About the past of Syvänniemi  

                                           

Already in 16th century people settled in the area all around the lake Kuttajärvi. This should not be amazing. The lake was beautiful and rich in fish. There was also enough game and forests in order to clear. There were good water connections towards Rautalampi as well as a short country connection which led to the other big lake, to the Kallavesi.
During that time the Lapland people went further to the north on account of from east and south invading marauders. Sweden and Novgorod began to extend their power towards the thinly settled area of Savoland, where there was still mainly wilderness prevalent.
At last the area around Karttula fell under Swedish dominion what by no means, however, meant that would have cleared the laid possession claims to the land.
The king had to solve a difficult moot question whether the wilderness is entitled furthermore to the people of Hame, or whether it is awarded to those which start to cultivate the land. To finish the bloody discussions, finally, king Gustaf Vaasa gave permission to settle in the wilderness.
So Karttula received by the end of the 15th century the first firm inhabitants from Juva (village in Eastern Savo).

The population of Syvänniemi also grew like other villages. But the development of this small village began to move in another direction comparing to other appropriate small villages. Caused by the industrialization it went on its own unique direction.
 

  steampowered sawmill

Grain had also to be ground and the river Keihäsjoki led enough water to run a mill. When then lastly the "crown" (the Swedish administration) gave permission, the own story of Syvänniemi began.
The mill was placed at an advantageous place with running water the whole year round. The rapid was close to the lakeshore where boats could attach near the mill.
So the development took its run. From Syvänniemi there was the shortest connection in the regional centre of Savo, towards Kuopio. The traffic facilities were started to be placed in such a way as they are nowadays. Syvänniemi lay along the telephone line. For the travellers there was a post station in the village.
Syvänniemi developed itself into a commercial centre and with this traders and peddlers also came. For the passers-by and for the local residents different services were demanded, like smith and shoemaker.

The positive development was interrupted many times by starvation periods and wars. With the Finnish war in 1808 there dwindled the power of Sweden.

family of businessman P.A. Lyytikäinen

staff of the spool factory

 Also smaller victories were important for the stepping back army. There was such a message to report also in Syvänniemi. A troop of native soldiers succeeded at the post station in the area of "Löttökoski" in overpowering a Russian patrol.
On the ground of the vicarage a commemorative stone reminds of the battle and near the Karelian orthodox chapel a wood cross stands to the memory to the fallen Russian soldiers.

Syvänniemi experienced a bigger industrial thrust in 1862 when Rosenius and Sesemann created a steam-powered sawmill. There approx. 50 men found work. The saw was driven by a 38 horsepower strong steam engine. During good years 70 000 tree trunks were processed. This is also comparing to nowadays a considerable number. The sawmill went in 1885 to bankruptcy and was taken over by the outstanding businessmen Hallman, Möller and Saastamoinen from Kuopio. The saw was run quite the same as before.
Birch sticks were produced which served as a basic material for spools, which were transported, to Petersburg. Herman Saastamoinen recognized on his business trips, how much more profit could be made by producing spool rolls.
The sawmill was altered to a rolling factory. During the best times the factory gave work to up to 300 employees.

spool factory of Syvänniemi

iron foundry of Souru

The iron foundry Souru also contributes essentially to the industrial history of Syvänniemi. The iron production began in 1868. The factory occupied 160 persons at the period of bloom. In addition, a big number of people were demanded, so that the factory could keep on running. Iron ore was brought up to by the lake Pielavesi. For the production process a lot of charcoal was demanded.
Farmers of the nearer surroundings experienced a substantial economic impetus. All available food and other products, which were produced by them, could be sold easily to the employees of the iron foundry. Since the workers had neither anything despite a few small little field spots, nor all cows had.
The industrial age of Syvänniemi could be farther enumerated in stitch points. Here were produced bricks, charcoal and tar as well as agricultural products, which were produced in some big goods. In Keihäslahti a shipyard was also settled.

The structural changes began in 1908 when the iron foundry put the iron production. The factory was closed due to unprofitable ness. However, the lost workplaces could be compensated, because the best years of the spool factory were still to come. The worker's staff in the rolling factory rose till 300 employees.

Generally it is accepted, that during the 19th century life and development in Syvänniemi was different to the general development. In Souru the gas lamps shined, the street signs were also written in Russian and in Syvänniemi electric light was introduced. Telephone connections were held with Kuopio.

The ladies were talking Swedish to each other. The men maintained the being together in the cognac cellar from which there were two.
Skilled workers came from Russia and the guild of the masters was quite international.
The business correspondence had to be maintained in all important European languages. The English language had in this Europe of that time still no outstanding position.

Naturally there was also the other side of the village life, the life of the industrious people. The wage was low and the work hard. However, one followed all kinds of hobbies. While evening events it was danced and own orchestra played in addition. One did sports, there were performances and it was sung. The life ran in known ways like in a protected riverbed.
It was even already feared that it comes to a decline in the agriculture sector, as people preferred the work in the iron foundry and rolling factory, where it was easier to deserve money than through agricultural work.

athletes of Syvänniemi

family of Herman Saastamoinen

Already during the war Herman Saastamoinen sent his sons and other representatives to find new trade routes and business connections. When the situation after the war had calmed down, the spool factory began to run again.
The economically best time for the factory in Syvänniemi was in the 20s. Unfortunately the church burned down in Karttula, which gave a boost towards the off-splitting willing people of Tervo (village next to Karttula). The new church was built in Syvänniemi, where there was a big inhabitant's number and now the church was in the middle of a municipality which became smaller.

The church was finished in 1925 after a lot of disputes rich in event. The vicarage was moved in 1927 in the nearness of the new church. Only 5 years later after these events, the spool factory was shut down on account of unprofitableness. The worldwide economic crisis. The horror was big. " The end is close ", said the inhabitants at that time.

people coming from church in the open fields

But life went on. Now, however, it was difficult to earn his living in the municipality. As the only bigger employer remained the estate of the factory of Syvänniemi. For the cattle breeding a lot of staff and for the forest work men power was demanded.

staff of estate ”hermanni talo”

The winter and continuation war changed everything again. Many inhabitants got order to go to war. For all people who had to take part a commemorative stone stands in the yard of the estate "hermanni talo".
For the ones fallen in combat who are buried on the churchyard a commemorative stone stands near the evangelic-Lutheran church of Syvänniemi. At the Karelian orthodox chapel stands a commemorative table that reminds of the fallen from Salmi in Karelia.
During the winter war the premises of the rolling factory were used as a camp. During the continuation war it was used as a warehouse workshop and workshop of ordnance.
After both wars the 2nd impetus phase appeared. In the municipality Karttula approx. 200 Karelian refugee families were settled. A big part of them found place in the area around Syvänniemi. The village again began to grow and to be active. As remaining recollections of these times the chapel and the orthodox churchyard remained.

The structural changes in the country were not so positive for the development of Syvänniemi. The big brick buildings became ragged on account of the need for new buildings. The blockhouses were burned down partly and used as firewood and for the charcoal pile.
Unfortunately, only recollections and different photos are left to remind to the numerous houses of the workers of the iron foundry and rolling factory.

roadside gas streetlights and the worker's houses of Souru

However, Syvänniemi survived to their most important resources, a beautiful nature and the industrious inhabitants. The development in the village farther leads the way. The active and fitted villagers invested and invest a lot of love and work in the development of the village.
It has itself peacefully and relaxing. Syvänniemi offers many-sided leisure possibilities and an interesting history.