| California Society for Paranormal Research |
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| IPreston Castle and Ione, CA Investigation |
| Location Data |
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Investigation report: Preston Castle, Ione, CA
The group began the journey first to Preston Castle, in the historical mining town of Ione, California. This castle
is renowned for its paranormal activity and it is the first landmark you see as you approach the town- in fact, it
cannot possibly be missed as it rests perched high on a hilltop watching over the small community, much as the
typical prison tower spies on its inmates below.
Interestingly, Preston Castle once could have been called a prison of sorts. Built in 1890 in the Romanesque
Revival style, it was called the "Preston School of Industry" and was constructed as the state's only reform
school for boys. Built almost entirely of bricks made at Folsom and San Quentin prisons, the castle boasted an
impressive 5 floors and 77 rooms-- some of which were never completed or used. The school remained open until
1960. It has since remained vacant.
The group began the journey first to Preston Castle, in the historical mining town of Ione, California. This castle
is renowned for its paranormal activity and it is the first landmark you see as you approach the town- in fact, it
cannot possibly be missed as it rests perched high on a hilltop watching over the small community, much as the
typical prison tower spies on its inmates below.
Interestingly, Preston Castle once could have been called a prison of sorts. Built in 1890 in the Romanesque
Revival style, it was called the "Preston School of Industry" and was constructed as the state's only reform
school for boys. Built almost entirely of bricks made at Folsom and San Quentin prisons, the castle boasted an
impressive 5 floors and 77 rooms-- some of which were never completed or used. The school remained open until
1960. It has since remained vacant.
Of note, a murder did occur at the castle in 1957. Anna Corbin, the much loved
housekeeper of the castle, was found bludgeoned to death in a small closet off of the
executive kitchen. Although one of the school's inmates was suspected of committing
this most heinous crime, no one was ever convicted despite multiple trials. Ms. Corbin's
ghost is said to have been observed at the castle.
We arrived at this most imposing site at 10:00 am. The day was already growing
unbearably hot, approaching 90 degrees outdoors and a damp 81 degrees inside. A
number of tourists had arrived to take a tour of the castle, which is offered by the
Preston Castle Foundation as a means of raising funds to hopefully restore the castle,
which essentially lies in near ruins. It became very clear from the first few minutes
after arriving that this was not going to be the ideal environment to conduct an
investigation. But if nothing else, we would get an idea of what the castle was like and
maybe this would enable us to plan for a future, more structured investigation.
housekeeper of the castle, was found bludgeoned to death in a small closet off of the
executive kitchen. Although one of the school's inmates was suspected of committing
this most heinous crime, no one was ever convicted despite multiple trials. Ms. Corbin's
ghost is said to have been observed at the castle.
We arrived at this most imposing site at 10:00 am. The day was already growing
unbearably hot, approaching 90 degrees outdoors and a damp 81 degrees inside. A
number of tourists had arrived to take a tour of the castle, which is offered by the
Preston Castle Foundation as a means of raising funds to hopefully restore the castle,
which essentially lies in near ruins. It became very clear from the first few minutes
after arriving that this was not going to be the ideal environment to conduct an
investigation. But if nothing else, we would get an idea of what the castle was like and
maybe this would enable us to plan for a future, more structured investigation.
The greeters at the castle entrance sat at a table cluttered with t-shirts and coffee mugs for sale and a
representative far to eager to collect our money and push us "ghost hunters" through the tour and out the door.
More on that later.
Our tour guide, while a bit inpatient with our slow progress through the building was very knowledgeable about
the castle's history and was otherwise friendly. Clearly this tour was historical in nature and designed to raise
additional funds for the castle's restoration. While this is understandable and expected, it was clearly not
conducive to our purposes for attending; However, we did the best we could under the circumstances.
Eleanor reports that she experienced the presence of a number of energies upon entering the main reception area
of the first floor. She indicates that this was once a bustling, busy place and that form of energy still remains.
Photographs, emf and temperature readings produced no unusual results.
We proceeded down the main corridor and ended up in the infirmary. Reputed to be one of the more haunted areas
of the castle, again we did not produce any remarkable results with our equipment.
At one point early on in our tour, Eleanor remarked to me that she felt as though she and I were being followed by
the spirit of a young boy:
The "information" that I received about the boy spirit intuitively:
Name: Derek or David (middle name, used like a nick name)
Age: aprpox. 11
Appearance: Dark straight hair, longish bangs, tapered on sides and back. Small for his age with thin
physique
History: placed in the School of Industry due to an explosive violent epsiode. Was "put away" more due
to dysfunctional family than ongoing problems with violence. Was more prone to petty
theft/nusiance type behaviors. Much pent up anger that was unspoken for many years.
Death: due to something involving stomach/appendix/kidney area
Belief system: he was raised Christian prayed to Jesus at night but didn't have faith
"As is the nature of these things, I do not know how much of it is accurate or how much may be metaphor,
or indirect interpretation of a similar energy."
representative far to eager to collect our money and push us "ghost hunters" through the tour and out the door.
