In the 2005 autumn semester at Western Nevada College, Marilyn, TVI’s founder, was taking a ghost hunting class. This class was
taught by Richard Senate, pioneer ghost hunter, teacher and author. Marilyn joined other classmates on a field trip to St. Mary’s
Hospital. This was the beginning of a wonderful relationship with TVI and St. Mary’s.
Summary:
Since then, we have investigated this fabulous old building on multiple occasions at different times of the year, at different times of the day.
During our investigations, we have met hospital caretakers, overnight guests, students of the school, and many, many spirits.
Location History and Status:
The Sisters of Charity and Bishop Patrick Manogue built St. Mary Louise Hospital in 1876. It contained 36 rooms including five wards and 12
private rooms. Sixty to seventy patients could be accommodated. The morgue, operating, and recovery room were located on the first floor as
well as a large kitchen. There was a chapel on the third floor next to the large public ward where patients could hear the sermon. The fourth
floor contained two public wards and two private rooms for servants.
In 1897, the Sisters of Charity closed the hospital and Storey County was granted title to the building. At about the same time, the only other
hospital in Virginia City burned, so St. Mary’s then became the county hospital. It operated until approximately 1940 when a dwindling local
population, and a fire on the fourth floor, forced it to close.
The county had considered tearing down the building and selling the salvaged bricks. The building was abandoned until 1964 when Father
Meinecke, pastor of St. Mary’s in the Mountains Church, proposed to the county commissioners that it be transformed into an art center.
Since that time, the St. Mary’s Art Center has operated from May through October of each year offering lodging and art instruction on a weekly
basis. Many well-known artists have taught or attended classes each year.
Some of our finds:
On many investigations, interesting whistles have been discovered on our recording and video devices. We have captured quite a lot of
recordings of one spirit whom we have lovingly dubbed, The Whistler. Though we do not record EVP from the Whistler on every visit, we look
forward to hearing from this spirit. The Whistler has been heard as EVP, and even audibly on occasion, deliberately drawing attention to himself,
though he resists other forms of conversation or interviews.
Our cameras have captured the energy orb of Sister Regina on various occasions, and she has spoken a number of times for our recording
devices. We have learned that she is a harsh spirit, or perhaps simply strict, and for some reason she tends to pester TVI member Janet on most
of our stopovers to the hospital. Interviews with this spirit have been conducted, letting us know that she was a trained nurse, and that she
enjoys taking care of her patients. Though she hasn’t said specifically when we interviewed her, from her responses we believe that her concern
for the sick, and her desire to heal the wounded, has led her to remain at the hospital.
Various visitors throughout the years have seen a nun standing, or walking, on the wide front porch of the hospital. I was quite fortunate to have
been able to capture an apparition of her on camera during one of our overnight stays in July of 2008. Attempts to interview this spirit haven’t
succeeded, so it is possible that she is simply an environmental impression; St. Mary’s had many nuns working in the hospital for over 60 years.
But there is a definite sense of a specific presence lingering after the nun has appeared, so it may be that she simply enjoys solitude, as many in
the order of the cloth prefer.
There is an active spirit at the hospital named Dave, who is usually encountered in a third floor room of St. Mary’s. Called the psychiatric room
by the current caretakers of the hospital, the room is dark, cramped, and has bars on its single window. Dave has been interviewed several
times, and has given us many recorded EVP responses. During interviews, Dave divulged that he is 27 years old, was a patient at the hospital,
and lived his last days in the room. On one occasion, interviewed by a visiting ghost hunter, Dave was asked if he was afraid. To hear the
response, see the EVP section below.
We had a most favorable circumstance which allowed us to present a Ghost Hunting Party in October of 2009, which was hosted at St. Mary’s
Hospital. Guests were invited to stay at the hospital overnight, and the party included food, ghost hunting tips, and guided investigations
conducted by TVI.
During the Ghost Hunting Party, TVI technician Todd had set up cameras in different locations of the hospital. Guests could then watch, via a
monitor located in another ward, for any paranormal activity inside this historic building.
One particular video captured from the camera set in the psychiatric room, shows TVI member Marilyn using dowsing rods to ask a spirit
questions during an interview. The spirit happens to be Dave, the notable who often can be found in the room.
