Preston School of Industry

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The Preston School of Industry is 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 of 1894 when seven "wards," or juvenile offenders, were transferred there from San Quentin Prison. The original building, known coloquially 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) 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.

Visiting Preston Castle

Preston Castle is currently closed to the general public due to the building's deteriorating condition. [The Preston Castle Foundation] has taken responsibility for the site and is in the process of restoring it.

External links

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