Lorton, Virginia

Then and Now

by Yoshie Lewis

Just miles from the Washington, D.C. beltway is the small community of Lorton, Virginia. By the time it was formally named Lorton in the late 1800s, the area had already seen much history in the making. At the turn of the century, Theodore Roosevelt scouted out the territory for the makings of a new detention center in answer to the prison problems in the District of Columbia. When the land reverted back to Fairfax County in the late 1900s, the Lorton prison facilities were closed, and the community began a rapid development from a poor rural area to one of high-end
housing. Through the vintage and modern photos in this volume, walk the grounds of our founding fathers. See the home of George Mason, author of the Bill of Rights, and visit Pohick Church, designed by George Washington. Try to hear the laughter and conversation by the fire at the Fairfax Tavern, a favorite stopping place for anyone heading north. Witness the radical change from an agrarian Lorton to the subdivisions of today.

96 pages, Paperback

First published October 17, 2005

Reviews

[Tammy Mannarino · Rating 3 out of 5]

Worthwhile high-level overview of the Lorton, VA. I do wish that more care had been given to the writing. The history is vague and it is difficult to match some of the captions to the photos. There are times when the writing provides more questions than answers. While I did learn of some new places and people, I hope that someone is able to take this as a starting point for another more complete edition.