History

History

With the generous legacy of Sophie Gujer-Zimmermann from the year 1906, the foundation for the retirement center on Lindenstrasse was laid. The various houses were built in stages. In 1912 the Guyer house was completed, in 1986 the Böndler house, in 2010 the Bachtel and Zelgli houses, and in 2021 the Stocker house.

Sophie Gujer-Zimmermann was born on October 22, 1830, in the Gujerhaus, as the only child of Caspar Zimmermann (1797 – 1847) from Bussenhausen and Anna Bosshard (1797 – 1866) from Schalchen. Her father Caspar was a textile manufacturer. He was active in public life: he was a church warden, district church warden, municipal councilor, and from 1837 a cantonal councilor. Sophie Zimmermann married only at the age of 40: namely Johann Caspar Gujer (1821 – 1891), who had grown up in the "Hecht" inn in Fehraltorf. This marriage was blessed with two children, Anna Barbara Sophie and Kaspar Adolf. Little personal information about Sophie herself has been passed down – she was mainly known for her generous legacy. On December 20, 1910, Sophie Gujer-Zimmermann died at the age of 80, leaving behind a considerable fortune of approximately 220,000 francs as well as properties, which are now to be distributed according to her will. This reads in a shortened version:

"I bequeath all my properties to the political community of Pfäffikon ZH with the purpose that an asylum for single poor and elderly persons of both sexes shall be established in my residence. For the expansion of the institution and as operating capital, I further allocate a sum of 100,000 francs to it. Bussenhausen, March 31, 1906, signed Sophie Gujer-Zimmermann." (Excerpt reproduced from the annual report of the community of Pfäffikon ZH 2/2006)

We use the same spelling as in the annual report of the community of Pfäffikon 2/2006: 100 years legacy retirement asylum 1906.

Excerpt: "Sophie Gujer wrote her family name with a "J", while the community today writes the name with a "Y". We use the spelling within the family with a "J" in the historical section, whereas we write Guyer with a "Y" in the current and future sections."