Abandoned and hidden Finnish villages and cultural heritages
Route across the areas of the villages Kravtsovo (Hovinmaa) and Yashino (Nurmi) from Viipuri to Lappeenranta.
Route across the areas of the villages Kravtsovo (Hovinmaa) and Yashino (Nurmi) from Viipuri to Lappeenranta.
Если вы хотите увидеть действительно что-то новое, неожиданное и по-настоящему финское, вам точно сюда.
If you have any information about mentioned above cultural heritage, please contact the volunteer https://t.me/+d-kQUwLgMY82YTAy
Photos made from 2021 to 2022. Unfortunately, there is no appropriate data about the sightings. The amount of Finnish remains (houses, cows, forges, stables etc) in this location exceeds 50 units.
According to local residents from Russian first wave (since 1946) settlers not only houses, but also outbuildings were of good quality. “The house was born before me and will remain after me,” as the Finnish poet Johan Ludwig Runeberg wrote in the 19th century. Now many country houses and sheds stand on former Finnish foundations. Almost any bridge across rivers is adjacent to well-preserved pillars and ice cutters from mystery past centuries.
During early 1990s, the borders were opening and Finnish natives who emigrated and were deported began to visit the abandoned houses and lands of their ancestors. Unfortunately, their stories and history have been lost.
In order to preserve the hidden cultural Finland heritage.
According to local residents from Russian first wave (since 1946) settlers not only houses, but also outbuildings were of good quality. “The house was born before me and will remain after me,” as the Finnish poet Johan Ludwig Runeberg wrote in the 19th century. Now many country houses and sheds stand on former Finnish foundations. Almost any bridge across rivers is adjacent to well-preserved pillars and ice cutters from mystery past centuries.
During early 1990s, the borders were opening and Finnish natives who emigrated and were deported began to visit the abandoned houses and lands of their ancestors. Unfortunately, their stories and history have been lost.
In order to preserve the hidden cultural Finland heritage.
Abandoned paper mill and dam
A paper mill in the Finnish village of Hovinmaa, on the Seleznevka River (Rakkolanjoki) was founded on the Kintereenkoski rapids in 1889. There was a legend that on the mentioned site there was a wooden Finnish mill in the 18th-19th centuries.
Hovinmaa is a Finnish village, which until 1939 was part of the Vahviala parish of the Vyborg Voivodeship of Finland. The oldest wood sanding machine in Finland, built back in 1860, was installed at this factory. In 1909, Oy Nurmi Ab., which already owned several Vahvial enterprises, became its owner. In the 1930s, the plant was taken over by Suomen Gummitehdas Oy., and continued to operate under Oravan Tehtaat Oy from November 1941. The annual output of the factory was about 3,000 tons of paper. By the end of the 1930s, 125 people worked at the plant.
In 1938 the factory closed. According to other sources, this worked until 1941. During the wars, parts of the factory buildings were destroyed. In 1944 the building was handed over to the Soviet Union. In the 1960s, the surviving part of the building was converted into a dormitory. It has been existing in this status until the end of 2016.
In our time, this building has been used as a decoration platform for cinema films production. In 2021-2022, there were regular fires inside the building. Various foundations from Finland are interested to restore the complex. However, the building is abandoning and demolishing during these days.
Hovinmaa is a Finnish village, which until 1939 was part of the Vahviala parish of the Vyborg Voivodeship of Finland. The oldest wood sanding machine in Finland, built back in 1860, was installed at this factory. In 1909, Oy Nurmi Ab., which already owned several Vahvial enterprises, became its owner. In the 1930s, the plant was taken over by Suomen Gummitehdas Oy., and continued to operate under Oravan Tehtaat Oy from November 1941. The annual output of the factory was about 3,000 tons of paper. By the end of the 1930s, 125 people worked at the plant.
