The Good
The Good
The Bad
The Bad
The Ugly
The Ugly
Boundaries
Preston is located in the area surrounding where the Speed River joins the Grand River. Downtown Preston runs along King Street from Bishop Street at the South end, north to the entrance to Riverside Park, the largest park in Cambridge. The core maintains its small town feel by drawing the residents from the surrounding neighbourhood streets to its unique shops. Local merchants offer a wide variety of goods and services, and celebrate annually with the Joys of Summer Sidewalk Sale and Funfest. In early July Through the support of the B.I.A. Preston also hosts an annual Remembrance Day Parade and Cambridge’s annual Canada Day celebrations at Riverside park, playing host to the nation’s largest Canada Day Parade and a spectacular display of fireworks.
Recreation in Preston
Home Styles
Preston remains one of the most affordable neighbourhoods in Cambridge with the median sale price in 2021 at $700,000 for a single detached home. There is a wide variety of styles of homes in Preston, the result of the continuous development of the town. Within Preston’s borders you will still find homes that were originally farmstead homes, and homes that have been in the same family for generations. Older two story homes and newer bungalows are only blocks away from each other, giving it a unique feel in a world of cookie cutter homes. Over the years citizens of Preston have often been lifelong residents resulting in many homes being significantly upgraded and modernized over the years, but tucked in the side streets you will still find those hidden gems in almost original condition waiting to be lovingly restored or completely modernized.
Places of Interest
Restaurants
Worth Mentioning
Riverside Park has something for everyone! Splash Pad, BMX Park, Ball Diamonds, Board Walks and Birding, a 256 acre oasis in the heart of Cambridge.
History
Originally settled in 1805 when a group of German speaking Mennonites migrated north from Pennsylvania and acquired the land from the Six Nations Indians.
John Erb was one of the first to arrive and became the owner of 7,500 acres located around where the Speed River joins the Grand River. He established a saw mill on the river in 1805 and two years later a grist mill. The location of his mill is still in use today under the name P&H Milling it is the oldest continually operating industrial site in the region.
In 1837 while drilling for salt a member of the Erb family discovered a well that was rich in sulphur. At the time sulphur was thought to be the ideal treatment for a variety of conditions and so the Preston Springs Gardens Hotel was erected. The hotel offered indoor and outdoor sitz bath and was the ultimate in luxury at the time, soaring an imposing five stories over the top of what is now King Street, the hotel had 130 rooms an elevator and stunning carpentry details. By the 1850’s the hotel was renowned and attracted guests from all over to “take the waters”.
Up until 1834 when a survey was complete the area was referred to as Cambridge Mills. It is said that the surveyor was reminded of his home town in England by the area and named it in its honour, Preston. As soon as the surveying of Preston was completed people, largely German in decent, began to immigrate to the area. The village of Preston was officially incorporated in 1852.
