Sunday, June 4, 2017

Preston School of Industry's Ward Index 1894-1904

In the years that I have been researching and writing about the history of the Preston School of Industry, I have had the opportunity to compile a complete ward list from the years 1894-1914.  I went through a lengthy database of wards in the CYA Archives, which was originally combined with three schools: The Whittier School, Preston School of Industry and The Ventura Reform School. After sifting through each list from A to Z, I was able to filter out the names, year of admission, school and ward I.D. number in order to accurately list the wards chronologically as they entered the school. As a result, you see this list which goes from ward # 1 to ward # 2692.

State Archives database records via the Secretary of State were missing ward's names and I.D. numbers here and there, but this is the most accurate and most  complete list I could provide given the records available. I have not been able to go past 1914, but hopefully sometime in the future I can do more research on the ward lists and add to it. As of now, the list is complete as of the opening day of Preston in 1894 up until the closing of the year of 1914. This is the first list that runs from 1894-1904. The second list will run from 1905-1909, the third from 1910-1912 and the fourth from 1913-1914.

Several years ago I printed and shipped a copy of this index to the Preston Castle Foundation as a gift. Since it's been a few years, I felt that it would be beneficial for everyone if I made that list that I compiled available to the public via my blog, that way everyone has the chance to look into it, especially if they may be looking for a relative who may have been at Preston during those years.


PRESTON SCHOOL OF INDUSTRY 
WARD LIST  1894-1904

First List



1894

Last Name
First Name
ID#
School
Year
Carner
James E.
1
Preston
1894
Cassulo
Alexander 
2
Preston
1894
Jacobs
Alfred J.
3
Preston
1894
Kavanaugh
Walter A.
4
Preston
1894
O'Donnell
James E.
5
Preston
1894
Phillips
James
6
Preston
1894
Starr
Burton
7
Preston
1894
Russell
Frank
8
Preston
1894
Kahn
Edmond C.
9
Preston
1894
Cowan
Oliver W.
10
Preston
1894
McReynolds, Jr.
James
11
Preston
1894
Ballard
William G.
12
Preston
1894
Brennan
John
13
Preston
1894
Cronin
William
14
Preston
1894
Dieter
Charles
15
Preston
1894
Rohaer
Frederick
16
Preston
1894
Schwind
Harry
17
Preston
1894
Wooldridge
Leonard
18
Preston
1894
Thompson
Frank
19
Preston
1894
Bannister
Flemming
20
Preston
1894
King
Joseph
21
Preston
1894
Laprini
Joseph
22

Preston
1894
Martinez
Vogt
Frank
Henry
 23 
24
Preston
Preston
1894
1894




Young
Bruce
25
Preston
1894
O'Donnell
Hugh
26
Preston
1894
Engle
Stedman J.
27
Preston
1894
Lovett
George
28
Preston
1894
Porter
John
29
Preston
1894
Rose
Grant H. G.
30
Preston
1894
Walker, Jr.
William B.
31
Preston
1894
Walker
Grant
32
Preston
1894
Webster
Moses
33
Preston
1894
Wallace
John C.
34
Preston
1894
Secord
Victor
35
Preston
1894
Welsh
John
36
Preston
1894
Joyce
Michael
37
Preston
1894
Desmond
Andrew
38
Preston
1894
Desmond
John
39
Preston
1894
Pedaus
Joseph
40
Preston
1894
Somersett
J. C.
41
Preston
1894
Richardson
Ryland
42
Preston
1894
Blaker
James
43
Preston
1894
Baccigalupi
Joseph
44
Preston
1894
Nigro
Frank
45
Preston
1894
Beecher
Charles
46
Preston
1894
Belcher
Alfonse
47
Preston
1894
Nolan
Richard
48
Preston
1894
Pond
Rainsford 
49
Preston
1894
Barclay
Edwin H.
50
Preston
1894
Bryant
Frank
51
Preston
1894
Kermode
James
52
Preston
1894
Murphy
Thomas
53
Preston
1894
Murphy
Frank
54
Preston
1894
Haydew
John
55
Preston
1894
Coffen
Ray
56
Preston
1894
Birrell
Fred
57
Preston
1894
Howard
Frank
58
Preston
1894
Johnson
William
59
Preston
1894
Sullivan
Edward A.
60
Preston
1894
Housel
Grant
61
Preston
1894
Quinn
James
62
Preston
1894
Elkus, Jr.
Louis
64
Preston
1894
Roderick
John
65
Preston
1894
Sullivan
John
66
Preston
1894
Silver
William R.
67
Preston
1894
Schroeder
Max
68
Preston
1894
Kelly
Dennis
69
Preston
1894
Nichols
William
70
Preston
1894
Cichu
Milton R.
71
Preston
1894
Lasher
Louis
72
Preston
1894
Neale
Earl
73
Preston
1894
Henry
James
74
Preston
1894
Richardson
William
75
Preston
1894
Strickland
William
76
Preston
1894
Burns
Jeremiah F.
77
Preston
1894
Baccigalupi
Charles
78
Preston
1894
Cohen
Nathan
79
Preston
1894
Martinelli
William
81
Preston
1894
Rossi
Joseph
82
Preston
1894
Mulligan
James
83
Preston
1894
Soreutini
Daniel
84
Preston
1894
Shiflett
Frank
85
Preston
1894
Preudergast
Albert
86
Preston
1894
Feiley
Gearge
87
Preston
1894
Murphy
John
88
Preston
1894
Bradshaw
John
89
Preston
1894
Little
Charles
90
Preston
1894
Melay
Valentine
91
Preston
1894
Williams
Harry
92
Preston
1894
Bassett
Frank
93
Preston
1894
Conway
Thomas
94
Preston
1894
Martin
Frank
95
Preston
1894
Harvey
Edward
96
Preston
1894
McCann
James
97
Preston
1894
Wilson
Clarence
98
Preston
1894
Wilson
Harry
99
Preston
1894
Lawrence
Frank
100
Preston
1894
Davis
Bertram
101
Preston
1894
Murphy
Joseph
102
Preston
1894
Nicolini
David
103
Preston
1894


