Charity operated the hospital I have further below on this page posted all their names and dates that they served patients at the hospital.  I really feel that the hospital was one of the most important buildings of its time. Virginia City is secluded its high up in the mountains of Nevada far above Carson City where the nearest hospital was. With the hospital residing in between all these mines any miner who had an accident could seek medical attention. Honestly before governments had gotten involved with providing medical facilities it was the church that formed social services that were made available to those in need. It did not matter if you were rich, poor, mentally ill, Catholic or not nobody was turned down. You had gun shot victims from shootouts, epidemics which swept through the city, injured miners and even simple accidents that occurred from children playing. 

In 1897 the Nuns closed down the hospital they granted it to Storey County and it also became the only hospital in the region since the other one nearby burnt down. Fires in this city were not uncommon sometimes dozens of homes and businesses were wiped out due to fires. Many of the fireman who died trying to stop the blaze are buried over at Silver Terrace Cemeteries which can be seen from the top floor of the hospital. Sadly in 1940 the St. Mary Louise Hospital also suffered a fire which took place mysterious on the fourth floor which forced its closure.  Others believe it closed down because it did not meet the safety standards just as WWII was arising.  Not to mention the fact that you had a boom town with thousands of residents and miners. But eventually the mines shut down the city burned and people began to leave the Virginia City NV region. So the hospital really ws rendered useless when you take all those factors into consideration. 

Also during WWI all the metal within the building was stripped and salvaged for the war effort. Despite the fact that the hospital is mainly made out of wood and brick it had allot of metal piping internally. When it became abandoned the country considered tearing it down then selling the bricks from it. It actually stayed abandoned for 24 years that is when the building really fell victim to theft and vandalism. When 1964 rolled around that was the year a wrecking ball was doing to tear down the building. However a Father Meinecke took the initiative to have it saved and suggested that it become an art center as well as a retreat. 

Renovations began through the 1960's all the way into the 1990's operating from May through October of each year. It offered lodging and art instruction weekly. In the winter the building was closed as it had no heating system. Many well known artists have mentored art students while others attended classes here. The type of classes being offered were acrylic painting, watercolor, oil, pastel, photography, sculpture, etching and may other forms of artistic media. The students would paint in the large upstairs studio while some preferred to paint outside on the front lawn to be inspired by the scenic beauty. I mean imagine how beautiful it is here in the Spring at an elevation of 6;200' with crisp clear blue skies and beautiful scenery of the high desert. 

As the Art Center grew renovations continued to be brought forward thanks to all those who have donated just as PGS made a donation. Why? Because it is the right thing to do as it helps with restoration and keeping the building operable today. Some of the hospital has changed not all of it though. For example a new classroom was added under the main front porch in 2006 just as on-site caretakers moved on in the outbuilding which resides behind the hospital itself. A new lounge and dining room were constructed on the ground floor as far as the attic its still being slowly renovated.  Also two new handicapped bathrooms were adding so now the hospital has five bathrooms and eventually in the future they will be renting loft spaces to artist.  In addition to all these new features being integrated into the old hospital their are photography labs, dining room and  large painting studio. 

Now we get to the paranormal portion of the hospital since our viewers have a good take on its history. Where their is history their is ghost although according to the caretaker she never has witnessed anything strange. This may be because she has spent decades appreciating its history and preserving the property. If you learn to live with ghosts chances are your not going to even take notice that they are around you.  Then again someone like you or I might notice something here that does not belong because we are trained parapsychologist so we know what we need to look for when examining a place that is rumored to be as haunted as this historic hospital. 

I have read many stories about haunting's and ghosts sightings that have taken place here. I am also not the first group to investigate this place however I felt that it was an important addition to our site because not only could we educate the public on its history but we could bring you actual evidence in proving that this is one of the more haunted sites in the region. Their are two stories about the sudden death of what today other ghost busters call "The White Nun:. As the story goes a mental patient accidentally knocked over a gas lamp which sparked a fire. The hun did not abandoned the patient as a matter in fact she stayed with him and ended up dying from the fire.  This very same nun was in charge of the operating room in the 1880's.  People say they seen the ghost of this nun as if she continues to serve her ministry at the hospital such as praying. and helping others. 

