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History of the Building St. Mary’s Art Center is housed in an historic building formerly known as the St. Mary Louise Hospital. Built in 1875 by the Sisters of Charity and Father Patrick Manogue (later Bishop Manogue of the Sacramento Diocese), this four-story brick structure sits on land donated by Mrs. John W. (Mary Louise) Mackay, wife of one of the four Bonanza Kings. The land was purchased from the estate of Major Van Bokkelin, who had blown himself and several other occupants of a rooming house up after he had stored dynamite and other mining supplies under his bed. Von Bokkelin was the proprietor of a beer garden on the land. The Sisters of Charity operated a school and orphanage as well as staffing the hospital. When completed, it contained 36 rooms including five wards and 12 private rooms. Sixty to seventy patients could be accommodated. It was a subscription hospital whereby the miners paid monthly dues for care at the facility.

Furnishings included Brussels carpets, marble-topped washstands with hot and cold running water and gas lighting. Steam heat was piped to each room. The operating room was located on the ground floor as well as a large kitchen with a range presented by Mrs. James Fair, wife of another Bonanza King. There was a chapel on the second floor next to the large public ward where patients could hear the sermon. The attic floor contained two public wards and two private rooms for servants. In 1897, the Sisters of Charity closed the hospital due to declining mining activity and population. Storey County was granted title to the building. At about the same time, the only other hospital in Virginia City burned and this building then became the Storey County Hospital. It operated until approximately 1940 when a dwindling population and a fire on the fourth floor forced it to close. During World War II, all metal in the building was stripped for salvage for the war effort.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. The County had considered tearing down the building and selling the salvaged bricks. At this time, renovation began.In the 1960's through the 1990's, SMAC operated from May through October of each year offering lodging and art instruction on a weekly basis. The building was closed during the winter as there was no heating system. Many well-known artists have taught or attended classes each year. Class offerings include watercolor, acrylic, oil, pastel, photography, sculpture, etching and several other artistic media. Students paint in the large upstairs studio, outside on the lawn, in Virginia City or the surrounding hills dotted with mining relics of the Big Bonanza. They come to enjoy the camaraderie, blue skies, clean air and incredible light of the high desert 6200 feet elevation. A great deal of restoration has now been accomplished in the building to date. Two new handicapped accessible bathrooms have been added bringing the total number of bathrooms to five. A heating system now functions year round. A new classroom under the main front porch will be completed in late 2006. Also in 2006, the on-site caretakers moved to the outbuilding behind the main building that was completely renovated. Students and instructors now have access to a new lounge and dining room on the ground floor. Some work has been done in the attic. Future plans call for this area to be gallery and rentable artist loft spaces. Click here for historic photographs of SMAC.