Restoration of the St. Mary Louise Hospital
Work began in late 2006 on a fire suppression sprinkler system for the entire building. Funds for this project were provided by the Citizens of Nevada through a grant from the Commission on Cultural Affairs, State Historic Preservation Office. Although the building has had a heat and smoke alarm system for several years, this important upgrade to the facility will bring SMAC up to current building codes and protect all who use the building from the threat of fire. The installation of the fire suppression system made a giant mess of brick dust, pieces of plaster and general debris. Most of the copper pipe for the system is covered by soffits which will be primed and painted. Storey County Public Works dug the trench out to R Street for the water connection to the sprinkler system and laid the pipe. In addition, they took out all the old stumps and widened the driveway. New sheetrock has been put up on the ceilings of the ground floor and second floor halls. Also the walls have been floated, primed and painted. Nine rooms have been repainted and are ready for students. The attic has new sheetrock and is primed and ready for paint. Smacenter has applied for a Save American's Treasures Grant for the exterior of the building. In the next phase of the Commission on Cultural Affairs, State Historic Preservation grant hearings, we will again ask for funds to equip the building with an elevator.
Architectural Elements - click here for a few photos of the interior architectural elements.
Other restoration done in preparation for the 2007 season includes:
•Completion of the room under the front porch as a second classroom and gallery.
•Restoration of the dining area on the ground floor including the addition of a dishwasher, new cabinets, light fixtures, resurfacing of the floors and a new 3 door commercial refrigerator.
•Eight rooms on the first floor and one on the second floor have been repainted and generally spruced up.
•A big thank you to Tourism Cares, a volunteer organization comprised of tourism professionals who came to Virginia City and painted all day on May 18, 2007. What they accomplished is phenomenal - the ground floor hall, the second floor, most of the studio, the second floor alcove and most of the stairwell are all freshly painted and look great!
•Work to rehabilitate the attic with new sheetrock has been completed. The surfaces have been primed and are awaiting paint..