1895

Coleman
Frederick
104
Preston
1895
Jackson
Harry
105
Preston
1895
Bankhead
Alexander
106
Preston
1895
Romaine
George
107
Preston
1895
Plunkett
Nathan P.
108
Preston
1895
Antron
Adolph
109
Preston
1895
Eden
William
110
Preston
1895
Fisher
Benjamin
111
Preston
1895
Hart
Eugene
112
Preston
1895
Madison
Arthur
113
Preston
1895
Troy
Harry
114
Preston
1895
Nealon
John
115
Preston
1895
Hunter
Ralph
116
Preston
1895
Biddle
Palmer
117
Preston
1895
Lordeu
Harry
118
Preston
1895
McSherry
Lawrence
119
Preston
1895
Cronin
Joseph
120
Preston
1895
Roop
Hiram M.
121
Preston
1895
Morrissey
John
122
Preston
1895
Dougherty
Lawrence
123
Preston
1895
McLaughlin
William
124
Preston
1895
Zevicoler
George
125
Preston
1895
Craig
Arthur
126
Preston
1895
Cocke
Frederic C.
127
Preston
1895
Spangle
Eugene
128
Preston
1895
Colson
William F.
129
Preston
1895
Killett
Lid
130
Preston
1895
Lavagnius
Andrew
131
Preston
1895
Jones
Thomas
132
Preston
1895
Abbott
Frank J.
133
Preston
1895
Hunter
William
134
Preston
1895
Ferrera
Louis
135
Preston
1895
Quinn
John
136
Preston
1895
Evans
Hilton S.
137
Preston
1895
Warner
Clarence
138
Preston
1895
O'Toole
Patrick
139
Preston
1895
Graham
Charles H.
140
Preston
1895
O'Donnell
John
141
Preston
1895
Ghiorso
Antonio
142
Preston
1895
Eber
Milton
143
Preston
1895
McShae
John
144
Preston
1895
Lawler
Edward
145
Preston
1895
Taylor
Frank
146
Preston
1895
English
Edward
147
Preston
1895
Lowe
Frank
148
Preston
1895
Halliman
Herbert
149
Preston
1895
Hennessey
William
150
Preston
1895
Cummius
Harold
152
Preston
1895
Shea
John
153
Preston
1895
Martines
John
154
Preston
1895
McComb
Carroll L.
155
Preston
1895
Martini
Joseph D.
156
Preston
1895
Ewing
Carroll
157
Preston
1895
Douty
Ed
158
Preston
1895
Kramer
Harry
159
Preston
1895
Banning
Willie
160
Preston
1895
Tucker
George
161
Preston
1895
Lavich
Charles
162
Preston
1895
Ricks
Frank F.
163
Preston
1895
Pohley
William
164
Preston
1895
Koch
August
165
Preston
1895
Walsh
William
166
Preston
1895
Bond
Fred
167
Preston
1895
Hall
George J.
168
Preston
1895
English
William
169
Preston
1895
Hamilton
Nicholas
170
Preston
1895
Mayer
George H.
171
Preston
1895
Perata
Peter
172
Preston
1895
Henshaw
Frank
173
Preston
1895
Miranda
Tomas
174
Preston
1895
Goward
Charles H.
175
Preston
1895
Williams
William C.
176
Preston
1895
Magoffin
Eben
177
Preston
1895
Ehring
William
178
Preston
1895
Hale
Curtis H.
179
Preston
1895
Ford
Robert E.
180
Preston
1895
Schuh
Fred
181
Preston
1895
Giguire
Noe
182
Preston
1895
McQuade
Edward
183
Preston
1895
Korse
Charles
184
Preston
1895
Solomonson
Harlan
185
Preston
1895
Zubler
Ernest
186
Preston
1895
Milne
Walter
187
Preston
1895
Weinman
Frank
188
Preston
1895
Gwyn
James
189
Preston
1895
Johnson
William
190
Preston
1895
Barrett
Oscar
191
Preston
1895
Taylor
Robert
192
Preston
1895
Cohn
George C.
193
Preston
1895


1896
McSwain
Herbert E.
194
Preston
1896
Menda
Mark
195
Preston
1896
Powers
Willie
196
Preston
1896
Jingel
Albert
197
Preston
1896
McCrea
Samuel
198
Preston
1896
Fitzgibbons
Thomas
199
Preston
1896
Hall
Arthur
200
Preston
1896
Inch
Thomas
201
Preston
1896
Moore
John C.
202
Preston
1896
Sullivan
George
203
Preston
1896
Shea
Edward
204
Preston
1896
Carter
Harry
205
Preston
1896
Stockman
John F.
206
Preston
1896
Brittan
Francis
207
Preston
1896
Cruz
Alfred
208
Preston
1896
Field
Walter
209
Preston
1896
Granger
Claude
210
Preston
1896
Schenk
Arthur
211
Preston
1896
Mendes
Manuel
212
Preston
1896
Dolan
Edward
213
Preston
1896
Conway
Thomas
214
Preston
1896
Santry
John
215
Preston
1896
Curtain
Anthony
216
Preston
1896
Stier
Harry
217
Preston
1896
Fitzgibbons
Thomas
218
Preston
1896
Brown
Walter
219
Preston
1896
Quackenbush
George
220
Preston
1896
Quackenbush
Bert
221
Preston
1896
Macomber
Frank
222
Preston
1896
Anthony
Henry
223
Preston
1896
Hayes
George
224
Preston
1896
Russell
Bertie
225
Preston
1896
Wilson
Frank
226
Preston
1896
Eckman
William
227
Preston
1896
Sanborn
Joseph
228
Preston
1896
Prundage
Charles
229
Preston
1896
Dunbar
W.
230
Preston
1896
McHugh
Robert
231
Preston
1896
Moy
William
232
Preston
1896
Sellenscheidt
William
233
Preston
1896
Tucker
George
234
Preston
1896
Bowen
Arthur
235
Preston
1896
Murphy
Joseph
236
Preston
1896
Brunser
W. R.
237
Preston
1896
Clark
Garfield
238
Preston
1896
Botelier
Abel
239
Preston
1896
Feliz
Nesto
240
Preston
1896
Smith
Willie
241
Preston
1896
Polglase
Benjamin
242
Preston
1896
Kramer
Fred
243
Preston
1896
Pierson
Elbert
244
Preston
1896
Jeffries
William
245
Preston
1896
Sullivan
Guy
246
Preston
1896
Beaver
Theodore
247
Preston
1896
Brewar
John T.
248
Preston
1896
Sullivan
Daniel A.
249
Preston
1896
Bernstein
Sydney P.
250
Preston
1896
Savegrello
George
251
Preston
1896
Weller
George T.
252
Preston
1896
Lasado
Agripeau
253
Preston
1896
Bloomberg
Lazarus
254
Preston
1896
Garcia
Jesus C.
255
Preston
1896
Allbach
Louis
256
Preston
1896
Bell
Charles J.
257
Preston
1896
Trost
Harry
258
Preston
1896
Kelly
Thomas
259
Preston
1896
Green
George
260
Preston
1896
Starkey
Charles
261
Preston
1896
Smith
George A
262
Preston
1896
Porter
John
263
Preston
1896
Sparman
Ard
264
Preston
1896
McReynolds
James
265
Preston
1896
Foreman
Calvin
266
Preston
1896
Green
Jerome J.
267
Preston
1896
Dunn
Ernest
268
Preston
1896
Lovett
George H.
269
Preston
1896
Biddle
Palmer
270
Preston
1896
Ancencio
Aug.
271
Preston
1896
Groth
George
272
Preston
1896
Richardson
Albert
273
Preston
1896
Sorentini
Nick
274
Preston
1896
Wulbern
Martin e.
275
Preston
1896
Davis
Charles
276
Preston
1896
Maskal
Charles
277
Preston
1896


