Originally known as Preston School of Industry at Waterman, construction of the facility began in 1891 under Senator Edward M. Preston’s 1889 “Reform School Bill” which called for the establishment of two state reform schools. Preston opened in 1894 with just one building, a Richardsonian Romanesque administration building now known as “The Castle.” The old administration building was listed on the National Register of historic Places in 1975. Due to a declining number of youthful offenders committed to state facilities, Preston Youth Correctional Facility closed permanently in June 2011. Create an 80-acre campus or mixed use development, repurposing existing buildings, when economically viable, for a use or uses that will enhance the local community and local economy. The existing buildings and infrastructure require significant upgrades.