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38-729: The Lorton Reformatory , also known as the Lorton Correctional Complex , is a former prison complex in Lorton, Virginia , established in 1910 for the District of Columbia , United States. The complex began as a prison farm called the Occoquan Workhouse for nonviolent offenders serving short sentences. The District established an adjacent reformatory in 1914, and then a 10-acre (4.0 ha) walled penitentiary constructed by inmates from 1931 through 1938, as

76-647: A capacity. In 2004, approval from The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors allowed the project to get under way. Soon after the decision was made to repurpose the land and old historic buildings, restoration began. Walls were repaired, rooms were completely cleared, and the tall fences around the property were taken down. In 2008, the Arts Center was ready to be used by the public after four years to build and restore six separate buildings, transforming them into headquarters for hobbies and activities of all types. Ceramics, photography, painting, theatre, film and much more

114-463: A division of the reformatory with heightened security. The complex came under the administration of the District of Columbia Department of Corrections when it was formed in 1946. After further expansions, a peak size of 3,500-acre (1,400 ha), and 92 years of service, the facility was ordered closed in the late 1990s. The final prisoners were transferred out in November 2001. Lorton was also

152-590: A hamburger chain, has its headquarters in Lorton. In November 2020, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved an interim agreement for a proposal to build one of the largest indoor ski facilities in the world in Lorton. The Alpine–X project will be constructed on the closed portion of the Interstate 95 Lorton landfill. Library services in the area have expanded from bookmobile service to

190-616: A number of nationally prominent suffragists were arrested from their Silent Sentinels pickets of the White House at the White House, and held at the Occoquan Workhouse. Approximately 168 women, most from the National Women's Party , experienced mistreatment at the workhouse. Some were force-fed after they began hunger strikes. The night of November 14, 1917, is known as the " Night of Terror " because of how badly

228-400: A published editorial, saying, "But we at City Paper take accusations of anti-Semitism seriously—in part because many of us are Jewish, including staffers who edited the story and designed the cover. So let us know, Mr. Snyder, when you want to fight the real anti-Semites." In response, hundreds of loyal readers donated over $ 30,000 to a legal defense fund. In September 2011 the lawsuit

266-747: A result of the National Capital Revitalization and Self-Government Improvement Act of 1997 , felons from the District of Columbia began going to Federal Bureau of Prisons facilities. On July 15, 2002, the property was sold to Fairfax County. 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

304-486: A riot in 1986 during which 14 buildings were set on fire. The Youth Center, housing 18-22 year old prisoners, opened in 1960 and was established due to the post- World War II era anti-juvenile delinquency law Federal Youth Corrections Act of 1950. It was located next to the Fairfax County Landfill and in proximity to the prison's dairy farm. The initial concept was that the young prisoners could acquire

342-655: 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 km) tract north of the Occoquan River was purchased in 1910 through condemnation proceedings. District architect Snowden Ashford drew plans for

380-588: A store front library and now to a 10,000-square-foot (929.03 m ) building. The Lorton Heritage Society has developed the Lorton History Garden on the library's south side. Lorton is home to the Noman M. Cole, Jr., Pollution Control Plant. The Noman Cole facility is the largest advanced waste water treatment plant in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Lorton Volunteer Fire Department Company 19

418-475: A trade and/or get an education and then have their records expunged. Initially the prisoners carried books entitled "So We All Understand" and wore suits and ties. The building was designed to resemble a campus of a university, and it used open plan dormitories. At some point older adult felons began to be housed alongside the younger prisoners. Eddie Dean of the Washington City Paper stated that

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456-736: Is a census-designated place (CDP) in Fairfax County, Virginia , United States. The population was 20,072 as of the 2020 census . Lorton is named for a village in the Lake District National Park, Cumbria , in England. Joseph Plaskett of the Cumbrian village settled in southern Fairfax County, running a general store and opening the Lorton Valley Post Office on November 11, 1875. Before

494-627: Is bordered to the west by Laurel Hill , to the north by Newington , to the east by Fort Belvoir , to the southeast by Mason Neck , and to the southwest by Woodbridge in Prince William County . According to the United States Census Bureau , the Lorton CDP has a total area of 5.4 square miles (13.9 km ), of which 5.3 square miles (13.7 km ) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km ), or 1.39%,

532-403: Is now offered and accessible by the public within the center. Classes are offered in most or all of the categories offered. The Arts Center also houses famous pieces of art by local and renown artists. Well-known artists have visited the center to teach and to present their work. With over 800 different art classes offered, this has become a popular destination for the aspiring artist. Along with

