Preston Castle, Ione, California - Amador County

In 1890, 230 acres of land was purchased for the building of Preston Castle. The property was purchased from the Ione Coal & Iron Company for about $30 per acre with 100 acres donated. The land was purchased to house the Preston School of Industry, established by the State Legislature as a progressive action toward rehabilitating juvenile offenders.

The Preston School of Industry received its first seven wards from San Quentin Prison on June 13, 1894. They were James Carner, 16; Alexander Cassulo, 17; Alfred Jacobs, 17; Walter Kavanaugh, 17; James O'Donnell, 16; James Phillips, 18; and Burt Starr, 17. Their committing offenses included grand larceny (4), burglary (2), and robbery (1).

The next year, electricity was installed by way of a water wheel powered dynamos for incandescent and arc lights.

The bell tower, which is unaccessible now. The second from the bottom windows is currently a private apartment.

The Preston School of Industry remained open until 1960 when new facilities for the school were completed. The building remained vacant and fading into disrepair until September 10, 2001 when The Preston Castle Foundation received a fifty-year lease for the property. The Preston Castle has also been named a California State Historical Landmark (#867) and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NPS-75000422).

Old photos of Preston Castle

Photos courtesy of Anne Stevens