Preston School of Industry

For the rock band, see Preston School of Industry (band).
Preston Castle
Nearest city Ione, California
Coordinates 38°21′40″N 120°56′9″W / 38.36111°N 120.93583°W / 38.36111; -120.93583Coordinates: 38°21′40″N 120°56′9″W / 38.36111°N 120.93583°W / 38.36111; -120.93583
Built 1890
Architect Schulze, Henry A.
Architectural style Romanesque
NRHP Reference # 75000422
CHISL # 867[1]
Added to NRHP July 30, 1975[2]

The Preston School of Industry, also known as Preston Castle, was formerly one of the oldest and best-known reform schools in the United States. It is located in Ione, California, in Amador County.

The institution was opened in June 1894 when seven wards (minors under the guardianship of the state, but not necessarily juvenile offenders), were transferred there from San Quentin State Prison. The original building, known colloquially as "Preston Castle" (or simply "The Castle"), is the most significant example of Romanesque Revival architecture in the Mother Lode. It was vacated in 1960, shortly after new buildings had been constructed to replace it. The abandoned building has since been named a California Historical Landmark (#867)[1] and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NPS-75000422).

The facility's name has often been used in movies and also television programs, such as Dragnet. In 1999, the institution's official name was changed to the "Preston Youth Correctional Facility", but most people in the state — especially those who reside in the immediate area — continue to refer to it by its original name.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation announced on October 21, 2010, that the Preston Youth Correctional Facility was to close,[3] and a closing ceremony was held on June 2, 2011.

On July 8, 2012 Preston Castle was featured in the third episode of the The Great Escape, titled "Escape from the Institution". The show referred to the Castle as a mental institution, thus the Preston Castle Foundation chose to keep its name anonymous during the show.

The building is open to tours for the public and it is maintained by the Preston Castle Foundation. There are events hosted at the Castle throughout the year: wine tastings, murder mysteries, haunted house at Halloween, and decorated at Christmas.

Former wards

Preston Castle in Ione, California, built in the latter half of the 19th century.

Former Preston wards include:

Paranormal

The building is claimed to be haunted by former wards and staff members. Many individuals who died on the premises of the Preston School of Industry were struck with disease, such as the Spanish Flu. Very few people were killed on or near the grounds.[4][5]

The property was featured in an episode of the Travel Channel's Ghost Adventures, by The Atlantic Paranormal Society on SyFy's paranormal show Ghost Hunters, Conversations with a Serial Killer the Richard Trenton Chase episode California on the Road - A Spooky Ghost Adventure by Maker Studios/Disney Studios and on The Science Channel program The Unexplained Files.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Preston Castle". Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved 2012-10-06.
  2. ↑ National Park Service (2008-04-15). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  3. ↑ Hedger, Matthew (October 21, 2010). "Preston Youth Correctional Facility to close". Ledger Dispatch. Amador: Ledger-Dispatch.com. Retrieved 2011-01-30.
  4. ↑ "The Haunted Castle In California". Haunted-places-to-go.com. Retrieved 2011-01-30.
  5. ↑ "Who Was Anna Corbin?". Retrieved 2015-11-02.

Photos of Preston Castle by Angelica R. Jackson, 2007-present

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