The story
History
Kingdom of Sweden: 1200–1809
Vanaja is the name of a settlement near lake Vanajavesi that had been in existence since the Viking Age. The Häme Castle was built in the late 13th century by the order of Regent Birger Jarl to secure Swedish power in central Finland. A village was established near Häme Castle to provide services and goods to its inhabitants.
The village was granted city rights as the first inland city in Finland on January 19, 1639, by Count Per Brahe the Younger, but Hämeenlinna, which still looked more like a rural village, developed very slowly—a common problem for inland cities in Finland when compared to more prosperous coastal cities. In 1777, King Gustav III of Sweden moved it one kilometre (0.6 miles) south to the hill on which it still stands.
Hämeenlinna has hosted numerous royal and imperial visits, including the visits of the Kings of Sweden Gustavus Adolphus, Adolf Frederick, Gustav III, and Gustav IV Adolf.
Republic of Finland: 1917–present
During the Finnish Civil War in 1918, Hämeenlinna was initially in the area controlled by the Reds, but the Whites captured the city with the help of the Germans in the Battle of Hämeenlinna. After the war, the Hämeenlinna prison camp established for Red prisoners operated in the Poltinaho barracks area, and it was known as one of the most notorious high-discipline camps in the history of the Civil War, where female prisoners were also kept. By mid-September, over 2,000 Red prisoners died in the prison camp, mainly for communicable diseases such as smallpox, scarlet fever, typhus and Spanish flu.
After World War II, Hämeenlinna underwent significant transformation as Finland shifted from a wartime economy to peacetime recovery. The city experienced substantial reconstruction efforts, which included the renovation of damaged infrastructure and the development of new housing to accommodate returning soldiers and their families.
Häme County received 73,812 war refugees from Karelia. Of all the war refugees, 90 percent were Finns. Hämeenlinna specifically welcomed these refugees, and the Ojoinen Borough was constructed to accommodate them.
The post-war period saw an increase in population as people moved to Hämeenlinna for job opportunities in various sectors. Hämeenlinna also embraced industrialisation during this era, with manufacturing becoming a cornerstone of its economy. The city's strategic location facilitated trade and transport, further promoting economic development.
The establishment of educational institutions, such as the Häme University of Applied Sciences, contributed to the city's growth and modernisation. Additionally, cultural initiatives flourished, with museums and theaters enhancing the local cultural landscape. The Artillery Museum of Finland, which opened in 1997, became a key attraction, showcasing the military history and heritage of the region.
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The Prime Ministers and ministers of Finland and Sweden gathered for a historic and joint meeting in Hämeenlinna in 2009.
Commercial and Industrial History
17th and 18th Centuries
An essential livelihood in the town during the 1600s was the markets, which were held regularly, especially around Saint Olaf's Day in July and during the winter markets. At market times, many people gathered in Hämeenlinna, and the production and sale of beer were significant sources of income. Tavern keeping and the production of spirits were also important means of livelihood. In the mid-1700s, a guild system began to form.
Industry in Hämeenlinna began to slowly develop toward the end of the 1700s. In 1761, a flax factory was established where various fabrics were woven. This enterprise operated for about a decade but did not ultimately succeed for long. The more extensive industrialisation period began only later in the 1800s.
Alongside agriculture and craftsmanship, the town's livelihoods included particularly the cultivation of flax and hemp and the textiles made from them. In the Häme region, including the surroundings of Hämeenlinna, flax cultivation was significant throughout the 1700s. Hämeenlinna's position as an inland town was seen as important for developing factories, craftsmen, and plantations, even though these forms of industry were slowly adopted in the town.
Distilleries and breweries
In the 19th century, Hämeenlinna had a notable history of distilleries and breweries. The beer brewery in Hämeenlinna was founded Johan Fredrik Lönnholtz around 1850.
Ownership of the brewery changed hands in 1883 when J. F. Schmausser purchased it. He continued developing the business and obtained new production and sales rights. In 1904, due to the death of Schmausser, the brewery was managed by various parties until new arrangements were made. The brewery operated under different company names until it ceased operations in 1917.
Weaving industry
Hämeenlinna Verkatehdas Oy was founded on February 17, 1895, on the shore of Lake Vanajavesi. Initially, a weaving mill and power plant were built, followed by a spinning mill, repair workshops, and villas for the management. The factory quickly became the city's most significant industrial site and was a pioneer in introducing electric lighting in Hämeenlinna.
After the Finnish independence, it grew to become one of the country's largest wool factories. After World War II, there were up to 1,300 employees working at Verkatehdas, and production reached record levels.
From Wikipedia’s article on Hämeenlinna, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.5