Before us stand the long-abandoned ruins of the Old Lorton Reformatory water treatment plant. This place whispers tales of a bygone era. It is an era when this reformatory was a self-sustaining community. The Old Lorton Reformatory, also known as the Lorton Correctional Complex, was established in 1910. It served as a prison complex for the District of Columbia.
Initially, it was called the Occoquan Workhouse. It housed nonviolent offenders serving short sentences. In 1914, the District established an adjacent reformatory. Inmates constructed a 10-acre walled penitentiary from 1931 to 1938. This became a heightened security division of the reformatory. The District of Columbia Department of Corrections took over administration in 1946.
Expansions led to a peak size of 3500 acres. After 92 years, the facility was ordered to close in the late 1990s. The last prisoners left in November 2001. Lorton even housed a bunker used by the government from 1959 to 2001. It contained emergency communications equipment for a potential war with the Soviet Union. Lorton Reformatory also hosted a Nike missile site.
The water treatment plant played a vital role. It supported the reformatory’s large population. The facility included dormitories, cell blocks, and maintenance buildings. It also had industrial facilities and farms. A large oil and coal-fired boiler house powered the complex. The water treatment plant was essential to this self-sufficient system.
Consider the daily routines here. Inmates worked in various industries. These included furniture manufacturing, vehicle repair, and printing operations. All these activities needed a reliable water source. The Old Lorton Reformatory water treatment plant ensured that water was available.
However, the reformatory’s history is not without its darker chapters. The facility faced numerous citations for violating the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Regulations. Two Enforcement Consent Orders were issued. These orders mandated the facility address violations and comply with regulations.
Today, the Old Lorton Reformatory water treatment plant stands as a ruin. It is a testament to a complex past. It is a reminder of the challenges and changes that have shaped this land. The site is now part of the D.C. Workhouse and Reformatory Historic District. It gained this designation on February 16, 2006.
The Lorton Arts Foundation sought to reuse the property in 2002. Their vision was to transform the prison into a Cultural Arts Center. It is now known as the Workhouse Arts Center. Restoration began after approval from The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in 2004. Walls were repaired, rooms were cleared, and fences were removed.
Today, the Workhouse Arts Center offers classes and activities. Ceramics, photography, and theater are all available to the public. The center also hosts art exhibitions. It has become a popular destination for aspiring artists. The former prison yard now includes baseball and soccer fields.
Though repurposed, the echoes of Lorton’s past remain. The Old Lorton Reformatory water treatment plant stands as a silent witness. It saw the rise and fall of a unique penal experiment. It remains an integral part of the Lorton story. As you explore this site, remember the stories etched into these walls.