Then you have the ghosts of all the people who died here due to the results of epidemics, mining injuries and operations gone wrong. Back during this time modern medicine, vaccines, antibiotics and technical surgeries did not exist. Some of the patients died from simple infections that today could be cured with simple medication which at that time period just did not exist. You more then often were sent to the hospital to pass on and that could be the result in some of the paranormal happenings. These people they were not ready to go and some of them died horribly because even though they were comforted they died slow agonizing deaths. 

Going back to the haunting of the "White Nun" she has been seen floating down the halls of the infirmary sometimes entering or leaving rooms. Other times she has been seen looking out the window. See back in the day the wagons would pull right up into the hospital sometimes full of sick men, women and children. Imagine looking out your window and seeing a wagon approaching the hospital below the hill.  As a matter in fact if you look at the evidence from our first investigation I captured an apparition looking out the window at us which fits the story of the white nun who is seen in the windows time to time. 

Sometimes very late at night the White Nun has also been seen at the bottom step of the front staircase other times people have seen her stand at the top of steps.  The ghost of a little boy with iron braces has been seen on his legs probably a polio victim seen falling down the steps. Others have seen this happen then the nun immediately responds hurrying down the steps to comfort the boys as he looks around scared looking for someone to help him. You can say that it appears that some residual energy does occur at the hospital especially those that involved traumatic incidents.  Today the White Nuns room still exist strangely when guest spend the night and the bed is made. Others will come back later in the room only to find that the bed uis unmade. 

Another strange series of haunts also occurs here which seems to be a ghostly horse-drawn hearse as it approaching the hospital building. It appears as if its coming to collect the bodies of the deceased. Others have seen the coach sway left to right and it even appears that the horses snort but nothing is ever heard. I believe now maybe I am wrong but this ghostly hearse can actually be seen parked near China Town or what is left of it. Most of the district burned down in a major fire but what is left behind are some of the houses, shops and yes even a hearse. So make sure you click on the link if you want to see the hearse that possibly has been seen at the Art Center. As we do have photos of it but who would ever realize the connection? We did so its another chapter we can close within this case!

The first patient to be treated at St. Mary Louise Hospital was admitted on March 14th of 1876 for Paralysis.  Which also brings to me other experiences in relation to the hospital and its strange ness. For example people hear heavy boots walking down the halls and stairwells. Sometimes carts and gurney's move on their own. Other times people have reported seeing marbles roll across the wooden floors like some ghostly child is playing.  Others have heard ghostly conversing, shadow figures been sighted, EVP's been captured just like the ones we recorded and then you have phantom smells of rubbing alcohol, vomit, vapor rub, flowers, tobacco and other scents in some of the rooms.  

Over the years of paranormal enthusiast investigating the building they have claimed that their equipment fails just as they have captured strange anomalies. If you pay very close to our first investigation not only will you see an apparition we captured but also an odd floor anomaly. We have no explanation for it other then that its unexplainable and probably has to do with the years of energy that have been integrated into this historic landmark. Where their is dark history their is also a higher chance that their are ghosts.  Not only have people seen apparitions in the art center night or day but even on the grounds it appears to be haunted!

Honestly this location lives up to its name not only for its historic past but its ghosts. It is a designated haunted site and its another location that we can help preserve. When we relocated our organization here I made a promise to our viewers that we would do projects on all the historic sites found in this region. A region that has been plagued by disasters, tragedies, murders, deaths, shoot outs, fires and the sad loss of life. This hospital symbolizes all of those things and its important that we hold places like these dear to our hearts. Because not only are they are part of western history they are sites that contain some of the best paranormal activity in the world. It was an honor that we were given a warm welcome to come investigate the hospital and the staff treated us with the upmost respect. If you would like to donate, take a tour or learn mroe please visit St. Mary's Art and Retreat Center | Virginia City, Nevada and help support this significantly beautiful retreat!

Copyright By
Lord Rick aka AngelOfThyNight
Founder, Author, Talk Show Host and Producer 

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