Welcome to the Lorton Station Historical Marker, a site rich with stories of transformation and resilience. Situated in Lorton, Virginia, this marker commemorates a pivotal chapter in American history centered around the Lorton Reformatory. Established in 1910, the Lorton Correctional Complex was more than just a prison; it was a bold social experiment aimed at transforming the penal system of the District of Columbia.
Initially designed as a workhouse for nonviolent offenders, the complex expanded over the years, eventually including a reformatory and a maximum-security penitentiary built by the very inmates it housed. This self-sufficient facility even had its own rail line, the Lorton and Occoquan Railroad, which operated until 1977.
One of the most harrowing events associated with Lorton occurred in 1917, when it became a temporary home for suffragists arrested for picketing the White House. These women, members of the National Woman’s Party, endured what is now infamously known as the ‘Night of Terror’, when they were brutally mistreated for their hunger strikes. The suffragists’ courage and endurance were later dramatized in the film ‘Iron Jawed Angels’.
Beyond its use as a correctional facility, Lorton played a clandestine role during the Cold War. The site housed a government bunker equipped with emergency communications technology designed to keep lines open in the event of a Soviet attack.
Today, the site stands as a testament to evolving ideas of justice and reform. It’s a place where the stories of those who lived, worked, and advocated for change continue to echo. As you stand here, imagine the bustling activity of the past and the quiet resolve of those who sought a better future.
