Preston Castle Foundation's photostream

History: in 1890, the 230 acre parcel of land where the Preston Castle stands was purchased from the Ione Coal & Iron Company for $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, rather than simply imprisoning, juvenile offenders.
Building of the Preston School of Industry started right away.
The bricks for the building were made at San Quentin and Folsom prisons using sandstone that was quarried six miles from Ione.
The bricks were then delivered by rail at 6,000 bricks per car. The cornerstone was laid on December 23, 1890 with 2,500 people in attendance.