February 2018 - Welcome to Ketunretket

After having a nice tour-skating event members of Ketunretket had 11.2.2018 a tour to Strömfors Iron Mill sauna at Ruotsinpyhtää. Strömfors Iron Mill is more than 300 years, and is one of the best remaining independent iron mill communities.
The area of Ruukki is wonderful also during winter, with the beautiful red buildings.

Baron (Vapaaherra) Johan Creutz established here one of the Finlands first iron mills here at river Kymijoki western peninsula area at year 1698. Year 1790 got young baron's widow Virginia af Forselles the iron mill to her. She was leading this factory irony hands nearly 60 years. During the time of "Her Mercy" here were built most of the buildings that are still in use, such as red-coloured "Armonlinna" (the Castle of Her Mercy) and so called hose barn beside the river (in the picture below).

In the hammer huts you can still find the old time feeling of the iron mill. On the western coast of the rapids there was built year 1871 an iron blacksmithy with large hammer and ratchets. In the nail smithy ("yläpaja") up the stream the iron rods were hammered and cut to smaller pieces and smaller tools were produced. Ruukki Manor is situated in the center of the village.

Even today the handicraft professionals are giving their image to the old iron mill area. During summer time several small shops open their doors, and the small church with the altar painting, from year 1898 made by painter Helene Schjerfbeck can be visited. That is actually the only altar painting that Helene has ever done!

Strömfors iron mill (the Ruukki) has a sauna house just beside so called "bridge of Love", near old barn building. Sauna has been in common use, and it has internal look just like it would be from the year 1950. This sauna has not been renovated too much, so you can feel the old times here. Sauna can be rented from Jari Jokinen, and you can also have massage services from Hieronta- ja hyvinvointikeskus Sofia, owned by Pia Mustonen.

We had the opportunity to try the jacuzzi of the sauna, and of course, the icy pit in the river: Our bath-ducks were able to swim in the jacuzzi there too!! You should never forget to take the ducks with you in the bath-tub!! It was easy to get to the icy pit in the river from the sauna, because Jari had installed a heated path there. However, the water was a little bit too cold for me, so I preferred to stay in the warm jacuzzi...

Arja said that after third time in the icy pit the feeling is heavenly energic and good feeling spreads everywhere in your body and soul! Mental note to myself: remember to do it more often!