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December 15, 2005
History Lessons at Virginia City's Fourth Ward School
Virginia City's Historic Fourth Ward School
With its elegant Victorian-era architecture, Virginia City's Fourth Ward School almost seems too fancy to have been a schoolhouse. Built in 1876, during the peak of the Comstock era, the Fourth Ward School remains one of Virginia City's civic treasures.
Construction of the school, built in the French-influenced Second Empire architectural style, cost more than $50,000, with some estimates placing it as high as $100,000.
Befitting a successful mining town, the Fourth Ward School was big--it could accommodate more than 1,000 students in 16 classrooms. Housed on its four floors were both a grammar school and a high school.
The structure also boasted many modern conveniences--at least they were modern for the times--such as a central heating system, water piped to every floor, drinking fountains and indoor "Philadelphia-style," patented, spring-loaded, self-flushing toilets.
Virginia City's declining fortunes along with the school's age and construction of a newer school building resulted in the Fourth Ward School closing in 1936.
For the next three decades, the magnificent structure stood empty, its fate uncertain. Starting in the 1960s, however, the community rallied around efforts to save the old school.
The building was finally rehabilitated in the 1980s. It reopened in 1986 as a museum devoted to the school's rich past and to telling the history of the Comstock region.
Today, a visit to the Fourth Ward School is a chance to glimpse the glorious history of 19th century Virginia City. During our recent visit, we found that several of the old classrooms have been renovated as exhibit halls filled with historic artifacts telling the story of the school and the city.
For instance, one room on the first floor of the school is filled with dozens of historic photographs of past Virginia City school children. The photos feature classes from the late 19th century as well as the mid-20th century.
In an adjacent room is the exhibit, "A Comstock Lesson," which offers an overview history of the Comstock region including information about the initial discovery of silver, the Bank of California's control of the Comstock mines, the story of Sutro Tunnel, the history of the Virginia and Truckee Railroad, and other aspects of Virginia City's rich history.
Another room contains reminders of the school's glory days such as desks and old chalkboards. The school's basement houses restroom facilities and the old janitor's storage area, which is filled with an assortment of old doors and other paraphernalia.
While the building boasts a modern elevator, walking to the second floor is a special treat because you can trudge up the worn wooden steps used by so many generations of Virginia City students and almost feel their presence.
The Fourth Ward School is located at 537 C Street at the south end of Virginia City (the Gold Hill side). The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from May to October. A donation is recommended. For more information call 775-847-0975.---Richard Moreno
Posted by Rich Moreno at December 15, 2005 02:40 PM