Friedrich Guggisberg

Friedrich Guggisberg (referred to as “Frederick” Guggisberg in commercial business directories) was the founder of one of Preston’s earliest furniture works. Born in Uetendorf, Canton Bern, Switzerland in 1818, he came to Canada in 1834 with two older sisters and their families. In Preston, they joined two older brothers, Johann and Samuel. In 1838, Frederick started his own cabinetmaking shop, which grew from making chairs to a diversified manufacturing concern, making desks, tables and some of the first barrel type patented revolving drawer desks and high roll-top desks in Canada. The finest designs were sent to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. At one time, the Guggisberg furniture works was the largest employer in Preston. Involved in community affairs, in 1852, Frederick was a member of Preston’s first village council. He is buried in the Old Preston Cemetery on Fountain Street, Cambridge.

After Guggisberg’s death in 1888, his three sons took over the business and later sold out their interest. The business became the Preston Furniture Company, manufacturing office desks. This company was sold to Percy Hilborn in 1919, and became consolidated with Hilborn’s Canadian Office and School Furniture Company in 1928.