AREFS taide ja kulttuuri ry
AREFS art and culture association



  • Savon Radan ryhmä organizes activities along the historical Savo line






RAILWAY STATION

The old railway station is built in 1889 after the plan of Knut Nylander. This master plan is used for over 40 railway stations all over Finland, but specially on the Savo line and around Oulu.
 

map of railway tracks in Finland 1906 - the Savo line (Kuovola-Kuopio)has been in use from 1889

railway station design Knut Nylander - Finnish National Archives Helsinki

 

floor plan of Hiirola station in 1889 - 1934 - 1952 - 1980 - 1987 - details from maps - Finnish National Archive Helsinki

 

 

1958 - Anja Hämäläinen is going to buy a ticket to Kalvitsa.
The building in light colors, still the old chimney (left chimney is missing)
©Photo Teuvo Tiihonen 1958

1970 - about - the chimneys have been changed and the doors too

the railway station of Hiirola in 1965, image Jukka Hotokka.

Nice view of the station area in 1965, image Jukka Hotokka.

1980 - the station is still open for public traffic (closed in 1983)

2011 - the building was empty and closed around 1993 - nature has taken the space around the building

 

in 2011 the railway station was still a sleeping beauty between bushes and trees - a new owner started to renovate the building

in spring 2012 the yard around the building has been opened which gives a view on the building

first winter and new activities in and around the railway station

The railway station of Hiirola is a traditional wooden building from the time that Finland was part of Russia. The traditional log building can be seen at the You tube video Traditional Finnish Log House Building Process. The railway station is built in the same way as showed in the video. Many details can still be recognized.
During the years the building has been changed several times. E.g. the heating system got new chimneys and the number of ovens changed. Rooms got another function as new technique was added to the railway. In 1934 at the backside a new part has been added. In the 50-ties the post came with an office. Not every change can be found in the papers which are now available and not all changes are documented correctly, but the development of the building is more or less clear. Knowing more about the history increases the respect for the building.

The building is perfect as an art residence and as soon as possible new art activities will start.
AREFS look forward to cooperate with artists to establish a small art community on this location.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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No reproduction by any means or in any language without prior permission of the author.