Since Swarzędz has been a town of workshops from the very beginning, a joint guild for all craftsmen was established here as early as the 17th century. At that time, however, there were only a few carpenters—textile workers dominated the scene. Their presence was so strong that Swarzędz became one of the most important textile centers in Greater Poland, with as many as 90 weaving workshops in operation! But good times don’t last forever. By the mid-19th century, financial troubles—caused by the failure to keep up with the mechanization of the industry—led to the closure of more and more workshops. In their place, carpentry workshops began to appear. Skilled workers were brought in from various parts of Germany, and they, in turn, trained many Polish apprentices. As a result, by the first decade of the 20th century, there were already 30 carpentry workshops in Swarzędz, and after Poland regained independence, there were seventy master carpenters operating in the town! It’s no surprise they needed their own guild. It was established in 1922 and became a true stronghold of mutual support.