In the video you can see numerous anomalies floating through the air, including an apparition that looks like a feather. The “howling” noises you
can hear in the background are from a walkie-talkie, which we sometime use as a white noise source for EVP reception. The squawk from the
walkie-talkie is quite interesting, as the spirit was trying to use this device to communicate with.
The TVI Perspective:
The most interesting fact that we have encountered in this building is the vastly different time periods of the spirits in residence. We not only
have encountered those who were once here in the 1880s, but have talked with spirits from the turn of the 20th century and into the 1930’s. At
each investigation, it seems that we encounter spirits from different time periods. Though there are a few spirits, such as Sister Regina and
Dave (and perhaps the Whistler) that are regularly present, most investigations lead us to meet spirits from one (general) time period at a time.
When we return to St. Mary’s for another investigation, we run into spirits from another time period, different from the previous investigation.
Though the spirits (on occasion) know of each other, it is like they are in separate layers, or distinct groups. It is as if we are seeing them, not all
at once, but in some form of organization. We are uncertain how this phenomena works, but we have discovered these same time period
occurrences in other long-standing establishments upon our repeated investigations.
The Whistler demonstrates one of the unique ways that spirits try to communicate with the living. We have captured whistling EVP at St. Mary’s
on multiple occasions, and believe the Whistler to be the same spirit each time. We believe that the Whistler is a male spirit, but there hasn’t
been any confirmation of his personality or presence outside of the recorded EVP. We have not been able to conduct an interview with this spirit
for confirmation, or for further information.
Other opportunities have led us to interviews with many other spirits including patients and their family members, hospital doctors and other staff,
clergy, ladies of the evening, and indigenous peoples. In a hospital, there are countless energies created by physical and emotional wounds,
leaving extensive psychic impressions on the walls, floors, and even in the very air. St. Mary’s has sadly been exposed to many life and death
traumas during its tenure as a hospital, leaving behind multiples of spirits and impressed emotional and spirit energies.
Quite simply, St. Mary’s Hospital now Art Center is most certainly a location we at TVI will continue to investigate.
If I may be so bold as to advertise:
St. Mary’s Hospital, now Art Center, is a favorite building for history buffs as well as ghost hunters and art students. Being an activity hub and a
favored part of this interesting wild-wild-west community, it is a must for any visitor, (as well as any local) to enjoy, to spend the day discovering
just what this building was and is all about, to have a ghost hunt in, and to be able to share a piece of by-gone days.
taught by Richard Senate, pioneer ghost hunter, teacher and author. Marilyn joined other classmates on a field trip to St. Mary’s
Hospital. This was the beginning of a wonderful relationship with TVI and St. Mary’s.
Summary:
Since then, we have investigated this fabulous old building on multiple occasions at different times of the year, at different times of the day.
During our investigations, we have met hospital caretakers, overnight guests, students of the school, and many, many spirits.
Location History and Status:
The Sisters of Charity and Bishop Patrick Manogue built St. Mary Louise Hospital in 1876. It contained 36 rooms including five wards and 12
private rooms. Sixty to seventy patients could be accommodated. The morgue, operating, and recovery room were located on the first floor as
well as a large kitchen. There was a chapel on the third floor next to the large public ward where patients could hear the sermon. The fourth
floor contained two public wards and two private rooms for servants.
In 1897, the Sisters of Charity closed the hospital and Storey County was granted title to the building. At about the same time, the only other
hospital in Virginia City burned, so St. Mary’s then became the county hospital. It operated until approximately 1940 when a dwindling local
population, and a fire on the fourth floor, forced it to close.
The county had considered tearing down the building and selling the salvaged bricks. The building was abandoned until 1964 when Father
Meinecke, pastor of St. Mary’s in the Mountains Church, proposed to the county commissioners that it be transformed into an art center.
Since that time, the St. Mary’s Art Center has operated from May through October of each year offering lodging and art instruction on a weekly
basis. Many well-known artists have taught or attended classes each year.
Some of our finds:
On many investigations, interesting whistles have been discovered on our recording and video devices. We have captured quite a lot of
recordings of one spirit whom we have lovingly dubbed, The Whistler. Though we do not record EVP from the Whistler on every visit, we look
forward to hearing from this spirit. The Whistler has been heard as EVP, and even audibly on occasion, deliberately drawing attention to himself,
though he resists other forms of conversation or interviews.