1897

Wilson
William
278
Preston
1897
Watson
Walter
279
Preston
1897
Sharpe
Arthur
280
Preston
1897
Baumgartner
Morris
281
Preston
1897
McNeil
John
282
Preston
1897
Stover
Winfred L.
283
Preston
1897
Donnelly
Rolla
284
Preston
1897
Sandley
Henry
285
Preston
1897
Campagno
Salvador
286
Preston
1897
O'Donnell
Hugh
287
Preston
1897
Cornish
Joseph
288
Preston
1897
Cranby
Frank
289
Preston
1897
Hickling
William
290
Preston
1897
Morley, Jr.
Louis
291
Preston
1897
Torsburg
Otto H.
292
Preston
1897
Strobel
Nicholas
293
Preston
1897
Downing
William
294
Preston
1897
Griggs
Steward
295
Preston
1897
Elkus, Jr.
Louis
296
Preston
1897
Fortier
Lawrence L.
297
Preston
1897
Spawn
George
298
Preston
1897
Griffin
John
299
Preston
1897
Sargardia
Alphonso R.
300
Preston
1897
Otts
Arthur E.
301
Preston
1897
Rivera
Michael
302
Preston
1897
Wheeler
Arthur
303
Preston
1897
Parker
Lewis
304
Preston
1897
Dormedont
Frank
305
Preston
1897
Hynes
Joseph
306
Preston
1897
Ward
Frank
307
Preston
1897
Haney
William F.
308
Preston
1897
Gilson
Lewis
309
Preston
1897
Baccigalupi
Charles
310
Preston
1897
Washington
George
311
Preston
1897
Scanlon
William
312
Preston
1897
Hart
Rowland D.
313
Preston
1897
Williamson
Gordon A.
314
Preston
1897
Bernstein
Benjamin
315
Preston
1897
Ring
Marrianna
316
Preston
1897
Frimell
John
317
Preston
1897
Morgan
Thomas C.
318
Preston
1897
Ruiz
Jose
319
Preston
1897
Ellis
John
320
Preston
1897
Holthe
John
321
Preston
1897
Brisino
Frank
322
Preston
1897
Hamilton
William
323
Preston
1897
Murphy
Charles
324
Preston
1897
Conor
Emile
325
Preston
1897
Durbin
Frank
326
Preston
1897
Rochrig
Bernard T.
327
Preston
1897
Lastora
Joe
328
Preston
1897
Roberts
Rosco
329
Preston
1897
Martin
Henry
330
Preston
1897
Lynn
James
331
Preston
1897
Starkey
Albert
332
Preston
1897
Dougherty
Peter
333
Preston
1897

1898

Monterichards
J.
334
Preston
1898
Drisdon
Roy
335
Preston
1898
Mathey
Henry
336
Preston
1898
Baker
Louis
337
Preston
1898
McAlister
Frank
338
Preston
1898
McLain
George
339
Preston
1898
Jones
Arthur
340
Preston
1898
Frankini
Andrew
341
Preston
1898
Peirson
Albert
342
Preston
1898
Collins
Ralf
343
Preston
1898
Belknap
Frank
344
Preston
1898
Wilder
Frank
345
Preston
1898
Alexander
William
346
Preston
1898
Shaw
Arthur
347
Preston
1898
Matley
Fred
348
Preston
1898
Sharp
Clarence
349
Preston
1898
Hamlin
Claud
350
Preston
1898
Brown
George
351
Preston
1898
Ridge
Samuel
352
Preston
1898
Rosenthal
Julian
353
Preston
1898
Sprague
Hubert
354
Preston
1898
Woods
J. J.
355
Preston
1898
Pike
Robert E.
356
Preston
1898
Soberanes
Albey
357
Preston
1898
Murphy
Charles
358
Preston
1898
Silven
Louis
359
Preston
1898
Kelly
Charles
360
Preston
1898
Simon
Henry
361
Preston
1898
Ash
Robert
362
Preston
1898
Gimmel
James
363
Preston
1898
Peyton
Jacob
364
Preston
1898
Hixson
Clarence
365
Preston
1898
Stokes
Mark
366
Preston
1898

1899

McDonald
Frank
367
Preston
1899
Elliott
John P.
368
Preston
1899
Osburn
Robert
369
Preston
1899
Coker
Charles
370
Preston
1899
Castillo
Juan
371
Preston
1899
Burk
John
372
Preston
1899
Walker
Edward
373
Preston
1899
Perry
Frank
374
Preston
1899
Grigs
Arthur O.
375
Preston
1899
Measure
Daniel P.
376
Preston
1899
Duntley
Silas
377
Preston
1899
Richards
Thomas
378
Preston
1899
Packer
Martin
379
Preston
1899
Doffner
Joseph
380
Preston
1899
McKay
Willie
381
Preston
1899
Sowash
William
382
Preston
1899
Lawrence
George W.
383
Preston
1899
Atwater
Adolph
384
Preston
1899
Fitzgerald
John
385
Preston
1899
Williams
Wallace
386
Preston
1899
Beckinth
Leslie
387
Preston
1899
Ortega
Pat
388
Preston
1899
Eickstaedt
John
389
Preston
1899
Pffirman
Frank
390
Preston
1899
Bright
Elbridge
391
Preston
1899
Timm
Otto
392
Preston
1899
Siminoff
Louis
393
Preston
1899
Lukim
Stephen
394
Preston
1899
Predeaux
Albert
395
Preston
1899
Marshal
Frank
396
Preston
1899
Moran
James
397
Preston
1899
Stone
John
398
Preston
1899
Morgan
Joseph
399
Preston
1899
Masias
Alejo
400
Preston
1899
Maxwell
Marshal
401
Preston
1899
Smith
William
402
Preston
1899
Buchanan
George
403
Preston
1899
Tolles
Charles
404
Preston
1899
Causse
Marice
405
Preston
1899
Bayly
William
406
Preston
1899
Williams
Neil
407
Preston
1899
Babcock
Lynn E.
408
Preston
1899
Grove
William E.
409
Preston
1899
Meyers
Charles J.
410
Preston
1899
Barry
Robert
411
Preston
1899
Fitzgerald
Henry
412
Preston
1899
Mack
Charles
413
Preston
1899

