May 1, 2024

By the Sisters of St. Joseph

The Sisters of St. Joseph, after much prayer and consideration of present and foreseeable needs for the care of the Sisters and the service of the ‘dear neighbor,’ have made the decision to sell the property at 1425 Washington Street. The current number of 18 Sisters living in the residence has led them to the decision that the property and buildings could be repurposed for a broader and better use to meet the needs of the Watertown Community and surrounding area. At the time that the Sisters renovated 1425 Washington Street from an orphanage in 1976 to a Motherhouse, there were 136 Sisters and a larger facility was needed.

The Sisters are not leaving Watertown. They will be returning to the original vision of their Founder John Peter Medaille in LePuy, France in 1650. He stated in the founding that the Sisters would live together in small houses from which they would be engaged in prayer and service to the ‘dear neighbor.’ In the spirit of all-inclusive love, they would be actively involved in the instruction of youth, direction or orphanages and the care of the sick and the poor.   Since 1880, the Sisters of St. Joseph have fulfilled this commitment in Watertown and throughout the Diocese of Ogdensburg, and they will continue to do so in the foreseeable future but just not from a residence at 1425 Washington Street.

The transition is in its early stages and the timeline and details are yet to be determined. However, as with all families, the timeline and steps will be the work of the family.

Pyramid Brokerage Company, Inc. has been retained as our exclusive representatives in marketing and selling the property. Questions should be directed to Patrick Hilary at phillery@pyramidbrokerage.com or 315-569-2146 or Christopher Clark at cclark@pyramidbrokerage.com or 315-779-1196.