Our cameras have captured the energy orb of Sister Regina on various occasions, and she has spoken a number of times for our recording
devices. We have learned that she is a harsh spirit, or perhaps simply strict, and for some reason she tends to pester TVI member Janet on most
of our stopovers to the hospital. Interviews with this spirit have been conducted, letting us know that she was a trained nurse, and that she
enjoys taking care of her patients. Though she hasn’t said specifically when we interviewed her, from her responses we believe that her concern
for the sick, and her desire to heal the wounded, has led her to remain at the hospital.
Various visitors throughout the years have seen a nun standing, or walking, on the wide front porch of the hospital. I was quite fortunate to have
been able to capture an apparition of her on camera during one of our overnight stays in July of 2008. Attempts to interview this spirit haven’t
succeeded, so it is possible that she is simply an environmental impression; St. Mary’s had many nuns working in the hospital for over 60 years.
But there is a definite sense of a specific presence lingering after the nun has appeared, so it may be that she simply enjoys solitude, as many in
the order of the cloth prefer.
There is an active spirit at the hospital named Dave, who is usually encountered in a third floor room of St. Mary’s. Called the psychiatric room
by the current caretakers of the hospital, the room is dark, cramped, and has bars on its single window. Dave has been interviewed several
times, and has given us many recorded EVP responses. During interviews, Dave divulged that he is 27 years old, was a patient at the hospital,
and lived his last days in the room. On one occasion, interviewed by a visiting ghost hunter, Dave was asked if he was afraid. To hear the
response, see the EVP section below.
We had a most favorable circumstance which allowed us to present a Ghost Hunting Party in October of 2009, which was hosted at St. Mary’s
Hospital. Guests were invited to stay at the hospital overnight, and the party included food, ghost hunting tips, and guided investigations
conducted by TVI.
During the Ghost Hunting Party, TVI technician Todd had set up cameras in different locations of the hospital. Guests could then watch, via a
monitor located in another ward, for any paranormal activity inside this historic building.
One particular video captured from the camera set in the psychiatric room, shows TVI member Marilyn using dowsing rods to ask a spirit
questions during an interview. The spirit happens to be Dave, the notable who often can be found in the room.
In the video you can see numerous anomalies floating through the air, including an apparition that looks like a feather. The “howling” noises you
can hear in the background are from a walkie-talkie, which we sometime use as a white noise source for EVP reception. The squawk from the
walkie-talkie is quite interesting, as the spirit was trying to use this device to communicate with.
The TVI Perspective:
The most interesting fact that we have encountered in this building is the vastly different time periods of the spirits in residence. We not only
have encountered those who were once here in the 1880s, but have talked with spirits from the turn of the 20th century and into the 1930’s. At
each investigation, it seems that we encounter spirits from different time periods. Though there are a few spirits, such as Sister Regina and
Dave (and perhaps the Whistler) that are regularly present, most investigations lead us to meet spirits from one (general) time period at a time.
When we return to St. Mary’s for another investigation, we run into spirits from another time period, different from the previous investigation.
Though the spirits (on occasion) know of each other, it is like they are in separate layers, or distinct groups. It is as if we are seeing them, not all
at once, but in some form of organization. We are uncertain how this phenomena works, but we have discovered these same time period
occurrences in other long-standing establishments upon our repeated investigations.
The Whistler demonstrates one of the unique ways that spirits try to communicate with the living. We have captured whistling EVP at St. Mary’s
on multiple occasions, and believe the Whistler to be the same spirit each time. We believe that the Whistler is a male spirit, but there hasn’t
been any confirmation of his personality or presence outside of the recorded EVP. We have not been able to conduct an interview with this spirit
for confirmation, or for further information.
Other opportunities have led us to interviews with many other spirits including patients and their family members, hospital doctors and other staff,
clergy, ladies of the evening, and indigenous peoples. In a hospital, there are countless energies created by physical and emotional wounds,
leaving extensive psychic impressions on the walls, floors, and even in the very air. St. Mary’s has sadly been exposed to many life and death
traumas during its tenure as a hospital, leaving behind multiples of spirits and impressed emotional and spirit energies.
Quite simply, St. Mary’s Hospital now Art Center is most certainly a location we at TVI will continue to investigate.
