Preston Communicator. What an Ending to Preston Castle Golf Classic May 1

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1 Preston Communicator Spring 2014 Volume 8, Issue 1 Preston Castle Foundation, PO Box 488, Ione, CA prestoncastle.com info@prestoncastle.com (209) What an Ending to 2013 The Preston Castle Foundation wrapped up its 2013 season with a spectacular Halloween Haunt and a highly successful Olde Tyme Christmas. Thousands attended the four-day Halloween Haunt, grossing more than $78,000, a PCF record. This Halloween event has become the most popular and successful fundraiser for the PCF. And it keeps getting bigger and better. For a sample of what the hype is about, visit our Facebook page, for photos of the ghouls, haunts and visitors. We cannot give enough thanks to the volunteers, those selfless people who gave many hours to make this event an unforgettable memory for thousands. The Olde Tyme Christmas had something for everyone over its 2 day run, Dec. 14 and 15. It started with the Ione Christmas Parade, where the PCF entered its colorful wagon donated by John Joses and renovated by Ron Scofield. The cowboy influence carried over to the grounds of Preston Castle, where Arizona gunslingers reenacted a dramatic shootout. The backdrop was the beautiful Castle, bedecked in holiday finery inside and out. Again, an effort that volunteers spent many days decorating and beautifying. Many people donated holiday decorations to make this possible. Almost seventy vendors were also on hand, inside and outside the Castle displaying their holiday arts, crafts and food items to fill the holiday shopping cart. Santa put in an appearance as well and a Castle lighting ceremony gave added sparkle. Preston Castle Golf Classic May 1 The 9th annual Preston Castle Golf Classic returns Thursday, May 1 at the Castle Oaks Golf Course in Ione. Your day starts at 11 am with registration, lunch, and putting contest, followed by a 12:45 pm shotgun start. Besides golf and cart, your Registration includes a gift bag, lunch, putting contest, and lots of prize opportunities. Your day of golf doesn t end there -- it also includes a full dinner at the historic Preston Castle with the chance to win premium silent auction items and outstanding raffle prizes. Don t miss this sell-out golf tournament - book early! This year, the entry fee is only $95 and as usual, all proceeds will support efforts to restore the Castle. Tickets are also available at $25 for dinner only. Register on the Preston Castle website, com or by mailing your check to Preston Castle Foundation at P.O. Box 488, Ione, CA Registration forms will also be available at the Castle Oaks clubhouse and Clark s Corner. For more information call Jackie or Tom at (209) or prestoncastle@aol.com. Don t delay, these spots go fast! Inside This Issue Halloween, Olde Tyme, and Golf Classic... 1 Membership and Events for Events, New Treasurer... 3 President s Message... 3 Tour Days, Pride of Ione... 4 Work Day, Quest for the Deed... 5 If anyone wishes to add or change anything in the newsletter, or would like to get copies of past issues, please let us know at info@prestoncastle.com or at the next meeting. We always enjoy hearing from our readers!