1900

Caming
Fred
414
Preston
1900
Depew
Ernest
415
Preston
1900
Byrd
Robert E.
416
Preston
1900
Joy
Joseph
417
Preston
1900
Carley
Henry S.
418
Preston
1900
Hooper
John A.
419
Preston
1900
Begley
Charles H.
420
Preston
1900
Hope
Bert
421
Preston
1900
Radtke
Henry
422
Preston
1900
O'Brien
Thomas
423
Preston
1900
Fargo
James
424
Preston
1900
Beuks
Frank
425
Preston
1900
Roan
Richard
426
Preston
1900
Rohrer
Grove
427
Preston
1900
Yet
Cheu
428
Preston
1900
Whitehead
Louis
429
Preston
1900
Cahoon
James M.
430
Preston
1900
O'Brien
William P.
431
Preston
1900
Seith
Charles
432
Preston
1900
Pitcher
Philip
433
Preston
1900
Mack
John A.
434
Preston
1900
Mathews
Manuel
435
Preston
1900
Butler
Joe
436
Preston
1900
Rhodes
Paul
437
Preston
1900
Warren
Thomas
438
Preston
1900
Lawre
John
439
Preston
1900

1901

Edds
Harry J.
440
Preston
1901
Gimmil
Henry
441
Preston
1901
Riley
Victor
442
Preston
1901
Reid
Charles
443
Preston
1901
Save
Louis
444
Preston
1901
Arnold
Frank
445
Preston
1901
Hunter
William
446
Preston
1901
Carrerro
Marion
447
Preston
1901
Castro
Jose
448
Preston
1901
Parnell
Franklin
449
Preston
1901
Stern
George
450
Preston
1901
Allison
Frank
451
Preston
1901
Darcy
Jerry J.
452
Preston
1901
Hawkins
Samuel
453
Preston
1901
McDougal
George
454
Preston
1901
Hafner
George
455
Preston
1901
Smith
David C.
456
Preston
1901
Cunningham
George A.
457
Preston
1901
Raymer
Leon
458
Preston
1901
Finnerty
J. Harry
459
Preston
1901
Davis
George H.
460
Preston
1901
Bowers
Grover
461
Preston
1901
Scott
John
462
Preston
1901
Bitterly
Joseph
463
Preston
1901
Knoblock
Howard
464
Preston
1901
Garlinghouse
Cyril
465
Preston
1901
Binford
Estis
466
Preston
1901
McKinley
Willard
467
Preston
1901
Crabb
Loren B.
468
Preston
1901
McBride
Albert
469
Preston
1901
Moore
Kent
470
Preston
1901
Masadonia
Nick
471
Preston
1901
Hasilbusch
Walter T.
472
Preston
1901
Pickle
Leroy
473
Preston
1901
Linchner
David
474
Preston
1901
Gordon
Walter
475
Preston
1901
Williams
Abraham
476
Preston
1901
Tibbetts
Edwin
477
Preston
1901

1902

Brush
Lewis
478
Preston
1902
Sherman
Erle
479
Preston
1902
Robinson
George W.
480
Preston
1902
Carrigg
Thomas B.
481
Preston
1902
Friel
Edward
482
Preston
1902
Basso
Emil
483
Preston
1902
Brandon
Milton
484
Preston
1902
Swanson
John
485
Preston
1902
Lavezgne
Ed
486
Preston
1902
Rowe
Edward
487
Preston
1902
Ernst
Henry
488
Preston
1902
Lewis
Alva
489
Preston
1902
Roan
George
490
Preston
1902
Santos
Manuel
491
Preston
1902
Day
James
492
Preston
1902
Aigner
Alivis
493
Preston
1902
Overand
Edward
494
Preston
1902
Holdan
Theodore
495
Preston
1902
Turll
Ircle
496
Preston
1902
Jones
George H.
497
Preston
1902
McKinnon
Addison
498
Preston
1902
Millhouse
Gustavus
499
Preston
1902
Brazil
John
500
Preston
1902
Jasperson
Leonel
501
Preston
1902
McDowell
John
502
Preston
1902
Young
Thomas
503
Preston
1902
Gillard
Charles
504
Preston
1902
Edgar
Louis
505
Preston
1902
Chase
Adolph
506
Preston
1902
Capurro
Frank J.
507
Preston
1902
Poore
W. C.
508
Preston
1902
May
Delmar
509
Preston
1902
Clark
James H.
510
Preston
1902
Hales
John
511
Preston
1902
Turner
Joseph
512
Preston
1902
Linde
Oscar
513
Preston
1902
Castro
Frank
514
Preston
1902
Scholl
William
515
Preston
1902
Tannehill
William
516
Preston
1902
Stouts
Leo
517
Preston
1902
Peterson
Louis
518
Preston
1902
Sligar
Orray
519
Preston
1902
Silva
William
520
Preston
1902
Yancy
George
521
Preston
1902
Bradley
Walter
522
Preston
1902
Heins
Henry
523
Preston
1902
Moody
Oliver L.
524
Preston
1902
Bonilla
Edward
525
Preston
1902
Cook
William
526
Preston
1902
Casey
Frank
527
Preston
1902
Gingg
William C.
528
Preston
1902
Calabro
Tony
529
Preston
1902
Sanchez
Joe
530
Preston
1902
Osborn
Elmo C.
531
Preston
1902
Taboni
George
532
Preston
1902
Coberly
Enoch
533
Preston
1902

