“The North Wind Watches: Guardian Vault of the Administration Building”

 

One of the many things you may notice while visiting Preston Castle is the ornate vault door when you first enter the Administration Building, in the front room off to the right. Looking up at the door frame, you may notice an ornate face. This is often referred to as “The North Wind Face,” sometimes associated with Boreas, or the Spirit of the North Wind, a motif popular in the Victorian era.

Many years ago, I had inquired about the meaning of the ornate face on the vault door and a good friend of mine, Myke Ellis, who has been working with antiques from that era most of his career, identified it for me. That left me curious about the history of the vault itself.

The “North Wind Face” was a symbol of protection, mythic authority, strength, and endurance. It was frequently used on architectural hardware, knockers, and doors during this period.

There were two widely known companies that manufactured these types of ornate vault doors: Mosler Safe Company and Herring & Co., also known as Herring and Hall’s Safe & Lock. Subsequently, Herring & Co. merged with another company, forming Herring-Hall-Marvin.

Although I do not know for certain which company manufactured the vault or vault door for the Administration Building at the Preston School of Industry, it is highly likely that it was one of the two companies mentioned above.

Based on the visible features of the door frame itself—such as the rectangular door with a heavy frame, decorative ornament at the top, and interior cabinetry within the vault—this design suggests it was intended specifically for an administrative or bank vault, rather than the industrial-style vaults manufactured later.

Given these features, and the time when this design was most popular, it appears to match the type of design known from Herring and Hall’s Safe & Lock, as opposed to Mosler vaults. Another reason it resembles a Herring vault is that vault placement during the 19^th century followed consistent patterns for visibility, ease of access, and security. The specific placement of the vault in the front and to the right inside the Administration Building is, as an expert would say, “textbook Herring/Hall’s placement.”*

(*Again, I do not know for certain which company manufactured this particular vault, I can only go by similarities in design and make an educated guess.)

The Superintendent could easily access payroll, petty cash, financial records, and important contracts or paperwork that required secure storage. Money could be quickly secured, vendors paid efficiently, and staff wages handled discreetly. This was not just something found at Preston, but also commonplace at State Hospitals, County offices, Industrial Schools, Correctional facilities, and Orphanages as well.

Symbolism in the Victorian era appeared in cemeteries, furniture, architecture, and even vaults. The ornament above the vault door represented moral guardianship, strength, authority, and protection, something that would have been imperative at a school such as Preston. Acting as a symbolic protective force, the “North Wind Face” fits the ethos of the reform school itself.

I hope that this little peek into the past—by way of documenting a piece of the school’s history (the vault)—gives you some insight into the symbolism of the piece itself, as well as an appreciation for Victorian-era design used at the time Preston was constructed. Although most people may look at the door as they pass through the building, and they may notice the ornament above it, they might not actually know its meaning, why it was specifically chosen, or why it was placed in that particular spot in the building—let alone the meaning of the symbol itself.

Next time you visit, or if you are planning your first visit to Preston soon, please stop and peek at this vault door—and remember where you learned its history!

(Copyright 2026, J'aime Rubio, www.jaimerubiowriter.com) 

Sources:

Ellis, Myke. Victorian Era Interior Design Expert

American Numismatic Society. Herring‑Hall‑Marvin Safe Co., 1920–1933: Administrative Records. ANS Archives.

Adams County Museum. Herring‑Hall‑Marvin Safe Co. Safe: Company History and Overview.

Smithsonian Institution. Trade Catalogs from Herring‑Hall‑Marvin Safe Co. Smithsonian Libraries Trade Literature Collection.