Castle of Broken Boys:

Preston Castle is an incredible bit of history in the golden foothills of Northern California. Located in Ione, it began as a school of industry in 1894 for wayward youth, orphans, and wards of the state. Later, it evolved into a boys' reformatory and then a state correctional facility for juveniles.

Castle of Broken Boys is a series that provides an insight to the history of the institution. Volumes One and Two include stories of some of the wards that passed through its doors, including singer Merle Haggard, movie actor Rory Calhoun, tennis champion Richard "Pancho" Gonzalez, Black Panther Eldridge Cleaver, career criminals Caryl Chessman, Gerald Gallego, Carl Harp, and Ray D. Johnson, and boxers Don Jordon and Eddie Machen, to name just a few.

Volume Three covers the institution's inception in 1890 through its closure in 2011, and describe its trials and tribulations. Although some good certainly came of its handling of juveniles, the facility was often embroiled in controversy and infamy.

Volume Four reviews the Board of Trustees, the many Superintendents, medical events, cadet free time and music.

Volume Five discusses some of the staff, facility punishment, self-government, the credit and parole system, and the future of the Castle.

Available on Kindle and paperback

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases