Jokela Country House history
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The
master blacksmith Henrik Dufva moved to Hämeenkoski with his son
(blacksmith as well). He bought the other of Ylä-Aakala houses. It was located
in the yard of the country house. The father and the son established soon a
nail factory (located close to the present sauna) to the bank of the
Paunula rapids. The St. Petersburg
railway line was beeing built at that time, so the demand for nails was
high and the workshop was successful. Waterpower of the rapids was
apparently utilized. The nail factory called Henriksdahl functioned in all
only around twenty years.
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The
nail factory built to Jokela in Hämeekoski by master blacksmith Henrik Jan
Dufva and his sone master blacksmith Johan Berdnt Dufva in the year 1863.
The building further back is Anders Korhonen's broadcloth factory. Korhonen
built the present Jokela main building.

The master
blacksmith and manufacturer Henrik Jan Dufva (b. 1811 in Mustio, d. 1882 in Hämeenkoski)
and his wife the house daughter Maria Gustava Wickholm (b. 1807 in Karjaa, d.
1900)
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Around the years 1867-1868
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The young
Johan (Janne) Dufva built a house for himself to Paunula hill, roughly to
the location of the present Jokela. A stable, a cowshed, outbuildings and a
building for workers were also built in the yard. A cellar was placed close
to the house. Roses, peonies, geranium and other flowers were planted in
the garden.
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The
owner of the Kurjala country house, Captain von Essen, established a
broadcloth factory to the river bank next to the nail factory. After the
death of the captain the sister of the former rented the factory to the
steward Anders Korhonen. In few years Korhonen bought the factory.
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The time of the Korhonen family
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The
income from the nail factory started to faint as the St. Petersburg railway line was
completed. Johan Dufva bought the Palomaa country house as his new income
source. His family moved into Palomaa 1882. He sold the Jokela farm to the
owner of the broadcloth factory, his brother-in-law Anders (Antti)
Korhonen, with the amount of 33 000 marks.
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The
directors house of the Municipality counsellor Anders Korhonen. Family members
in the front. In the middle is moster Rosa, née Widblom. The photo is from
the beginning of the 20th century.
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Korhonen built the Jokela country house to the same place where
Dufva's house had been. The low part of the "servants'" end has
possibly been a part of the old Dufva house. Nothing more has survived of
the spacious Dufva house, which may have been destroyed by fire. The
balcony of the new house was completed later in the beginning of the 20th
century as a birthday present to the mistress of the house, Rosa.
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During the years 1888-1917
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The
broadcloth factory flourished and Anders was a significant person in
Hämeenkoski. He had two sons and three daughters: Hila, Hilma and Siviä.
Many feasts were held at the country house. People from other country
houses were often seen there.
There
was a ring of lime trees planted next to the main building of the country
house. High in the midst of the trees was a summerhouse, which could be
reached by stairs.
The
masters chamber was located at the spot of the present kitchen. It served
evidently also as an office from where the wages were paid. The lower hall
was dark coloured - black, red and gold. The kicthen was close to the
servants' wing. The daughters lived in the end rooms of the upstairs. Also
a smaller stairway went upstairs; presumably from somewhere close to the
present office.
The
garden flourished also during the Korhonen time. Appletrees, damson bushes
and 80 currant bushes had been planted earlier. The kitchen plant garden
was large as well.
The
boys where educated to serve in the factory, but both of them died young.
Also the daughters were educated: Hilma achieved a Masters degree in the
German and French languages, Siviä went to a gardening school and took the
main responsibility of maintaining Jokela gardens. Hilja got married.
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In the
images above: Hilma Korhonen.
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Anders
Korhonen died. Soon the broadcloth factory was sold, the fields and the
cattle were let out. The golden age of broadcloth factory and the country
house was over. Finally even the fields and most of the forests were sold.
Daughters Hilma and Siviä remained living in the house. Hilma died 1947 and
Siviä kept the house alone untill 1950's when she sold it to the
municipality.
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Jokela in the ownership of the
municipality
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From 1950's the beginnig of 70's
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The municipality
let Jokela decay and the house was even whithout heating for some time.
That is obviously the reason for cracks in the owens. Jokela served as a
secret playground for the young and could be reached through the windows at
the servants' side.
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Jokela
in private ownership
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Marke
Takku ran a catering business together with his family and practised
therapy for drug addicts.
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In the
images above: Paunula rapids flyover in the year 1972. There are Dufva's
relatives on the bridge. The flyover was crossed by horse when arriving
from Hollola.
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The owner
of Tiimari, Risto Sulkanen saved the country house. He did large-scale
repairs and built a garage and a tennis court. A thermal insulation was
made to the upstairs. Additional rooms were also added there and it now
serves as the "hotel wing". The country house was a private home
for the Sulkanen family.
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Doctor
Jyrky Joensuu run a catering business in the house together with his
family. Joensuu was an excellent host and often prepared the food, too. The
Joensuu family did not live in the house.
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During the years 1999-2002
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Aulikki
Lundgren, a daugther of a small farmer in Hämeenkoski, decided to return to
her roots. She had graduated as an engineer from Sweden, worked for electronics industry. After giving up the
business she bought Jokela together with his husband. Aulikki developed purposefully
the the restaurant and accommodation services.
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Raila
Aho and Pentti Ek and the young couple Laura and Petter Frisk - two
generations - bought the house. In the summertime there are weddings,
tennis, enjoying of the delicacies at the summer café etc. In the
wintertime the house functions as a restaurant. Also groups are
accommodated.
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