Moving further in the messy, primitive and damaged rooms I arrive in what looks like the kitchen.
Again I suspect that the 1990’s abandonment doesn’t make sense. The kitchen contains a large baking oven and a wood powered stove. And only a small, portable electric stove, which also is very old.
Not only very old, it has been without use for ages. Look, how the top is much dustier than the side, which has also collected quite a lot.
The mystery deepens. A tabloid from 1996, which again doesn’t fit in the picture that exists elsewhere.
A very old book of condolences. The calligraphy looks like it’s been done by hand. There was of course the name of the deceased and the name of the people who sent this. And I think this solves the mystery of who lived here.
There has been a couple living in the house and the book has been sent to the husband’s funeral way back in 1960. The way I found this out was to enter his name to a database of Finnish grave sites. The other name on the same grave is the same as on mail to this house, which has been addressed to the spouse.
Unfortunately my research doesn’t reveal, if they had any children. However this book has probably been signed by a family friend. The husband was born in the late 19th century, the wife 10 years later. People with the names of the signers are also buried in the same graveyard, but I believe, that they are not partners, but rather mother and an adult son.
I again base my fact to the dates in the gravestones. The female signer is buried alone, but the male signer is 24 years her junior and buried in the same grave as a man, who was born the same year as the female but died six years before the funeral in this book of condolences took place.
Confused? You won’t be after this episode of Soap.
The poor cupboard is slowly falling off the wall.
Another room, which has received its fair share of mess and vandalism.
Very old light bulb packages.
A very old calendar. Let’s take a closer look.
February 1963. It is very rare to find so old stuff in abandoned houses.
A letter addressed to the matron of the house. This person has probably died in 1981, as she is buried in the same grave as the person with the name on the book of condolences.
Again this is just a guess, but I believe that the house was abandoned when she died. Yet somehow there has been somebody doing something, like a new roof, here in the late 1990’s.
A letter from the Tuberculosis Association’s fund. The people who lived here were from generations, to whom tuberculosis was a real threat. Either they have been donating or patients.
A better view of the kitchen. The door to the left leads to the hall. The box in the cupboards has most likely contained logs.
A book of condolences from another fund. These people have been active.
So we are back in the hall. And the stairs lead up.
As usual, the attic is just a long cold storage space. Here some planks have been placed on top of the sawdust insulation to move around. It looks like this place has mainly been used to store clothes or dry laundry.
Although the house seems to be in a good condition, there are some… well… shortcomings.
Again the clothes don’t look like the 1990’s, but the roof is as solid as if it was new.
In Finland there is a saying: ‘Smiles like the Hanko biscuit’. This is the box of the company labeled in Swedish. But I’m not really sure if the logo is smiling or crying.
Well, pretty nice. But again this is misspelled. It’s Viva la revolución or Viva la rivoluzione. If you really want to leave your mark, at least do it right!
The hall, or porch, you name it, was just ridiculously photogenic.
But it works even better horizontally. I will remember this as one of my most beautiful shots.
And so it is time to leave. Another location is finished.