For the really first time this summer I am entering uncharted territory. The previous winter I read a news article about a municipality closing all but one of their schools.
This is really no news. Many small municipalities in Finland only have one school left. But this one is one of the largest municipalities in Finland in terms of their area. Between the 1920’s and 1950’s a lot of schools were built so that children wouldn’t have to make long, dangerous trips to school. Since the late 1960’s they have been closed in increasing numbers, because the amount of inhabitants and children has decreased so much.
The following school was opened back in 1926 and closed in 2002. It had been a very small school for years. During the worst years in the 1980’s the school only had four pupils. It is now in private ownership.
And judging by the amount of vegetation in the area, it hasn’t been used in years.
The place was overgrown and there was even camera surveillance.
The building was still intact, though. As there was no clear way in, I had to leave disappointed.