570-476: Is one of 12 private, non-for-profit fire companies working in partnership with Fairfax County Fire and Rescue, to provide emergency and non-emergency services. Washington City Paper The Washington City Paper was started in 1981 by Russ Smith and Alan Hirsch, the owners of the Baltimore City Paper . For its first year it was called 1981: Washington's Alternative Newspaper . The name

608-617: Is one of the two stations that serve Amtrak 's Auto Train which carries passengers and their vehicles non-stop to Sanford, Florida , in the Orlando area. The Lorton and Occoquan Railroad once operated between the Lorton Reformatory and Occoquan , with connection to the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad . Historic landmarks in the surrounding area include Gunston Hall , George Mason 's home; Belvoir , which

646-607: Is part of the Fairfax Public School System . There are six elementary schools to serve Lorton residents, Gunston Elementary, Lorton Station, Silverbrook, Laurel Hill, and Halley. Hayfield Secondary School used to be the only public high school for Lorton area students, but they now attend South County High School . Fairfax County Public Library operates the Lorton Library in the CDP. Five Guys ,

684-586: Is water. The elevation ranges from sea level at the Prince William County line (the Occoquan River ) to slightly over 200 feet (61 m) along Furnace Road at the CDP's western edge. U.S. Route 1 (Richmond Highway) and Interstate 95 pass through Lorton, leading northeast 15 miles (24 km) to Alexandria and 19 miles (31 km) to Washington, D.C. , and south 34 miles (55 km) to Fredericksburg . The Amtrak Auto Train to and from Florida has Lorton as its northern terminal. As of

722-573: The Lorton Reformatory which, among other things, detained approximately 168 women from the women's suffrage movement from the Washington, D.C. area from June to December 1917. For the 2010 census, the area around the former Lorton Reformatory was assigned to the Laurel Hill census-designated place, reducing the area and population of the Lorton CDP. A Nike missile site was built at Lorton in 1955, and remained until 1973. Lorton

760-521: The census of 2010, there were 18,610 people, 6,422 households, and 4,637 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 3,508.7 inhabitants per square mile (1,354.7/km ). There were 6,726 housing units at an average density of 1,268.1 per square mile (489.6/km ). The racial makeup of the CDP was 39.0% White , 29.9% African American , 0.3% Native American , 18.2% Asian , 0.2% Pacific Islander , 7.3% some other race , and 5.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16.7% of

798-559: The Workhouse Arts Center, the former prison yard has now become home to baseball and soccer fields. With much ground still available, plans are in place to add more athletic fields. Many attend a yearly walk through the old grounds, and stages have been set up to host local theater organizations. Walk-throughs and tours were offered before the restoration began in 2004 to view rooms such as the cafeteria, Warden's office, shower room, and cell dorms. Guard towers still surround

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836-524: The center became "a sort of parody of its original inception". According to Dean, at one time it was the "murder capital" of Lorton, but by 1997 the Youth Center became "a relatively calm and safe compound, especially compared with the Quack." It became known in its later years, however, as an outdated and badly overcrowded facility. The last prisoners were removed from Lorton Reformatory late in 2001. As

874-611: The creation of two groups to ensure the paper's long-term success: "Alumni Group" and "Friends of Washington City Paper." In 2011, Daniel Snyder , the owner of the Washington Redskins , filed a lawsuit against the City Paper for The Cranky Redskins Fan's Guide to Dan Snyder , a November 19, 2010 cover story that portrayed him in a negative light. He and the Simon Wiesenthal Center claimed that

912-409: The estimated median annual income for a household was $ 90,820 and the median income for a family was $ 94,965. Male full-time workers had a median income of $ 54,534 versus $ 54,441 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $ 37,487. About 0.9% of families and 3.2% of the total population were below the poverty line , including 2.6% of those under age 18 and 2.7% of those age 65 or over. Lorton

950-530: The grounds. A museum in honor of suffragist Lucy Burns from the National Woman's Party opened in 2020. The Museum hosts celebrations for Women's Equality Day each year in August. [REDACTED] Media related to Lorton Reformatory at Wikimedia Commons 38°41′53″N 77°15′17″W  /  38.69805°N 77.25483°W  / 38.69805; -77.25483 Lorton, Virginia Lorton

