Earth Day-A Focus on the Three “R’s”

This week with Earth Day falling on Wednesday provides everyone the opportunity to take a closer look at the three "R's"; Recycle, Reuse and Reduce in their homes and communities.  To help celebrate the week I've decided to highlight places, homes or projects in my area where I've seen some great examples of the three "R's and share them with you.  Some may be "recycled" posts, which seems appropriate given the theme of the week.

My first highlight of the week is the Lorton Workhouse Arts Center.  For over 100 years Lorton was an area that most residents of Northern Virginia went out of their way to avoid.   As a prison complex the 3,200 acre site was huge and at night driving by the area the signs warning you not to pick up anyone on the road were ominous.  When the facility was ordered closed in 1998, it would have been easy to knock down all of the old buildings and the bad memories and move on.

Instead Fairfax County officials and a dedicated group of community activists decided to take a different approach.  In 2002 the title to 2400 acres of the property was given to Fairfax County.  Part of the property was redeveloped into residential neighborhoods, recreation facilities and schools but the prison buildings were saved and the Lorton Workhouse Arts Center began to emerge.

Brick buildings many built with bricks made in kilns on the prison property and constructed by inmates were gutted and retrofitted as studios for artists.  Event space was created, salvaging original wood flooring, where prisoners once dined.   In September 2008 the first phase of the project was completed and the studios filled with artists across all spectrums moved in.

The second phase of the project is to convert the barn where the prisoners used to milk cows into a outdoor amphitheater, create gardens and provide a museum to showcase the historical significance of the Lorton Reformatory not only to the area but the nation as well.   Classes and events are in full swing and the Lorton Workhouse Arts Center now has a place on the National Historic Register.