In the middle of Vantaa's old factory area, there is a road with a different name sign. Many have read its name, and perhaps some have wondered for a while what it means. But few people know that Robert Huber's road contains a whole story and a large part of Finnish history.
In the autumn of 1872, a ship arrived in the port of Helsinki with guests from Austria on board. From the ship's window, a Swiss man with a black briefcase on his lap and big ideas in his head looked out on the life of the city that had come to life. At the time, Helsinki appeared to visitors as an emerging economy and a desirable place to live; the university had been in the city for decades, the railway links to Hämeenlinna and St Petersburg had just been completed. The threshold of 100,000 inhabitants was looming just around the corner. Smoke billowed from the chimneys of factories, ships plied the harbour and trains carried people and goods in both directions. But not everything was ready yet.
A man stepped off the ship onto the quayside and waved to his future hometown. His name was Robert Huber, and he had come to Helsinki to build a water supply system.
Robert Huber had a remarkable life. Born in Switzerland to merchants, he began his studies at the Technical College of Basel at a young age. He graduated at the age of 20, with an engineering certificate in his pocket. He didn't have to wait long for a job, as he almost immediately found his way into a company that made looms. The company later expanded, and not in the usual way: the loom makers were joined by plumbers. But this somewhat odd expansion was crucial to Robert Huber's life's work. At the age of 21, he was already assisting the English engineer Moore in the construction of a water supply system in Basel, and there was no turning back.
Robert Huber was a man of technology. In his next job, he had to do paperwork and he didn't like it at all. When Moore, an engineer he knew well, asked him to help him build a water pipeline in Cologne, Huber didn't have to think twice. Thus began a journey to Germany, during which he became an expert in his field.
Finally, Huber was offered three different jobs, and he chose Helsinki. After arriving in Finland, work started almost immediately. The first year of construction went at a tremendous pace - three quarters of the entire water supply network was built during that time. But the company was not spared adversity: the international recession began to drive Huber's company to the brink of bankruptcy. Huber's work was valued and important to the people of Helsinki, and so the city bought the unfinished water pipeline. Work resumed - and was again led by Robert Huber.
Tikkurila had become a bustling trading place after the mid-1800s. After the establishment of the railway station, the population started to increase, and Robert and Emma Huber and their families settled there. They were in no hurry to leave Finland: the newly established plumbing business was thriving and engineers from several other towns needed Robert's experience and clear vision. In Helsinki they had children, including a son, Konrad. His keen eye and steady hand brought much joy to the whole Finnish nation. Konrad Huber was the first Finnish shotgun world champion, and at the Paris Olympics he was awarded a silver medal.
Robert Huber's influence on Finland has been respectable. In his day, digging a pipe underground to bring water directly to people's kitchens might have sounded like madness. But a touch of madness has often been the driving force behind great things.
Robert Huber's company operated for a long time in Vantaa. Much later, the road that runs past that old Huber factory site was named Robert Huber Road in honour of the engineer who had made a great contribution to life.
That's the road we are on. 24 Center is in the place of honour to make sure that Robert Huber's life's work lives and thrives here, every day.