1903

Gingg
Roy W.
534
Preston
1903
Rincon
Frank
535
Preston
1903
Llewelyn
Laurence
536
Preston
1903
Lester
George
537
Preston
1903
Silva
Willie
538
Preston
1903
Ashley
Walter
539
Preston
1903
Sideman
Joseph
540
Preston
1903
Byers
Willie
541
Preston
1903
Ensign
Ralph E.
542
Preston
1903
Silva
Joseph
543
Preston
1903
McKenzie
William
544
Preston
1903
Savage
Frank M.
545
Preston
1903
Bowman
Thomas
546
Preston
1903
Cherelli
Antoni
547
Preston
1903
Gillette
Dan
548
Preston
1903
Buttervick
Alvin
549
Preston
1903
Curreau
Oscar
550
Preston
1903
Nelson
Frank
551
Preston
1903
Marden
Arthur
552
Preston
1903
Leflar
Robert
553
Preston
1903
Shoemaker
Gus
554
Preston
1903
Mello
George
555
Preston
1903
Lester
Phillip
556
Preston
1903
Small
Lee
557
Preston
1903
Pico
Albert
558
Preston
1903
Perey
Joe
559
Preston
1903
Heliele
William
560
Preston
1903
Hanson
Robert
561
Preston
1903
Markwood
Clarence
562
Preston
1903
Reyes
Zacharias
563
Preston
1903
Callais
Albert
564
Preston
1903
Holtz
Albert
565
Preston
1903
Borsuglico
Joe
566
Preston
1903
Clark
John
567
Preston
1903
Everding
John
568
Preston
1903
Howard
Joe
569
Preston
1903
Fritz
George
570
Preston
1903
Legett
Louis
571
Preston
1903
Schei
Charles
572
Preston
1903

1904

Grant
Fred
573
Preston
1904
Condon
William O.
574
Preston
1904
Whitney
John
575
Preston
1904
Davis
Edward
576
Preston
1904
DeVeincinzi
Louis
577
Preston
1904
Bergonite
Bastista
578
Preston
1904
Wallace
Vincent
579
Preston
1904
Fezvell
Fred
580
Preston
1904
Gott
Frank
581
Preston
1904
Hendren
R. L.
582
Preston
1904
Tyler
Walter
583
Preston
1904
Townsend
Arthur
584
Preston
1904
Collins
Fred J.
585
Preston
1904
Chilson
Van R.
586
Preston
1904
Schmidt
Walter
587
Preston
1904
Krieger
Arthur
588
Preston
1904
Irving
Charles
589
Preston
1904
Bearse
Willie
590
Preston
1904
Healy
Charles
591
Preston
1904
Blackman
Charles
592
Preston
1904
Lopez
Albert
593
Preston
1904
McGilvery
Milton
594
Preston
1904
Finkin
Albert
595
Preston
1904
Lodge
G. I.
596
Preston
1904
Marks
Willie
597
Preston
1904
Woosnumo
Clarence
598
Preston
1904
Mills
Claude
599
Preston
1904
Mullaney
Willie
600
Preston
1904
Briggs
Herman
601
Preston
1904
Heap
William
602
Preston
1904
Stewart
Frank
603
Preston
1904
Bigelow
Daniel
604
Preston
1904
Coward
Charles
605
Preston
1904
Moran
John S.
606
Preston
1904
Ingram
Elbert
607
Preston
1904
Burton
Archie
608
Preston
1904
Brotherton
John
609
Preston
1904
Driscoll
Joseph
610
Preston
1904
Tyler
Bert
611
Preston
1904
Brown
Charles
612
Preston
1904
Morris
Manuel
613
Preston
1904
Franchesa
Aquille S.
614
Preston
1904
Sheridan
James
615
Preston
1904
Wadham
Roy
616
Preston
1904
Bratemos
Stello
617
Preston
1904
Parrison
Sam
618
Preston
1904
McCarty
Frank
619
Preston
1904
Lewis
Charles
620
Preston
1904
Kelly
Fred
621
Preston
1904
Linteo
John
622
Preston
1904
Grimley
Frank
623
Preston
1904
Jacobs
Williams
624
Preston
1904
Carey
Alvin
625
Preston
1904
Bradley
Clifford
626
Preston
1904
Stroep
Herman
627
Preston
1904
Heller
Adrian
628
Preston
1904
Johns
Charles
629
Preston
1904
Carter
Frank
630
Preston
1904
Gargilo
Tony
631
Preston
1904
Pacheco
Antone
632
Preston
1904
Nelson
Willert
633
Preston
1904
Schulz
Ernest
634
Preston
1904
Merithew
Herbert
635
Preston
1904
Canepa
Ernest
636
Preston
1904
McLaughlin
Frank
637
Preston
1904
DeSoto
Charles
638
Preston
1904
Cooper
William
639
Preston
1904
Henerson
George
640
Preston
1904
Corman
Frank
641
Preston
1904
Oaks
William
642
Preston
1904
Martinez
Frank
643
Preston
1904
Linard
Walter
644
Preston
1904


(copyright 2013 - J'aime Rubio)
compiled by J'aime Rubio,
from California Youth Authority archived records, State of California. 


Thursday, February 23, 2017

"My Arrival At Preston" -- Guest Contributor's Very Own Preston Story

I want to announce a first for this blog, a post from a guest contributor who goes by the name "Alan CYA- # 65085" who I have been in contact with a couple of years now. I first came across his posts on a site called "Solitary Watch," where he chronicled many experiences he had during his time in the California Youth Authority system, at the Preston School of Industry.

 Although my book, "Behind The Walls," goes into the history of the school from its beginnings up to the time the Castle's Administration building closed, I am still very much interested in all things "Preston" related, so I was very enthusiastic to hear about his personal experiences while incarcerated at PSI, along with his thoughts on the youth authority correctional system itself based on his years of reflection and research.

It has taken some time for me to get back to writing and posting on this blog so I am thrilled to be sharing this now.  As my first post in a long time, I am excited to finally be publishing part of his experience at Preston and his personal reflections here in this special blog post, in his own words. 

(Photo Credit: Bill Thiry, c/o Alan)


The watchtower can be seen between the trees on the right of the Castle.

My Arrival at Preston  -- by Alan CYA #65085

"That toil of growing up;
The ignominy of boyhood; the distress
Of Boyhood changing into man;
 The unfinished man and his pain."--

The Dialogue of Self and Soul, William Butler Yeats 1865-1939

From the first day it opened on July 1, 1894, until the day it closed on June 2, 2011, Preston was known as a place that you didn't want to go. Our bus had arrived at the Preston School of Industry in Ione, California, on November 12, 1968. Nearly a half century later, I can still remember my escort taking me down the hill to my new residence in Sequoia Lodge, which was located a good distance away from all the other lodges in the far left hand corner of the institution from the main gate. Preston’s topography of gently rolling hills had two noteworthy landmarks, the first was an extremely high watchtower, and the other was Preston Castle with its ominous facade. The Romanesque Revival architecture of Preston Castle is both eerie and spectacular. Inmates were housed in this intimidating decaying structure until 1960, when the new facilities were completed.

