The Backyard Traveler: Recounting tales of Northern Nevada's most haunted places

At this time of year-around Halloween-it seems appropriate to write about some of Northern Nevada's allegedly haunted places. In just about every town in the state, there seems to be some old house or building that folks claim has a ghost.

In fact, Carson City is home to at least a few so-called haunted houses. One of the most famous is the Governor's Mansion at 600 N. Mountain St. Over the years, mansion staff have sighted a little girl wearing a flowing white dress, who, they say, wanders the upstairs hallways.

Additionally, guests and staff have heard phantom conversations, experienced mysterious cold spots in rooms, and encountered a drafty grandfather clock.

One story is that a guest claimed to have been kept awake by a late night conversation heard through the walls, then discovered the woman in the next room had gone to bed early and no radio or television sets had been turned on that late.

On another occasion, a man cleaning the mansion library climbed up a ladder to reach a book to dust, when he became surrounded by frigid air-despite the fact it was a hot summer day and the mansion did not then have air conditioning.

The frightened man ran from the room and, not surprisingly, refused to return to work again in the library. Those books must be pretty dusty by now.

Other mansion ghost stories include one about cold air that blows out of an antique grandfather clock at the top of the north stairwell and the usual strange slamming doors (can't ghosts be quiet once in awhile?).

Another haunted house is said to be the historic Ferris home at 311 W. Third St. in Carson City. The first reported occurrence was in the early 1900s during a lavish wedding reception.

Several guests at the party asked the bride's father the identity of the second bride standing by the back gate. The man said his daughter had been the only bride at the wedding but the guests insisted they'd not only seen but spoken to a second woman in a wedding dress.

Later, it was discovered that there had been another wedding at the house many years before and, apparently, the ghost of the earlier bride had returned to the house to watch over the proceedings.

The Ferris Mansion has also had reports of strange smells-for instance, a strong scent of aftershave lotion-and sensations of being watched. The home's first owner, George Washington Gale Ferris, whose son invented the Ferris Wheel, is said to have regularly worn strong aftershave lotion.

The Edwards House, located at 204 N. Minnesota St. in Carson City, is well known for its ghostly guest. Owners of this historic home have found the piano never needs cleaning or polishing, no matter how much dust collects in the rest of the house.

The legend is that the spirit of a former housekeeper continues to live there and earns her keep by wiping off the piano.

None of this is meant to imply that Carson City is unique when it comes to ghost stories. Virginia City has been the locale for a number of spectral sightings over the years.

For example, a ghost has allegedly been seen in the former St. Mary's Hospital in Virginia City. Folks have supposedly seen a woman dressed in long, white robes wandering the second floor and sitting in the window of the historic, brick building, which is now an art center.

Some locals say the woman is the restless spirit of a nun, who tragically died in the hospital.

Ghosts are also believed to wander Virginia City's historic cemeteries. A number of people claim to have witnessed a strange glowing tombstone at night at the cemetery.

There have also been stories about the ghost of a little girl who roams the upper floors of the Longbranch Saloon. The girl apparently was run down by a wagon in front of the saloon and has chosen to haunt the area.

More recently, there have been several reports of a ghost hanging out in the Old Washoe Club. This particular spectre has a penchant for standing at the top of a spiral staircase, switching off lights, moving barstools, nudging customers, and creating phantom breezes that spin the chandelier.

Some, however, might insist that the story is just so much - dare I say it - hot air.

Richard Moreno is the author of "The Backyard Traveler," "The Backyard Traveler Returns," and "The Roadside History of Nevada" which are available at local bookstores.