Skip to ContentA schoolhouse ghost who, by one historian’s account, began as a Halloween tale for children. Story first, then the record.
Checked November 3, 2026. Every claim below names the page it was read on.
Local lore, not confirmedNot a verified fact until the answer says so
The Story
Visit Reno Tahoe tells of the spirit of a former teacher, Miss Suzzie, who is said to search the grounds of the Fourth Ward School for her students [3]. Carson City historian and author Ron James told RenoNR the tale began when a museum director made up Suzette, a little girl’s ghost, as a playful Halloween story for young visitors; the name may also echo a 1994 story of a female hitchhiker in 19th-century dress who asked to be dropped at the school and vanished [2]. James says Suzette and the hitchhiker are now part of Comstock lore, “entwined, yet distinct” [2].
What Is Actually True
- The Fourth Ward School’s own site says the school opened in Virginia City in 1876 as a four-story building for nearly 1,000 students, calls it the only Second Empire school building standing in the United States, and says 2026 is the 150th anniversary of its construction [1].
- The museum says it is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. [1]. The page read does not mention ghosts at all [1].
- The spelling of the ghost’s name and her identity (teacher vs child) vary between the two tellers [2][3].
- Visit Reno Tahoe gives the building date as 1875 and the school’s own site as 1876 [3][1].
A note on the Mizpah Hotel. The Mizpah Hotel’s ghost (the Lady in Red) is in Tonopah, outside our region, so we do not use it.
Still Unconfirmed
Whether any ghost story predates the museum director’s tale; the 1994 hitchhiker story; the exact build year (1875 vs 1876).
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the Fourth Ward School ghost story come from?
Historian Ron James says a museum director invented Suzette as a Halloween story for kids [2].
Does the museum tell the ghost story?
The museum’s own page read does not mention ghosts [1].
Is the school open?
The museum says it is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. [1].
Sources
- Historic Fourth Ward School Museum, Fourth Ward School Museum. Read 2026-11-03.
- “A haunting we will go: Spooky season materializes in Northern Nevada” (2022-10-09), RenoNR. Read 2026-11-03.
- Haunted places in Virginia City, Visit Reno Tahoe. Read 2026-11-03.
Cite this page: It’s Reno editorial team, “Suzette, The Fourth Ward School Ghost,” itsreno.com/legends/fourth-ward-school-suzette/, checked November 3, 2026. Legends are labelled as legends; ghost stories are never invented.