Several days after my arrival I learned that Sequoia Lodge housed the most violent wards in the CYA system. Other lodges at Preston specialized in housing gang members, or drug offenders but Sequoia held the murderers, rapists, and child molesters. My parole was revoked for disturbing the peace. So when I first learned of Sequoia’s purpose, I was surprised because I had never considered myself to be a violent person. Although I had my share of fights, I had done my best to avoid them all and I never used excessive force in a fight. However the unwritten rule of incarceration is that you have but three choices you can “fornicate, fight or flee.”

The Newer Sequoia Lodge 
All photos of Sequoia Lodge were taken in February of 2017 just shy of six years after Prestons closing.

When I entered my 6’ X 9’ cell, the door opened towards the steel bed frame that was bolted to the ground against and parallel to the left wall. The head of my bed was against the rear wall. The toilet sink combo was mounted against the right wall near the door, and a desk sat in the far right hand side next to the only window. The cells were later modified to resemble those of a supermax prison.  The cell doors were also modified at some point to be able to open them remotely and to add a slot for a food tray/cuff up access. Again, something you’d find in a supermax prison but wouldn’t expect in a juvenile rehabilitation center.


(example of Sequoia Cell)


Actual cell at Colorado's supermax prison
example of Sequoia sliding cell 




My cell faced inward towards an open grassy area which was free of obstructions that might conceal an inmate’s attempt to escape. In the distance I could see only the fifteen foot security fence which encircled the entire perimeter of Preston. The fence had the standard razor wire on top with fine wire mesh covering its chain links which reduced the visibility of objects on the other side.  

A perimeter road on the other side of the fence allowed for easy access by maintenance and security vehicles. Regular patrols monitored the condition of the fence to prevent escapes. The only time I would observe wards other than Sequoia’s was during trips up the hill to, the gym, auditorium, or clinic but no interaction of any kind took place between us. All Sequoia’s residents were isolated from the rest of the wards even in this society within a society.


Notice the new brick around the slot windows where old windows once were.
I was held at Preston for just shy of 8 months which is nothing compared to those that followed me. It is hard to see the forest for the trees when one is in such institutions, only afterward, and with a lot of research can one hope to make sense of things. 

Whether or not the violence by the wards brought about the changes to their environment one must ask if the changes only contributed to more violence? Whatever the case, Sequoia Lodge was transformed into something closer to a supermax prison pod than the juvenile rehabilitation unit that it was billed to be.   I found two reports which reflect the effects of the changes. In July of 2005, the California Department of Corrections issued a report on staff assaults.  

“DISCUSSION: Thirty-seven of fifty-four incidents involved wards with serious mental health issues. Twenty-nine of the incidents occurred in Sequoia Lodge (roughly 54% of the total)....Only 7 incidents involved wards on general program status."

 During the year 2004, twenty-seven incidents occurred in Sequoia Lodge, per the report. "These statistics support the immediate issuance of vests to officers assigned to Sequoia." 

The fact that the wards housed in Sequoia Lodge were responsible for more than half of all the assaults on staff, while those involving wards on general program status were under 13%, could be viewed as an indictment of the wards more restrictive environment. (In several states, where the use of solitary confinement was reduced, the violence level also decreased.) By 2004, Tamarack Lodge (the solitary confinement unit) below was listed as closed.    


            By 2005, Sequoia Lodge had been configured for "close" security living but was not designated as being administrative segregation housing. Sequoia had by this time staffing up to three times the number of other lodges.

          The ward population had dramatically changed at Preston by the time of this report more than 82% of the wards claimed gang affiliation. This also closely followed the trend in the CDRC population.

          Staff has used several factors to decide placement. Age, program needs and gang affiliation appear to drive the process of housing wards.

         Another classified a given ward using a security level.

         Categories 1-2 were the highest security level and included wards committing murder and serious assaults.Many of the wards that I personally knew in Sequoia Lodge fell into this category.



         The interview team conducted interviews with staff assigned to the Specialized Behavioral Treatment Program in Sequoia and found that the Specialized/Intensive Treatment programs treated the most difficult and troubled wards.

The entire report can be read here: http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Reports_Research/docs/PRESTON_Report.pdf
Tamarack Lodge, originally Company G (built 1929)

          



View from second floor of Tamarack




 Interior of a Tamarack Isolation Cell here too they replaced the bed with a concrete slab.




         After I left, the wards remained totally isolated from the rest of Preston’s population.  This is confirmed in a 1977  CYA  report which reported: 

"The Sequoia Counseling Program is an intensive counseling milieu and educational program that is designed to deal with 48 wards.... This program is primarily segregated from the other programs at Preston. The Special Unit Academic Program provides education...within the Tamarack Intractable Unit, the Sequoia Counseling Program, and the Ironwood Protective Custody Program this allows the special treatment programs, to maintain their isolation where necessary.

         Tamarack Intractable lodge is a 40-bed living unit which provides a secure setting for older more sophisticated wards of the Preston population who are considered intractable. Tamarack does not contain program elements designed to deal with weak, psychotic, or suicidal wards.  Also included on Tamarack Lodge is a 21-bed Crisis Intervention Unit for use as a temporary program for other Preston lodges.”


Classroom cages, called “secure program areas”, were first introduced in 1998 in Preston and Stark both high security CYA facilities located in Ione and Chino respectfully. Caged like animals some belligerent wards began to expose themselves, make treats, or “gas” the teaching staff (dousing them with urine).


These 21 beds in Tamarack were used as Solitary Confinement.  I wrote about my Tamarack experience on Solitary Watch which took place during Christmas Day 1968.  That experience can be read here:  http://solitarywatch.com/2011/12/17/voices-from-solitary-christmas-in-the-hole-1968/

          The suicidal young boy in my story needed expert help which the report above admits was lacking. During my nearly eight months at Preston’s Sequoia Lodge, no staff members were attacked and the only disturbance in our classroom was a fight between me and another ward for which I spent two weeks in Tamarack’s solitary confinement unit. It is notable however, that after our altercation all our cells were searched and numerous weapons were found mostly in my opponent’s cell room. He was asked why he had so many weapons, he replied that he planned to kill me and then attack the staff.  I received no counseling or medications during my stay, leaving me to believe more than the architecture of Sequoia Lodge changed after my release.

Such rage against the system that had begun during the 1960’s, was by 1970, frequently leading to violent confrontations with the men running these prisons. With so many losing hope of ever reentering civil society, the number of violent incidents increased dramatically in the 1970’s leading to ever more draconian measures being deployed against inmates.

Unknown to me at the time, the legendary George Lester Jackson, commonly referred to today as the Dragon, had been transferred from nearby San Quentin Prison to Soledad Prison in January of 1968. He would later be charged with killing a guard in retaliation for the shooting deaths of three black inmates. The inmates had been shot by a lone white guard during a brawl three days prior in what is now known as “The Soledad Incident” of January 13, 1970.  Jackson along with two “Soledad Brothers” Fleeta Drumgo, and John Clutchette, as they were called by the press at the time, would dominate the newspapers of the era.

