The Fredericksburg Athenaeum's former home

The Fredericksburg Athenaeum, a nonprofit arts group, is leaving its home at 109 Amelia St. downtown but will continue to operate. Director Paul Lewis said the Athenaeum will host events at various venues in Fredericksburg this year and will be announcing details in about a month. Lewis said that the historic Amelia Street property, which is owned by David Lough, needs a major preservation effort, and that his organization is not the one to do it. He said the Wounded Bookshop, which also had been at the Amelia Street property, has closed. He said the Athenaeum may look for a more permanent home in the future. The recent change will not affect a five-year, $500,000 gift that the Silver Cos. made to the Athenaeum in early 2008. Silver is paying the organization $100,000 a year for five years, with payments made on a monthly basis, said Jud Honaker, president of the developer’s commercial division.