150 Years Strong: Fourth Ward Celebrates the People Behind Its Preservation

Guest Contributor: Lauren Jaslow

The Historic Fourth Ward School Museum celebrated 150 years in the Virginia City community on Saturday, Sept. 19, bringing together many of the passionate (and countless) volunteers, supporters, and caretakers who have preserved the 24,000-square-foot wooden schoolhouse over the decades.

 “A legacy of great people have been taking care of the Fourth Ward School,” said Ronald and Susan James who attended via Zoom. Ronald played the pivotal role of saving the school from demolition in the 1980s while he was working at the State Historic Preservation Office. Susan, a historian, writer, researcher and an early in-residence scholar at Fourth Ward School helped interpret the people and stories of the Comstock. 

“If it weren’t for the community saying yes, this building wouldn’t be here,” declared Mark Preiss, the school’s first executive director. Preiss hopes that the Fourth Ward School be seen as not only a “monument to the past history of the community” but also adamant that it represents a special optimism for the future.  Under Preiss the school became incorporated in May 2000, creating the nonprofit organization still active today. 

Barbara Mackey, the school’s second executive director (2001) allowed the school to blossom into a museum with archives, school tours and a gift shop. She also enlisted the Savannah College of Art and Design to determine the original paint colors of the building (as seen today).            

Nora Stefu, the Museum’s current executive director, commended the efforts of everyone’s work in preservation, fundraising and organization that preceded her leadership. She surmises how the Fourth Ward school was “remarkably progressive for its time,” bringing in Steve Robison to work the historic letterpress, a testament to the “advanced ideas about education” and really driving home the reality that the early people of the Comstock had made a “serious investment in education.”

The night heralded tunes by Squeek Steele on the piano and a Comstock-inspired spread of food including an edible canvas by Keri Lawrey. The former executive directors were awarded commemorative coins and name plaques to be displayed in the school, including Lara Mather, the museum’s third executive director who was unable to attend. 

In April 2026, Fourth Ward School unveiled a two-year exhibit curated by Assistant Archivist Jessica Johnson entitled “The Building That Refused to Be Forgotten”. This 150-year commemoration can be found on the main floor of the museum. Read more about the anniversary display in our May 2026 article "Fourth Ward School Museum Opens Anniversary Exhibit, Welcomes Author."

For more information about the Historic Fourth Ward School Museum, visit fourthwardschool.org.