On January 30, 2026, in a fun yet heartfelt ritual, the SCNs in the Western Province said a fond farewell to the Old Laundry Building, which had been the New Laundry Building in 1900 when it was constructed. (To see a link to that farewell ritual, click here.)
Closed as a laundry in 1982 and serving as a space for storage since then, its structure had deteriorated beyond repair over time. The decision was made to deconstruct it and in the first week of April 2026, the building came down.
Much of the building was recycled rather than discarded. Workers salvaged 2,000 board feet of heart pine timbers for flooring and preserved 12 roof trusses, each 30 feet long, for use in a new building in Shelby County. Several tons of hand-hewn limestone were also saved for sale or future projects. In addition, two pallet loads of cleaned brick and a large pile of uncleaned brick were set aside for creative reuse.
Today, the site where the laundry once stood is a grassy field awaiting decisions about its future.
“The Laundry Building will soon be demolished, but what it held cannot be taken down. It was never just a place for washing and ironing, but a classroom, a gathering space, a stage for laughter, and a training ground for service. Regardless of the site’s future use, the spirit of the old building will remain folded carefully into the living memory of the Sisters and the Community they continue to shape.” -Kacie Emmerson (posted article Feb. 2, 2026)
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The implementation of the Vision for Nazareth is the ongoing work of turning the 2023 Community-approved vision into real projects, spaces, and decisions across campus, guided by five shared priorities.
- A home that supports the lives of Sisters now and in the future
- Space to honor SCN history and heritage
- A sacred place for spirituality and healing
- Collaboration to respond to the needs of people, especially those on the margins
- Care for creation