If I may be so bold as to advertise:
St. Mary’s Hospital, now Art Center, is a favorite building for history buffs as well as ghost hunters and art students. Being an activity hub and a
favored part of this interesting wild-wild-west community, it is a must for any visitor, (as well as any local) to enjoy, to spend the day discovering
just what this building was and is all about, to have a ghost hunt in, and to be able to share a piece of by-gone days.
| Thin Veil Investigators |
| Discreetly Encountering Your Ghosts |
| Haunted Locations Documented by T.V.I. |
| St. Mary's Hospital Virginia City, Nevada, U.S.A. |
| Except where stated as other, all Photo, Audio, Video and other content of this web page Copywrite © 2009 Thin Veil Investigators. All Rights Reserved. |
Some E.V.P. captured at St. Mary's Hospital:
Some pictures taken at St. Mary's Hospital:
| (click on a picture to enlarge) |
Left to right:
- StM_Nun – Numerous people through the last 100 years have seen the apparition of a Nun who is either standing or walking on the front porch of St. Mary’s. Sandie was
very fortunate to be able to capture her energy in the summer of 2008. Take a good look at this photo - Where Are Her Legs!?
- StM_NursesDoor – This open door leads to the staircases the nurses used to travel the four floors. It looks as though one nurse still remains.
- StM_orbs_by_operating_room – This is the basement hallway leading to the original operating room (left) and recovery room (right). It seems as though two patients
still remain.
- StM_psychiatic_room – This room is on the third floor, and is regularly haunted by a spirit named Dave.
- StM_Regina_At_Nun_Door – Sister Regina, always the guard, stands at the doorway leading to the attic where the Nun’s quarters were.
- SMAC sign – This St. Mary’s Art Center’s sign welcomes those at the driveway.
- St Marys – The front of the hospital/art center.
- ST M plaque – A plaque positioned at the entrance to St. Mary’s.
- StM_Nun – Numerous people through the last 100 years have seen the apparition of a Nun who is either standing or walking on the front porch of St. Mary’s. Sandie was
very fortunate to be able to capture her energy in the summer of 2008. Take a good look at this photo - Where Are Her Legs!?
- StM_NursesDoor – This open door leads to the staircases the nurses used to travel the four floors. It looks as though one nurse still remains.
- StM_orbs_by_operating_room – This is the basement hallway leading to the original operating room (left) and recovery room (right). It seems as though two patients
still remain.
- StM_psychiatic_room – This room is on the third floor, and is regularly haunted by a spirit named Dave.
- StM_Regina_At_Nun_Door – Sister Regina, always the guard, stands at the doorway leading to the attic where the Nun’s quarters were.
- SMAC sign – This St. Mary’s Art Center’s sign welcomes those at the driveway.
- St Marys – The front of the hospital/art center.
- ST M plaque – A plaque positioned at the entrance to St. Mary’s.
Video clips taken at St. Mary's Hospital:
Video_3_ghosts_StMarys: While setting up the camera’s during the Ghost Party, these three entities were captured.
38 seconds in duration. 852 KB. Click here to download and watch
Video_2_ghosts_following_me_2: When I passed by the camera, set up in the first floor hallway, these two ghosts followed me.
13 seconds in duration. 934 KB. Click here to download and watch
Video_Feather_Appartion: The guests were given a show of the activities inside the old psychiatric ward in St. Mary’s.
13 seconds in duration. 605 KB. Click here to download and watch
Video_ghostWalkByCamera_StMarys While recording the monitor view of a camera that was set in the attic hallway, a spirit ran in
front of my camera.
48 seconds in duration. 773 KB. Click here to download and watch
38 seconds in duration. 852 KB. Click here to download and watch
Video_2_ghosts_following_me_2: When I passed by the camera, set up in the first floor hallway, these two ghosts followed me.
13 seconds in duration. 934 KB. Click here to download and watch
Video_Feather_Appartion: The guests were given a show of the activities inside the old psychiatric ward in St. Mary’s.
13 seconds in duration. 605 KB. Click here to download and watch
Video_ghostWalkByCamera_StMarys While recording the monitor view of a camera that was set in the attic hallway, a spirit ran in
front of my camera.
48 seconds in duration. 773 KB. Click here to download and watch
EVP_Whistle_StM Lovingly dubbed, The Whister, this spirit has been captured many times on our recording devices. This EVP
was captured when I was being silly in asking the spirits to whistle again. We did not hear this with our ears, but it came loudly
through onto my digital recorder.