2 Preston Communicator Page 2 Membership Awaits You The Preston Castle Foundation has a healthy membership list and the Foundation would like to thank all of you who have become faithful members. Now is your chance to renew that membership, in time for our 2014 event season. Renewing your membership has benefits for you and for the Castle. For you, your tax-deductible renewal means you will continue to receive the quarterly newsletter to keep you informed of our progress in restoring the Castle and our upcoming events. It also continues your 10% discount in the Castle Gift Shop. And it gives you the satisfaction, each time you look up on the hill and see Northern California s most beautiful Castle, knowing that you have a part in helping to preserve and restore it. The benefits for the Castle are many. Membership fees are one of our fund-raisers. If we can count on your renewal every year, it will help provide continued funding for the never-ending list of projects. A basic membership is $25 per year. Other levels include bronze ($100), silver ($500), gold ($1000) and platinum ($5000 and up). Renewing your membership is easy. Either mail a check to: Preston Castle Foundation PO Box 488 Ione, CA Or, go to our website ( and renew via PayPal. (Of course, we would be very happy to accept a donation in addition to your renewal!) Thank you for joining the Preston Castle Foundation --- We look forward to seeing you at our 2014 events! Don t Miss Our 2014 Events Join us for one or all of the Preston Castle Foundation s events in For more information and to order tickets, visit or call Preston Castle Golf Classic - May 1 Great Fun for a Great Cause. See Page 1 for details. Photographer s Days Sunday, April 27, 10 am to 2 pm Sunday, June 22, 12 pm to 4 pm Sunday, September 7, 4 pm to 8 pm On Photographer s Day you can roam the castle on a selfguided tour. Visitors are allowed four hours to explore the non-restricted areas of the castle. This gives you the time you need to set up shots without rushing to keep up the pace of our normal informative tours. Note that the dates are on Sundays, and the Sept. 7 date includes twilight/evening light. $35 per person. Movie Night at the Castle Saturday, July 11 (tentative), 8 pm to 11 pm Come join us for our second movie night under the stars on the Preston Castle Courtyard. Stay tuned as we pin down the details of this event. Murder Mystery at the Castle Friday and Saturday, August 1 and 2, 6 pm to 9 pm Come to a Hawaiian Luau and figure out the mystery. Wear your Aloha outfits to really blend in. Enjoy a fabulous dinner and be part of the action as events unfold around you. Observe, ask questions, and figure out who done it. This sell out event has been so popular that we are going to do it twice. Tickets: $45, limited to 100 people each night. Escape from Preston - 5K run/walk Saturday, September 6 (tentative), 8 am to 10 am Enjoy a fun run/walk on and near the Preston Castle grounds, followed by a tour of the Castle. Check our website as the details are still being worked out. continued on page 3...

3 Preston Communicator Page 3 Events continued... Wine Tasting & Tour Saturday, September 13, 3-6 p.m. Barbara Murray continued... for the PCF. We are lucky to have such a high caliber person to fill the very big shoes left by departing Treasurer Kim Kozlowski. Welcome aboard, Barbara! Taste the fine wines of Amador county and tour the historic Preston Castle. Experience the history of Preston and feel the sensation of the past. Attendees will sample fine wines from commemorative Castle wine glasses and enjoy a variety of hors d oeuvres while listening to live music. Tickets: $40 Preston Castle Halloween Haunt Friday, Oct. 17, Saturday, Oct. 18, Friday, Oct. 24, Saturday, Oct. 25, Friday, Oct. 31, starting at 6:30 pm each night Our Halloween Haunt will be even bigger and better this year, expanded to include 5 nights. Adults - $20, students with ID - $10. Fun fair/carnival for children under 10: $5 Olde Tyme Christmas Saturday, Dec. 13, Sunday, Dec. 14, 9 am to 4 pm Travel back to earlier times at the beautiful Preston Castle and find lots of interesting arts, crafts, jewelry, baked goods, and other gift items. And, take a tour of the Castle, which will be beautifully decorated inside and out. Meet Barbara Murray Join the PCF in extending a hearty welcome to our new Treasurer, Barbara Murray. Barbara spent many years with the Amador County Unified School District. She has held such positions as Interim Director of Fiscal Services, Chief Business Official, and Assistant Superintendent for Business Services, where she was responsible for all finances in both the Office of Education and the District. Barbara maintained the budget, oversaw payroll, worked with personnel and negotiation issues, while supervising the Maintenance and Operations, Transportation, Food Services and Technology Departments. Beginning in 2002, Barbara managed 35 million dollars in building projects. After a wonderful career with Amador Schools, Barbara retired in December She has done consulting work for the Amador Schools as well as El Dorado and Calaveras County Schools. Now she has graciously agreed to assume Treasurer responsibilities Last year was a fantastic year filled with progress in so many ways at the Preston Castle. We are starting 2014 with plans for an even greater year. The New Year will start with public tours resuming on April 5. There are a number of events on the 2014 calendar that are already in the planning stages. Check this newsletter and the Preston Castle Foundation website for details. The Foundation is still working to change our status from lessee to owner. We are working with the State Department of General Services to obtain the deed to the Castle and the Colonial and the approximately eleven acres surrounding them. Our volunteers are still the biggest asset. A number of volunteers joined in the effort to save the Preston Castle last year. We can still use more help. If you know someone who could help please ask them to join us. We can use help in many different forms; tour docents, gardeners, construction skills, general clean up, events, and so on. We will have tour docent training on Saturday, March 29, 2014 at 9:30 am. This training is for anyone who would like to become a tour docent. The training is also for returning docents as a refresher for this season. I want to thank everyone who made 2013 such a success. Without all of your support and efforts we would not be making the progress we are in saving the Preston Castle. Thank you President s Message Karl Knobelauch, President Spring at the Castle

