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PRISON GONE ARTS ... NO CELLBLOCKS?
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Opened in 1916 as a facility for more serious offenders in the Lorton Correctional Complex. It is located in nearby Lorton, Virginia in southern Fairfax County.
In 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt appointed a special Penal Commission to investigate deplorable conditions of the District of Columbia's jail and workhouse in Washington. As a result, the Commission recommended a complete change in the philosophy and treatment of prisoners in D.C. The United States Congress acted upon this recommendation, and a 1,155-acre (5 km2) tract north of the Occoquan River was purchased in 1910 through condemnation proceedings. Classically inspired, symmetrical dormitory complexes were constructed instead of cellblocks. The brick buildings were built by the prisoners themselves, using brick manufactured at the on-site kiln complex located on the banks of the Occoquan.
It became known in its later years, however, as an outdated and badly overcrowded facility, before finally closing in 2002. As a result of the pickets and violence of the women's suffrage movement in the Washington D.C. area, approximately 168 women, most from the National Women's Party, were detained at the Medium Security facility from June to December 1917. Near the Reformatory lies revolutionary war patriot William Lindsay's circa 1790 estate known as Laurel Hill. This house served as a residence for the reformatory superintendent. The reformatory had its own railroad, the Lorton and Occoquan Railroad that operated from 1911 to 1977.
Lorton Reformatory also hosted Nike missile site W-64. On July 15, 2002, Fairfax County received title to the facility. The transfer was enabled by the Lorton Technical Corrections Act passed by Congress in October 1998. It required the county to develop a plan to maximize use of land for open space, parkland or recreation prior to the transfer.
Plans for the land the prison occupied can be found at Fairfax County land use and development Prison Transformed into Arts Center The notorious Lorton prison, once packed with criminals and feared by neighbors, is completely transformed Prison-turned-arts-center opens with week of events:
The much-anticipated Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton GRAND OPENING FORTHE WORKHOUE ARTS CENTER
September 19 – September 27, 2008 Virginia’s newest and most exciting center for art, history and education is opening its door to the public.
It will begin with a ribbon cutting on Friday September 29, 2008 and continue through September 27. Visitors will be able to tour the grounds , learn about the history of the former prison complex, visit the artist’s studio, view and purchase a variety of fine art , enjoy musical and theatre performances, and learn about the cultural arts opportunities available at the Workhouse. Please visit the workhouse website for complete grand opening details at www.Workhousearts.org.
FEE tickets required for some activities
The WorkHouse arts Center is a program of the Lorton Arts Foundation
Partially supported by The National Endowment for the Arts ~ The Arts Council of Fairfax County ~ The Virginia Commission for the Arts
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