7 seconds in duration. 290 KB. Click here to download and listen
EVP_3 taps_StM While investigating the attic, I asked the spirits to make a noise for us, and these three taps were captured.
3 seconds in duration. 40 KB. Click here to download and listen
EVP_Ahh_StM During the Ghost Party, while walking in the basement, this EVP as captured.
2 seconds in duration. 34 KB. Click here to download and listen
EVP_I_am: A guest who attended our party was sitting the psychic ward. He was interviewing Dave and asked if he was afraid
of him. Dave answered, “I am.”
9 seconds in duration. 156 KB. Click here to download and listen
EVP_Whistler_in_psych_room: When a recorder was put into the psychiatric room, this whistle EVP was captured. Please note
that the room, or was the hallway outside of this room, was not occupied by a team member or visitor.
6 seconds in duration. 100 KB. Click here to download and listen
was captured when I was being silly in asking the spirits to whistle again. We did not hear this with our ears, but it came loudly
through onto my digital recorder.
7 seconds in duration. 290 KB. Click here to download and listen
EVP_3 taps_StM While investigating the attic, I asked the spirits to make a noise for us, and these three taps were captured.
3 seconds in duration. 40 KB. Click here to download and listen
EVP_Ahh_StM During the Ghost Party, while walking in the basement, this EVP as captured.
2 seconds in duration. 34 KB. Click here to download and listen
EVP_I_am: A guest who attended our party was sitting the psychic ward. He was interviewing Dave and asked if he was afraid
of him. Dave answered, “I am.”
9 seconds in duration. 156 KB. Click here to download and listen
EVP_Whistler_in_psych_room: When a recorder was put into the psychiatric room, this whistle EVP was captured. Please note
that the room, or was the hallway outside of this room, was not occupied by a team member or visitor.
6 seconds in duration. 100 KB. Click here to download and listen
Left to right:
- StM_2nd_Floor – This floor housed patient rooms and patient wards.
- StM_Attic – Door leading into a patient ward on the top floor.
- StM_AtticVortex – Hallway of top floor with vortex energy captured.
- StM_AtticVortex_Enlarged – An enlarged photo of the vortex energy – looking like a tube.
- StM_ChapelPanel – In this room, once the chapel, Father Minogue swung opened the tall panel in the wall so patients in a large ward could hear his Sunday sermon. It
appears as though he is waiting to speak again.
- StM_circa_1890 – An old photo of St. Mary’s Hospital, circa 1890.
- StM_Laundry: In the basement, this section that was once part of the operating room now houses the laundry facility.
- StM_night – Notice the amount of activity outside. This photo was taken at 10:30 p.m.
- StM_2nd_Floor – This floor housed patient rooms and patient wards.
- StM_Attic – Door leading into a patient ward on the top floor.
- StM_AtticVortex – Hallway of top floor with vortex energy captured.
- StM_AtticVortex_Enlarged – An enlarged photo of the vortex energy – looking like a tube.
- StM_ChapelPanel – In this room, once the chapel, Father Minogue swung opened the tall panel in the wall so patients in a large ward could hear his Sunday sermon. It
appears as though he is waiting to speak again.
- StM_circa_1890 – An old photo of St. Mary’s Hospital, circa 1890.
- StM_Laundry: In the basement, this section that was once part of the operating room now houses the laundry facility.
- StM_night – Notice the amount of activity outside. This photo was taken at 10:30 p.m.
Please keep in mind that the following reports, EVP, and pictures are summaries of our
investigative findings, not the entirety of our results, or of our compiled investigative material.
investigative findings, not the entirety of our results, or of our compiled investigative material.
Discretion from us is paramount; these findings are being displayed with the permission of the business owner.
Your can also read a story about this building in my
book: "Silver Ghosts: Haunted Places and Phantom
Encounters in Northern Nevada." co-authored with
Richard Senate. Click here to see more about this book.
book: "Silver Ghosts: Haunted Places and Phantom
Encounters in Northern Nevada." co-authored with
Richard Senate. Click here to see more about this book.
| A Video Journey of St. Mary's Hospital |
Brief documentaries were created from some of the many findings
of the ghost hunting team Thin Veil Investigators during their
explorations of various haunted locations in Northern Nevada.
Click here to learn more...
of the ghost hunting team Thin Veil Investigators during their
explorations of various haunted locations in Northern Nevada.
Click here to learn more...