In 1938 the factory closed. According to other sources, this worked until 1941. During the wars, parts of the factory buildings were destroyed. In 1944 the building was handed over to the Soviet Union. In the 1960s, the surviving part of the building was converted into a dormitory. It has been existing in this status until the end of 2016.
In our time, this building has been used as a decoration platform for cinema films production. In 2021-2022, there were regular fires inside the building. Various foundations from Finland are interested to restore the complex. However, the building is abandoning and demolishing during these days.
Vahviala Lutheran Church
This building, which converted from a villa into a church, was originally planned as a temporary church, but even before it was erected, it was concluded that the church would become a real church.
The church building of Vahviala was not only a church, but also it contained the parish hall, parish office and archive, as well as municipal premises such as the municipal office, the library and the janitor's apartment. City council meetings also took place in the parish hall. Due to the convenience of the municipality, the church was sometimes called Kuntala.
From the inside, the church looked more like a church than from the outside, and it had about 400 seats. The long sides of the church hall had galleries, which were divided by support pillars into three naves. The church hall had a flat slate roof. The altar was located in the western part of the church hall. The altarpiece was the Resurrection of Christ, painted by Matti Yulane, an artist from Waifala. On either side of the real altarpiece were even smaller paintings depicting listeners dressed in white walking towards Jesus on the altarpiece. The organ attic was located in the eastern part of the church hall, but there was no time to bring the organ there; instead, an organ harmonium was used for accompaniment. The pulpit was to the right of the altar.
Most of the church furniture was not evacuated in 1940. Among the salvaged items, a communion cup and a plate were donated to the community of Iiti, and a large church bell is currently located in the tower of the prayer room in Järvenpää.
The church building of Vahviala was not only a church, but also it contained the parish hall, parish office and archive, as well as municipal premises such as the municipal office, the library and the janitor's apartment. City council meetings also took place in the parish hall. Due to the convenience of the municipality, the church was sometimes called Kuntala.
From the inside, the church looked more like a church than from the outside, and it had about 400 seats. The long sides of the church hall had galleries, which were divided by support pillars into three naves. The church hall had a flat slate roof. The altar was located in the western part of the church hall. The altarpiece was the Resurrection of Christ, painted by Matti Yulane, an artist from Waifala. On either side of the real altarpiece were even smaller paintings depicting listeners dressed in white walking towards Jesus on the altarpiece. The organ attic was located in the eastern part of the church hall, but there was no time to bring the organ there; instead, an organ harmonium was used for accompaniment. The pulpit was to the right of the altar.
Most of the church furniture was not evacuated in 1940. Among the salvaged items, a communion cup and a plate were donated to the community of Iiti, and a large church bell is currently located in the tower of the prayer room in Järvenpää.
Suur-Merijoki manor
The history of the Suur-Merijoki manor can be traced back to the 16th century. However, it received the status of a manor only in 1651. The estate repeatedly passed from one owner to other, being the subject of donation and inheritance.
According to the stories of local residents, the entire estate was taken away for building materials for nearby houses. It had been demolished before 1993.
Nowadays, part of the basement floor, the arch of the transition from the music hall to the billiard room, as well as part of the stone fence of the courtyard have been preserved. The stone foundation of the barn, the foundation of the observatory and the manor trees of rare species have been preserved.
Many elements of the interior were saved from destruction due to the fact that in the pre-war years, various household items such furniture and fittings were taken by Finnish officers. They have been saved deeply into Finland. Today they are exhibited in Suomi museums.
According to the stories of local residents, the entire estate was taken away for building materials for nearby houses. It had been demolished before 1993.
Nowadays, part of the basement floor, the arch of the transition from the music hall to the billiard room, as well as part of the stone fence of the courtyard have been preserved. The stone foundation of the barn, the foundation of the observatory and the manor trees of rare species have been preserved.
Many elements of the interior were saved from destruction due to the fact that in the pre-war years, various household items such furniture and fittings were taken by Finnish officers. They have been saved deeply into Finland. Today they are exhibited in Suomi museums.