As the last patient was rolled out of the Bolivar Street St. Mary's Hospital Sunday, large snowflakes painted a surreal picture.
Wintry weather was the backdrop the last time the entire hospital had been emptied. Fire destroyed the four-floor interior of the original building in February 1919.
The Franciscan Sisters of Mary were helped by local residents and trustees from the Missouri State Penitentiary to ensure no lives were lost.
In the same way, three local ambulance agencies loaned their transport expertise to move every patient from their former room to their new room at the Mission Drive location early Sunday morning.
The Bolivar Street emergency room light was turned off at 6 a.m., and the outside lettering came down soon after. When the last patient left, the doors were locked.
After 109 years, the St. Mary's Hospital setting on land donated by the Moerschel-Dulle family was closed.
But as the founding sisters rebuilt and expanded through the century, so their mission continues as the new 375,000-square-foot facility on Mission Drive became fully operational.
Employees and patients alike were in high spirits in contrast to the hallways, once arteries of 24-hour care, which gradually grew still and dark.
"It was neat to hear employees have nostalgic moments," said Becky Collier, a marketing and communications consultant who has been with the hospital only five months.
To help ease the transition for the only St. Mary's Hospital they've ever known, employees have been treated to events and gifts along the way. They signed a banner of historic photos, which now hangs in the new facility. And at the end of October, a farewell event allowed them to share their stories.
The last leadership huddle in the Bolivar Street building was held Friday morning. The discussion included memories of the familiar halls and rooms they would be leaving.
"It is a loss," said Peggy Van Gundy, director of mission effectiveness. "Because we're moving into a brand new, magnificent home, doesn't mean we won't miss this one.
"It's not just a building; it's what's happened to people we know and to us inside this building."
There were teary eyes and last looks throughout the weekend.
"It's important to recognize what you're walking away from," Van Gundy said. "We've all had an experience of God's presence there."
Gail Thompson, director of inpatient services, chose St. Mary's because of its cutting-edge cardiovascular work in 1987. She started as a staff nurse in the cardiac cath lab when the program was started.
"It was an exciting time here," Thompson recalled.
As Thompson moved up the ranks, she appreciated being part of the team atmosphere.
"SSM helped groom and grow me into an administrative leadership position," she said.
Thompson said she is fortunate to still be with the same company as it again expands its services.
"We're on a new journey to a new beginning; it's exciting to be part of that," she said.
But, she admits, the last few weeks have been a little nostalgic, too.
"When I've walked through the halls this week, I've visualized and planted memories of what it looked like."
What's next for old SMHC?
The now-vacant St. Mary's Hospital facility on Bolivar Street has an unknown future.
A June line-item veto by Gov. Jeremiah Nixon stopped a project that would have moved in Lincoln University's nursing program and its planned culinary program.
Part of the site also had been eyed by the State Technical College of Missouri in Linn for medical-related education programs, by the Cole County Health Department for a new location and by the state for future office space.
For now, the hospital continues to work with real estate agents from the Sansone Group to find a potential buyer for the nearly 11-acre site listed at $4.4 million.