300 m
Ollila house
Kalajoki
(Remember to respect private property!)
This quite prestige looking yellow house called Ollila is from the 1800s, but it was renovated to its current style in the 1920s.
A known owner of the house in 1885 was Joonas Merenoja.
Joonas Merenoja worked as a captain on his brother’s ship, Liukas (“the slippery”). The two brothers sailed and traded all the way in St. Petersburg and Sweden, which had a huge meaning to other locals especially during the years of the Great Hunger in 1865-1868. With the aid of Joonas Merenoja and shopkeeper Antti Santaholma food products were transported to Kalajoki straight from St. Petersburg.
According to local stories, the Ollila house was built at the same time as the Kalaja –sailboat and timber from another boat was used in the house.
In the 1920s Olli Santaholma renovated the house and gave it its current name.
Image description:
- 1: Ollila, summer 2025 (Lotta Puurula)
- 2: The Ollila house before it was renovated in the 1920s. Stones on the front yard are most likely granite from the Santaholma sawmill (Kalajoen kotiseutuyhdistys).
Address
Plassintie 45
Tales from Plassi
Welcome to Plassi – the old town of Kalajoki!
This cultural route spans between the Jokela Vicarage and the Havula museum, leaving a trail of unique and fascinating sightseeing spots on the way.
Learn about the history and the cultural significance of the Plassi area!
In short:
The name “Plassi” derives from a swedish word “marknadsplats”, meaning a marketplace.
Plassi has a long history of being the local center for trading, marketing, sailing, handicrafts and saw industry.
The old village structure in Plassi is well preserved and the area is mostly covered in wooden houses from the 1700-1900s.
Guided walking tours are organized around the Plassi area and at the Havula museum by Kalajoen Matkailuoppaat ry (Kalajoki Travel Guides).
- Book a guided tour: 040 5571325
Additional info:
- The route is app. 2 km long
- You can experience the route by walking, bicycling, driving or entirely remotely in digital form
- There is a sidewalk for pedestrians almost reaching the end of the route, but the last 300 meters you have to walk on the side of the road
- Some of the buildings on the route are privately owned and inhabited - please, remember to respect private properties!
This route is designed in collaboration with Kalajoki Culture Services, and Sari Alajoki, the expert in built heritage.
The old black and white photographs are from Kalajoen Kotiseutuyhdistys (Kalajoki Local Association).
Image description:
- 2: Map of Plassi from 1869 (by C.G.W. Laudelin).
Places in this collection