Following the “Soledad Incident” Jackson’s revolutionary, ideology took hold on both sides of the prison walls and resulted in the deaths of nine more prison guards and 24 inmates over the next year earning him the rank of Field Marshal in the Black Panther Party.

On August 21, 1971, Jackson himself died a violent death in San Quentin’s Adjustment Center, reportedly during an escape attempt. Three guards and two white building tenders also died in what is now called the “Bloodiest Day” in San Quentin’s history, after being repeatedly stabbed and having their throats cut. Three other, similarly wounded, guards would recover. Jackson’s co-conspirators Hugo Pinell, Johnny Spain, Willie Tate, Luis Talamantez, David Johnson, and Soledad Brother Fleeta Drumgo were known as The San Quentin Six, and would go on to dominate the news cycle during their trials. 

            In response to this rise of institutional violence, the Control Unit was created at the United States Penitentiary in Marion, Illinois in 1973. Marion was designed as the place where prisons across the nation could send their most radicalized inmates and violent gang members.  As Marion’s Control Unit received more and more, of the worst of the worst, Marion’s security deteriorated to the point where violence became the new norm. Marion’s warden may have indeed been seeking an excuse to lock down the whole population at the institution when in October 1983, Aryan Brotherhood members Thomas Edward Silverstein and Clayton Fountain supplied him with a politically correct excuse to do so when, in two separate incidents, they brutally murdered two guards. The supermax Prison model was thus born.  As Oscar Wilde wrote in the Duchess of Padua (Act 4), “We are each our own devil, and make this world our hell.”

As the Mecca of the prison reform movement the California Department of Corrections choose not to address the prison movements concerns but instead the state took the lead and opened the countries first supermax prison in Crescent City, CA in 1989 designed especially for the isolation of troublesome inmates.

It is obvious to me that Preston’s modifications to Sequoia Lodge were inspired by, and modeled after, the CDC’s efforts to isolate those they considered disruptive regardless of its effectiveness. It is also clear to me that George Jackson’s ideology of violent resistance and a culture of gang violence that it inspired had taken hold in Preston.  Preston was finally closed after a long battle in which the public refused to be silent over the reported abuses of wards and the “increased violence” that it produced. 

Peaceful protest by the public can indeed bring about change, where as violence only begets violence.   --------- By: ALAN CYA # 65085

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Thank you Alan CYA # 65085 for contributing your experience at the Preston School of Industry, as well as your own thoughts on how the system has worsened over the years. And thank you to Bill Thiry for permission to publish the photos of some of the old buildings at Preston.  

Update: Per an email from Alan CYA # 65085, some of the photos of the Sequoia Lodge posted are of a different building that he states was later renamed the Sequoia Lodge. The buildings are the same, although this is not the original Sequoia Lodge, per his understanding. The photos are examples of what many of the buildings at Preston appeared to be at the time.---







Friday, September 23, 2016

Herman Huber's History Revealed


I recently received an email from one of my blog followers, Amanda Boling, in regards to Herman Huber's backstory. She had done some digging which revealed another tidbit into the life of young Mr. Huber, before he was sent to Preston on December 6, 1910.   Although she sent me some information I already had, she did point to a census record I hadn't seen, that shows Herman Huber was living with his mother Jennie, and her husband Amos Brothers (Herman's step-father) by 1910, in Alameda County. At that time Herman was 17 year old.

The other record she mentioned was another accounting for a person named Herman Huber, stationed at Yerba Buena Island in the same 1910 census, as an apprentice seaman. I had found that record before when I was researching Huber's life, but was never sure whether or not that was the right Herman Huber. After seeing the other census that Amanda pointed out, showing his mother and step-father were in fact living nearby, I think that it is safe to assume this could have been the right Herman Huber, too.

So why did I have information that Herman lived with his grandpa, William Ladd Willis in Sacramento? The story goes back to Herman's parents.  A strapping young man by the same name, Herman Huber, (born January 30,1873) at some point Herman met a young Jennie Willis (born August 4, 1873) and the two became sweethearts. By the time Herman had met Jennie, he was living with his mother, who was then a widow. A terrible accident killed his father on February 4, 1889.

Herman's father, who was also named Herman Huber, was thrown off his horse in Freeport, immediately causing death from a broken neck. He was a native of Switzerland and had been a very successful farmer in the area, leaving quite a large fortune behind. Jennie's father was William Ladd Willis, a native of New York. Willis had worked in the editorial department of the Record-Union in Sacramento for thirteen years and compiled the 'State Speller' publications for the State Board of Education. He also authored the book, The History of Sacramento. 

The Sacramento Daily Union, dated May 25, 1890, gives us a peek of the social circles the two lovebirds ran with:

"On Friday evening, at the residence of his mother, six miles south of the city, on the Freeport road, a very pleasant surprise party was tendered to Herman L. Huber, who had just returned from Hopkins' Academy at Oakland for a short vacation. The evening was spent in games, music and singing. About midnight a splendid repast was served. The guests departed at a late hour, wishing Herman a pleasant vacation. Among those present were: Misses Emma E. Foster, Mae Blodgett, Jennie Willis, Lulu Rich, Lentie and Clara Brooke, Mrs. A. J. Huber, Mrs. H.W. Watkins and Carol Watkins of Oakland."--

By March 9, 1892, Jennie Willis and Herman Huber were married, as the Sacramento Daily Union also mentions:

"Herman L. Huber and Jennie L. Willis were yesterday united in marriage by Rev. Mr. Ottmann at the residence of E.B. Willis, 616 M Street. The bride was attended by her sister, Theodora Willis and Charles Huber, brother of the groom, was groomsman. There were present at the ceremony the relatives of the bride and groom and a few intimate friends only. The presents were very handsome and tasteful. The happy couple have gone to Monterey on their wedding trip.....The groom is a well-known and prosperous young farmer of Freeport Township, and the bride is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W.L. Willis of this city."---

By August 8, 1893, Herman Huber, Jr., was born to Jennie and Herman Huber, Sr. The marriage didn't last very long, and on July 9, 1896, the papers revealed that Jennie Huber was granted a divorce from Herman, with no mention of the grounds.

