The steam sawmill in Putikko, a remote village between Punkaharju and Parikkala was built at the turn of 19th and 20th centuries. The company of commercial counsellor Anders Auvinen from Savonlinna was behind this project, which developed the village to practically middle of nowhere. In addition to sawmill, there were other industrial activities typical to that time in Putikko, including tar burning, shipbuilding, baking, dairy production and grain milling. And. Auvinen's company (like his name used to shortened) owned the sawmill till 1984, although of course it already had a new generation running it then.

After 1984 a few firms continued sawing, which has so far ended in 1997. The last project which, according to a nameless person, was a bit suspicious, ended in bankcruptcy. After this the sawmill ended up for a machine manufacturer that had sold equipment there, and they're still trying to sell the sawmill, for any use. Currently a small business not related to timber occupies some parts of the sawmill complex - the rest is unused.

Oldest of the existing structures are the power station and smoke stack, apparently built in 1901. The sawmill has been completely re-built in 1951. Some of the machines are rather new, but the basic feel of an old sawmill is still reachable.