More on that later.
Our tour guide, while a bit inpatient with our slow progress through the building was very knowledgeable about
the castle's history and was otherwise friendly. Clearly this tour was historical in nature and designed to raise
additional funds for the castle's restoration. While this is understandable and expected, it was clearly not
conducive to our purposes for attending; However, we did the best we could under the circumstances.
Eleanor reports that she experienced the presence of a number of energies upon entering the main reception area
of the first floor. She indicates that this was once a bustling, busy place and that form of energy still remains.
Photographs, emf and temperature readings produced no unusual results.
We proceeded down the main corridor and ended up in the infirmary. Reputed to be one of the more haunted areas
of the castle, again we did not produce any remarkable results with our equipment.
At one point early on in our tour, Eleanor remarked to me that she felt as though she and I were being followed by
the spirit of a young boy:
The "information" that I received about the boy spirit intuitively:
Name: Derek or David (middle name, used like a nick name)
Age: aprpox. 11
Appearance: Dark straight hair, longish bangs, tapered on sides and back. Small for his age with thin
physique
History: placed in the School of Industry due to an explosive violent epsiode. Was "put away" more due
to dysfunctional family than ongoing problems with violence. Was more prone to petty
theft/nusiance type behaviors. Much pent up anger that was unspoken for many years.
Death: due to something involving stomach/appendix/kidney area
Belief system: he was raised Christian prayed to Jesus at night but didn't have faith
"As is the nature of these things, I do not know how much of it is accurate or how much may be metaphor,
or indirect interpretation of a similar energy."
Shadowy Image obtained by Eleanor upon
sensing spirit presence
sensing spirit presence
As we moved along from room to room of this dilapidated institution, we were unable to obtain any significant
data with our voice recorders. This holds true for video and the emf readers we used. I experienced the sudden
onset of a headache upon entering what was once the dormitory on the 2nd floor. Eleanor reported getting a
headache as well. Our headaches resolved about a minute after leaving this room.
data with our voice recorders. This holds true for video and the emf readers we used. I experienced the sudden
onset of a headache upon entering what was once the dormitory on the 2nd floor. Eleanor reported getting a
headache as well. Our headaches resolved about a minute after leaving this room.
Preston Castle's main dormitory on the 2nd
floor
floor
The remainder of the tour was essentially unremarkable in terms of collecting any tangible evidence of
paranormal activity. Clearly we suspect and are confident that there are paranormal presences here. However,
a tour is not a sufficient forum to conduct an investigation. The tour did provide some wonderful photographic
opportunities. It is our intent to return to the castle in the near future for an overnight investigation.
paranormal activity. Clearly we suspect and are confident that there are paranormal presences here. However,
a tour is not a sufficient forum to conduct an investigation. The tour did provide some wonderful photographic
opportunities. It is our intent to return to the castle in the near future for an overnight investigation.
Investigation Report: Ione Pioneer and Catholic Cemeteries
After leaving the castle we regrouped at The Pizza Factory in the central part of Ione. During the discussion of
our investigation that ensued there, we all agreed that an overnight investigation is a must. This will be a costly
endeavor, at $100.00 per investigator, according to the castle's representatives, who as mentioned earlier are
trying to raise funds to restore the site. As such we may have to wait awhile, but it is certainly on the agenda.
We then ventured up the street to the two cemeteries, beginning with the catholic cemetery. This cemetery
occupies a hillside which overlooks the Pioneer Cemetery. An analysis of this site with our equipment and
subsequent review of data revealed no paranormal activity was documented with our tools. Eleanor also
reported that she did not obtain any data psychically, either.
Therefore, we moved across the street to the Catholic Cemetery. Getting straight to the point, although it
seemed intuitively/psychically to have some presences, we did not obtain any tangible data with our equipment.
This is not surprising - these cemeteries are rumored to be haunted but it is pretty normal to come up with nothing
at these types of locations.
After leaving the castle we regrouped at The Pizza Factory in the central part of Ione. During the discussion of
our investigation that ensued there, we all agreed that an overnight investigation is a must. This will be a costly
endeavor, at $100.00 per investigator, according to the castle's representatives, who as mentioned earlier are
trying to raise funds to restore the site. As such we may have to wait awhile, but it is certainly on the agenda.
We then ventured up the street to the two cemeteries, beginning with the catholic cemetery. This cemetery
occupies a hillside which overlooks the Pioneer Cemetery. An analysis of this site with our equipment and
subsequent review of data revealed no paranormal activity was documented with our tools. Eleanor also
reported that she did not obtain any data psychically, either.
Therefore, we moved across the street to the Catholic Cemetery. Getting straight to the point, although it
seemed intuitively/psychically to have some presences, we did not obtain any tangible data with our equipment.
This is not surprising - these cemeteries are rumored to be haunted but it is pretty normal to come up with nothing
at these types of locations.
Ione Pioneer Cemetery, with Preston Castle
in the Background.
in the Background.