988-410: The identity of Lorton, the commercial center was Colchester , and the spiritual and historical center of the community around which the leading citizens of the time revolved was Pohick Church , where George Washington and George Mason were at times members of the vestry . From the early 20th century until November 2001, Lorton was the site of a District of Columbia correctional facility called

1026-511: The longtime general manager, was promoted to publisher in 2003. Michael Schaffer was named editor in April, 2010, two months after Erik Wemple resigned to run the new local startup TBD . On December 21, 2017, it was announced that D.C.-area venture capitalist and philanthropist Mark Ein would buy the City Paper . He became the first D.C.-based owner in the paper's history. Ein announced

1064-426: The on-site kiln complex from Occoquan River clay. Initially only the maximum security section was fenced, but fences were established for other sections in the 1970s due to area politicians calling for the closing of the prison and increased concerns over prison escapes. A series of prison riots plagued the facility in the 1970s and 1980s, including an incident in 1974 where 100 armed inmates took 10 guards hostage, and

1102-408: The population. There were 6,422 households, out of which 45.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.5% were headed by married couples living together, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.8% were non-families. Of all households, 22.8% were made up of individuals, and 5.9% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size

1140-515: The site of a bunker used by the government from 1959 to 2001 that housed emergency communications equipment to be used in the event of a war with the Soviet Union. Lorton Reformatory also hosted Nike missile site W-64. Near the reformatory lies Revolutionary War patriot William Lindsay's c. 1790 estate known as Laurel Hill . This house served as a residence for the reformatory superintendent. In 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt appointed

1178-442: The story used anti-Semitic tropes. Prominent sports journalists, Jewish groups, and Jewish writers published sharp criticism of Snyder and the Simon Wiesenthal Center's claims of anti-Semitism, referring in various opinion pieces and public statements to their statements as, "breathtakingly dumb allegation", "almost unbearably stupid", and "so self-evidently lacking in merit". The Washington City Paper issued its own response in

Lorton Reformatory - Misplaced Pages Continue

1216-430: The suffragist prisoners were tortured, beaten, and abused. Portrayals of events at the Occoquan Workhouse played a key part in the 2004 film Iron Jawed Angels , a film about the history of the National Woman's Party , Alice Paul , Lucy Burns , and other members of the 1910s Women's Voting Rights Movement. The penitentiary buildings of the 1930s were constructed by the prisoners themselves, using brick manufactured at

1254-483: The transfer. The site has been part of the D.C. Workhouse and Reformatory Historic District since February 16, 2006. In 2002, The Lorton Arts Foundation sought to reuse the property of the former prison. The idea was to reconstruct and repair the prison facility and transform it into a Cultural Arts Center, to be known as the Workhouse Arts Center . Of course, much had to be altered to serve in such

1292-513: The workhouse in 1910, while Leon E. Dessez was the special architect appointed by the commissioners to draft plans for the new workhouse. It opened in 1916 as a facility for less serious offenders in the Lorton Correctional Complex, with classically inspired, symmetrical dormitory complexes. From 1911 the complex had its own railroad, the Lorton and Occoquan Railroad that operated until 1977. From June to November 1917,

1330-641: Was William Fairfax 's home; the Market; and now the Fort Belvoir Army Corps of Engineers base and Cranford Church. Woodlawn Plantation and Mount Vernon , the latter being George Washington 's home on the Potomac River , lie farther to the east. Lorton is located in southern Fairfax County at 38°42′18″N 77°14′1″W  /  38.70500°N 77.23361°W  / 38.70500; -77.23361 (38.704915, −77.233573). It

1368-407: Was 2.88, and the average family size was 3.39. In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 27.8% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 33.0% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 7.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.7 males. For the period 2010 through 2014,

1406-741: Was changed to City Paper in January 1982 and in December 1982 Smith and Hirsch sold 80% of it to Chicago Reader, Inc. In 1988, Chicago Reader, Inc. acquired the remaining 20% interest. In July 2007 both the Washington City Paper and the Chicago Reader were sold to the Tampa -based Creative Loafing chain. In 2012, Creative Loafing Atlanta and the Washington City Paper were sold to SouthComm Communications . Amy Austin,

1444-502: Was dropped, after, in December 2010, Washington D.C. passed anti- SLAPP legislation ("David Donovan, the Redskins' former chief operating officer and general counsel, that threatened an expensive legal battle unless Snyder received a retraction and an apology" ), while also, Amy Austin, the publisher, had written in a February article that unauthorized switching of long-distance accounts by Snyder Communications and GTE Communications

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