It appears that was more than likely around the time that Herman went to live with his grandfather, William Ladd Willis in Sacramento. I believe his mother also temporarily moved in with her parents, until she remarried, this time to Amos Brothers on February 24, 1900.  Jennie is accounted for on the 1900 census as living with Amos Brothers and his family in Berkeley, Alameda County. It is unclear how long Herman lived with his grandparents in Sacramento, although we know for sure by 1910, he was living with his mother and step-father in Alameda County.

I have found many accounts of a "Herman Huber," who was a well known marksman in California. A sharp shooter at the top of his game, this person was winning championships and making quite the name for himself. I cannot be certain but I believe that may have been Herman Sr., being that many of the competitions took place when little Herman would have been between 10 and 14, although I guess anything is possible. Maybe he took after his father and enjoyed the sport?

One event that I noticed occurred in 1909, could have very well been Herman Jr., given he was 16 years old by that time.

"Oakland, March 14.-- Herman Huber's name was first in the list of winning marksmen at the Shell Mound ranges today, the well known competitor winning several first prizes. With a score of 605 Huber won the first prize for the best three bullseye centers during the year in the competition of the Noddeutscher schuetzen club, and also garnered the awards for the largest number of bullseyes and the best 10 shot score. Huber's score in the 10 shot match was 2, 157 shooting in the first champion class."-- San Francisco Call, March 15, 1909

SF Call 10/24/1911
Could this have been our Herman, or even perhaps his father? It is hard to tell. But the one thing that stood out when I was reading the article was another name that appeared on the long list of his competitors that I recognized right away, J. French.

That is the same first initial and last name of the man who shot Herman Huber at Preston on October 17, 1911, killing him. Is this a coincidence? Or could this be the same person?

As of right now, I have no way to tell, but that won't stop me from continuing to research it further. Ernest Reed, the eyewitness who saw J. French shoot Huber stated that he did not shoot up in the air as French had claimed, but intentionally shot Huber.  Could he have wanted to shoot Huber for some reason that was never brought up? Could there have been more to the story than just an attempted escape gone wrong? Did these two people know one another beyond the boundaries of Preston?

We still do not know why Herman Huber was sent to Preston. The newspapers claimed that because of his "waywardness" and hanging around a crowd of people his family didn't approve of is what sent him there, even the Preston ledgers at the State Archives in Sacramento only labeled his entry as "Delinquent."

Herman's father went on to move to Southern California, where he eventually passed away in 1954. He was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles. Jennie Brothers, Herman's mother died in 1950, and is buried at Mountain View Cemetery. Just yesterday I finally found their memorials on Findagrave and linked them to their son's memorial. Although they are all buried many hundreds of miles from one another, they now can be joined together via "Find-a-Grave."

Let's keep remembering Herman Huber, and hopefully one day, we may find more evidence that can explain the real motive behind his death in 1911.

To learn the story of Herman Huber's death at the Preston School of Industry, please click on the link below:

"THE MYSTERY SURROUNDING HERMAN HUBER'S DEATH"


-- (Copyright 2016, J'aime Rubio, www.jaimerubiowriter.com )

Thank you Amanda Boling for the 1910 Census information!


















Sunday, January 10, 2016

A Sad Suicide

February 12, 1917--- Locked away in a dark, cold cell somewhere in solitary confinement, Frank Cardarella, a young man, suffering from epilepsy, allegedly ripped his sleeping shirt into pieces, fashioning a makeshift noose and began to fasten it to the pipes above his cell.  He had just suffered another episode again, one of many, and despite his obvious health conditions, the school did little to help ease his afflictions.

Yes, he had been in some trouble with the boys in his neighborhood, the Fillmore District in San Francisco, which led him down the wrong path. He wasn't like his older brother Michael, a conductor for one of the street cars in town who seemed able to stay busy and out of trouble.  He wasn't like his father Philip either, an Italian born immigrant who owned a small fruit store and seemed to be a hard working, reputable business man. No, Frankie got into trouble at the age of 14, landing him in court and facing time in a juvenile detention facility for burglary.  The first time he was sent to Preston he did a year.

By 1916, he was out and about again, but old habits die hard and he found himself hanging around the same ol' boys he had got into trouble with before. Shortly thereafter, he was picked up on charges again. Whether he was just guilty by association or he had been caught red handed, the papers don't say. What they do say is that he was convicted for burglary a second time and sent back to the red clay hills of Ione, California. Back to the infamous Preston Castle.

Because of being a repeat offender, this time the Superintendent made Frankie stay in solitary confinement at night, instead of sleeping in a dormitory.

It was the afternoon of February 12th when Frankie fell into convulsions, violently seizing on the floor. Instead of being treated in the school hospital to rest and recover, once his violent spasms stopped, the guards were instructed to carry him back to his cell and lock the door behind them. Hours later he was found dangling from a pipe above his cell.  According to several newspaper reports at the time, it was determined that Frankie Cardarella had apparently taken his own life.

What I found interesting is that the Biennial reports contradict themselves, as I have often found during my investigating of the Preston School's records in the past. One page mentions that during 1917, there were 2 deaths at the school. However, on another page of the same report, it shows a summary of deaths at the school, based on year from 1894-1918, and there is a complete blank for deaths during 1917.  In total, according to the report, only 21 boys died at Preston the first 14 years that the school was open and most of which occurred between 1895-1900 and 1911 to 1916. There is absolutely no record of a death, let alone a suicide, in the biennial report for 1917.

Why Frank Caldarella's death was not even noted in the biennial reports will remain a mystery, as will the reason for his death. Did Frank feel that life was so meaningless, that his suffering was so great that he could no longer carry on? I also wonder if he actually took his own life at all? Did Frank really commit suicide?

It is also interesting that there is no notations in the biennial reports of treating any wards with epilepsy, nor medications used during that time frame.  At that point in history, it is odd to think he was not being regularly treated in the infirmary or hospital with daily medications such as phenobarbital, which were readily available at the time to treat and supress his condition. If that is the case, and he was not being properly treated, that was a grave negligence on the part of the school.

Had he been treated properly with regular medication, his epileptic spells may been able to be controlled, and he would not have faced the possible bullying and ostracism that also may have very well occurred. It is sad to think what he must have faced day by day at Preston, around the other boys and the staff who might have made him feel like a freak.  A constant barrage of insults and belittling that could have pushed him over the edge and on the end of a rope. Still, we don't know exactly what happened to Frank. Did he commit suicide, or was it an act of bullying that went too far?

I will always wonder what really happened to Frank Caldarella that day in February, 1917.

(Copyright, 2016- J'aime Rubio. www.jaimerubiowriter.com)

Sacramento Union, (2/13/1917)
Los Angeles Herald, (2/12/1917)
U.S. Census Records
Biennial Report, 1918