Name of this vanished sawmill near the village center of former Heinolan Maalaiskunta is confusing. Sawmill of the city of Helsinki, here, in the countryside far from our capitol? What' this name about?

Naturally, the city of Helsinki does have a lot to do with the sawmill. After WWII, the growing, bombed city needed timber like hell for it's constructioning needs. To get a reliable source of suitable wood, the timber center (Puutavarakeskus) unit of the city developed an own sawmill. Heinola is not really near the capitol, but there are forests all around, and the lake Päijänne could be utilised in transporting the timber to the city with ships. The sawmill started operating in 1948.

Later, when concrete had superseded wood as a main constructioning material, the need for timber decreased also in Helsinki. The sawmill continued to saw timber mostly for trade, and some little bit for the city. Eventually in 1986, the city decided the sawmill would be shutdown. This caused resistance and atleast one city employees' strike. People working at the sawmill were welcomed to move to Helsinki and continue work there as old employees, but only a few did.

The sawmill has been demolished. Only thing reminding of it that we found, was one rusted feeding reel. But there are other buildings. A power station, emptied but still someohow interesting, a transforming booth and a drying building. Future of these relics doesn't look good, since the area already grows new cottages and houses.