4 Preston Communicator Page 4 Tour Days, Tour Days! Mark your calendar for April 5, the opening day of our 2014 Tour Season. The majestic Preston Castle will be open for guided historical tours the first three Saturdays of each month, from 10 am to 1 pm, April 5 through September 6. Tours are $10 for adults, $5 for children under 10 years of age, and free for children less than 5 years of age. On Opening Day we will also be having a book signing by Gary Stout, from 11 am to 12 pm. Mr. Stout is the author of Arrested Innocence, a fictional story based on the history of the Preston School of Industry. The setting of the story is the early 1900 s. William, a young boy whose parents passed away, is falsely accused of stealing money. The book recounts his journey to and through the Preston School of Industry. The book is $18 and is for sale in the gift shop. Come have Gary Stout sign his book for you, enjoy a tour of the Castle on opening day, and visit our Farm Museum. We ll see you April 5! With our new tour season about to get underway, we are always in need of docents to help lead tours, greet and register visitors, and staff our expanding Preston Castle Foundation gift shop. If you would like to help, you are invited to attend Docent Training Day, which will be held at the Castle on Saturday, March 29, starting at 9:30 am. For more information or to register for the Docent Training Day, please contact Yvonne by prestoncastletours@sbcglobal.net or by phone: Pride of Ione If you have not made plans for April 5th yet. Maybe consider coming to Ione to visit the Castle (see Tour Days, left panel) and then join in the fun afterwards with the Pride of Ione fundraiser. The Preston Castle Foundation is in partnership to further protect and display our city history and archives! It is going to be a PARTY! Please join in for the first fundraiser for the Pride of Ione Foundation. So much to enjoy! A delicious tri-tip/chicken dinner by Amador Catering, Live Music, Raffle, historical displays and video presentations. There will also be interactive booths by local groups including Preston Castle, IBCA, Ione Picnic Assoc, Native Sons and a special treat - Pamela Bennett s 5th grade class Wax Museum of historical Ione Figures including Ernie Bonham, Alice DuFrene, Daniel Stewart, Dave Brubeck and Thomas Rickey. A MUST SEE! Tickets are on Sale at - Ione Pharmacy, Ione it Now and Clarks Corner Ione. We hope to see you there!

5 Preston Communicator Page 5 Quest for the Deed Things are progressing, ableit slowly, in our march towards ownership of the Preston Castle site. Escrow has been opened! A valuation of the property is near completion so that the Preliminary title report required by the State can be completed. Other concerns with easements leaving some underground utilities still in State hands are being agreed upon and engineered. New front porch ceiling and light fixture Castle Work Day Call it spring cleaning. Winter months are a time to ready the Castle for spring and a busy tour and event season. A crew of 22 hardworking volunteers showed up on March 8 to do just that. Their reward -- a hearty Thank You and a well-earned slice of pizza. Our committee working towards National Historic District Recognition is moving forward working with the State so that all necessary documents can be approved prior to closing of the escrow. Nolte Engineering is waiting in the wings to finish the Plan approval with Amador Water Agency as soon as we achieve Deed transfer. In the meantime, our forthcoming Events will surely bring needed funds to continue the rehabilitation of this great historical property! Thanks for supporting us. The grounds were mowed, the garden weeded and tilled, closets cleaned out, floors swept, stuff moved and put away, front porch ceiling worked, and a private tour given. If you missed the fun, not to worry -- come to our next work day. Bring your work gloves and tools and pitch in to Save The Castle! New basement kitchen for event food prep