The Sisters' Shop, built in 1834, was a 2 1⁄2 story brick building that served as the village's first communal laundry. It could be reached from the Dwelling's west door by a stone walkway, and a cistern with a hand pump stood just outside the cellar door for easy water access. In 1885, 20,000 silkworms were housed in the attic. That year, lightning struck the building and took off most of the ceiling in the ironing room, shortly after several Shaker children had left the room.