- Preston School of Industry
Infobox_nrhp | name =Preston Castle
nrhp_type =
caption =
nearest_city=Ione, California
lat_degrees = 38
lat_minutes = 21
lat_seconds = 40
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 120
long_minutes = 56
long_seconds = 9
long_direction = W
locmapin = California
area =
built =1890
architect= Schieltez,Henery
architecture= Romanesque
added =July 30 ,1975 cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2008-04-15|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]
governing_body = State
refnum=75000422The Preston School of Industry, also known as Preston Castle, is one of the oldest and best-knownreform school s in theUnited States . It is located inIone, California , in Amador County.The institution was opened in June 1894 when seven wards (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 ofRomanesque 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 aCalifornia Historical Landmark (#867) and is listed on theNational 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.
Tours of Preston Castle are available from 10 am - 2 pm on the first and third Saturdays of every month. No reservations are required. [http://www.prestoncastle.com The Preston Castle Foundation] has taken responsibility for the site and is in the process of restoring it.
Former Wards
Former Preston wards include:
*
Eddie Anderson (comedian) , best known for his role as "Rochester" inJack Benny 's radio and television programs.
*Ernest Booth , discovered byH. L. Mencken , who published his stories inThe American Mercury ; he wrote a successful autobiography, "Stealing Through Life"; a novel, "With Sirens Screaming"; and a number of scenarios and screenplays, includingLadies of the Mob (1928) and "Ladies of the Big House" (1931).
*Rory Calhoun , who was known as Francis McCown when he was a [http://www.gorillasites.com/images/PrestonCastle/Preston_19.jpgPreston ward] in the late 1930s.
*Don Jordan , joined a boxing program at Preston and went on to become world welterweight champion by defeatingVirgil Akins .
* Heavyweight boxerEddie Machen graduated from Preston's boxing program and went on to fight such boxers asIngemar Johansson ,Sonny Liston ,Floyd Patterson , andJoe Frazier .
*Merle Haggard marked his time at Preston with a "PSoI" tattoo; his school file noted that he "likes to sing and play the guitar."
* Tennis greatPancho Gonzales honed his skills on the Preston School's tennis court shortly before turning professional and has been rated by some experts as the greatest player of all time.
*Neal Cassady discovered literature in the Preston School library and later was at the very center of the Beat Movement. He was the "N.C." ofAllen Ginsberg 's "Howl " and the model for the character Dean Moriarty inJack Kerouac 'sOn the Road . Cassady droveKen Kesey and his band of Merry Pranksters on the bus named "Further" and later drove bus for theGrateful Dead .
*Bill Sands wrote a best-selling autobiography, "My Shadow Ran Fast", and founded the Seventh Step prisoner rehabilitation program.
*Phil Thatcher became active in prison ministry, penned an autobiography, "Under Arrest", and was granted a full pardon by GovernorEarl Warren .
*Tony Cornero made his fortune as a rumrunner during Prohibition and later built theStardust Resort & Casino inLas Vegas, Nevada .
*Caryl Chessman became a celebrity author while on Death Row in the 1950s.
*Ray D. Johnson escaped from Preston twice and later became the first maximum security prisoner to escape fromFolsom State Prison . He wrote an autobioraphy, "Too Dangerous to be at Large".
*Joseph Paul Cretzer led the bloodiest and most notorious attempted escape fromAlcatraz Island . The "Battle of Alcatraz" resulted in the deaths of two guards and three inmates, including Cretzer.
*Eddie Bunker became a successful author and actor, writing books like "Animal Factory" and "No Beast So Fierce," as well as appearing in films like "Reservoir Dogs," "The Running Man," and "Tango & Cash."References
External links
* [http://www.prestoncastle.com Preston Castle Homepage]
* [http://www.gorillasites.com/PrestonCastle.htm Photographs By Andy Frazer]
* [http://www.angelicarjackson.smugmug.com/gallery/2607027 2007 Photographs By Angelica R. Jackson]
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