photo by Kelly Evans

The Jordan House, recently sold to Laurence Mann for $425,000.

Until moving last Christmas, FAIR had occupied the Jordan House on East Nelson Street for five years.

The Jordan House is a historical site in Lexington. According to information from the

 Lexington and Rockbridge Area Tourism Development office, the house was built in the 1840’s and purchased in 1847 by Col. John Jordan, a prominent builder in town, who converted it into a boarding house.

Laurence Mann, a partner with Mann, Vita & Elrod PLLC, purchased the house from Valerie Alessi on Aug. 26 for $425,000. The Jordan House had increased in value because of the proposed courthouse on the corner of Nelson and Randolph streets.

“Losing Jordan House was a big travesty,” said Marsha Jones, executive director of FAIR. “It was a place of innovation and experimentation. Having that space was important to the genesis of many groups.” While at the Jordan House, Jones said FAIR’s activities expanded to include a photography club and a high school music talent night.

“While I'm sad that we lost our use of the Jordan House, there isn't much can do about it,” said Aaron Richardson, FAIR youth representative. “By-gones are by-gones, and FAIR didn't own the building, so that's the way it has to be.”

Jones has no hard feelings towards the former owner, Alessi. “She found a wonderful opportunity to sell the house,” Jones said.

When FAIR moved out of the Jordan House, it found itself homeless. Again. For the first 30 years of the organization’s existence, it had no official home and was scattered in residential homes around town.

Jones set off in search of new office space. She said that she knew that the Lexington Downtown Development Association offices occupied part of the second floor of the Wachovia building on Main Street. She said that she also knew that other nonprofit organizations had temporarily used the space until they moved to permanent offices. Jones said that she approached the executives at Wachovia, who agreed to temporarily house FAIR.

“Wachovia has been very generous to us,” said Jones. “Now, we’re working on various fronts.” FAIR must continue fundraising, event planning, organizing meetings and searching for a permanent home.

Jones said FAIR hopes to rely on the generosity of the community to find a new home.

“Our niche is community-based arts, so our future is very much tied to the future of our area and the priorities of its citizens,” said Trina Welsheimer, FAIR president.

With the loss of the Jordan House, FAIR is in search of a new venue for many of its events, including Writers@Jordan House and Music@Jordan House.

Lexington Coffee has provided space to writers by allowing FAIR to schedule poetry readings in the coffeehouse atmosphere reminiscent of its old home.

“Music@Jordan House is on hiatus until we find some place to perform,” said Jones. The organization is planning future events at Washington and Lee University’s Lenfest Center and Lexington Presbyterian Church.

Those wanting more information on FAIR and its programs may visit FAIR’s Web site, www.fairva.org, or to call Marsha Jones at (540) 464-FAIR.
 

Fine Arts in Rockbridge

Produced by Washington and Lee journalism students.

Lead supervisor:      Prof. Claudette Artwick

Reporting supervisor: Prof. Doug Cumming

Editing supervisor:  Prof. Pamela Luecke

Technical supervisor:  Michael Todd