Seurahuone
Listen to Tales of Tar-Seurahuone
As Oulu became increasingly international and wealthy from the 17th century onwards, there was soon demand for a place where the bourgeoisie and merchants grown rich on tar exports, trade and shipbuilding, as well as the city’s aristocrats could meet their social equals and host eminent foreign guests. The city’s wealth inequality was great and the social hierarchy was carefully upheld.
What is now Oulu City Hall was completed in 1886, initially as hotel and restaurant Seurahuone (”Society Club”). It hosted the cream of Oulu society for dinners and evenings out with theatrical and musical performances. Even our national composer Jean Sibelius gave concerts at Seurahuone in Oulu.
A typical dinner menu at Seurahuone might comprise consommé with truffles, Renaissance-style rack of lamb, asparagus and the fashionable dessert of the day, mocha parfait. Many foreigners were wary of the gravlax that was often served as an appetizer, as they considered it odd to eat raw fish. Ordinary, lower-class Ouluites had no business at Seurahuone, although for them the continental and modern restaurant, as well as its counterpart on Raatinsaari, Hôtel de Raatti, offered new opportunities for career development, beyond the ordinary domestic service posts.
The local nickname for Seurahuone, Susiteetti, came from the Swedish name Societetshus. Before the stone building that still stands, the original Seurahuone was made of wood in 1849 and positioned parallel to the Kaupunginoja (or Laanaoja) canal. It burnt down in the Great Fire of Oulu in 1882.
Besides a dining room and stage, Seurahuone included an exotic and fashionable, dusky cabinet decorated in oriental style, to reflect Oulu’s new cosmopolitan nature. Patrons could enjoy foreign coffee in dainty rice porcelain cups while lounging on a silk chaise longue. Women were not allowed in the mystical and romantic Oriental Room without a male companion.
There is a local saying, “olla ölövinä”, meaning to be nonchalant or casual, which is said to derive from a specific event at Seurahuone. The story goes that factory owner, commercial counsellor Hemming Emmanuel Åström had gone to check on one of his factories after lunch, somewhat the worse for wear. His unsteady gait did not go unnoticed, but Åström defended himself saying he had had “bara lite öl och vin” (“just a little beer and wine”), going on as if nothing had happened. This saying turned into ölövi in the Finnish-speaking population’s mouths.
Sources:
Korhonen, Markus H. 2002: Kaupunginkellarista Seurahuoneelle – Keveästi oululaisen kestikulttuurin vaiheita. Uusi Seurahuone.
City of Oulu: “Kaupungintalon historia”. https://www.ouka.fi/oulu/oulu-tietoa/kaupungintalon-historia (Accessed 1/8/2023)
Photo: The Finnish Heritage Agency. M. L. Carstens, 1907.
Address
Kaupungintalon edus, Hallituspuisto. Oulu, 90100
Tales of Tar
Welcome to the golden era of the tar trade!
Tales of Tar from Oulu
The cultural-historical Tales of Tar route takes you to authentic tar trade locations in different parts of Oulu through the short stories written by author Katariina Vuori. The stories are based on authentic locations, events and persons from the golden era of the tar trade in Oulu. You can listen to or read the fascinating stories on your phone.
In the 1800s tar export made Oulu a buzzing international seaside market town. Tar produced in Finland, and mostly shipped from Oulu, kept most of the sailing boats floating in Europe and beyond. This significant time in Oulu history is filled with stories, events, and destinies.
Katariina Vuori, the author of the stories, says she loves the waterways and the maritime feel of Oulu and Northern Ostrobothnia – the coast is unique, unassuming and slightly rag-ged, often hidden behind shrubbery along the waterline.
“It was fascinating to get to explore, through these tar-scented stories, the way in which waterways have influenced local history, the city’s growth and people’s lives, everyone from commoners to the high and mighty. The tar hegemony involved much more than mere glamour and oriental spices – there was pain, disappointment, and even personal tragedies in the mix,” says the author about the project.
The Tales of Tar route starts from the boundary of Leveri and ends in Toppila harbour. However, each story is independent and can be experienced in any order.
Stories: Katariina Vuori
Translation in English: Eva Malkki
Voice: Sami Lalou
Sound design: Pasi Alatalo
Photos: Finnish Agency of Heritage
Production and implementation: Oulu Culture Foundation
The main funder: Council of Oulu Region
© Oulu Culture Foundation
Tales of Tar from around the Oulujoki river
The Tales of Tar route continues along the Oulujoki river with three stories centred around the events that took place in Muhos, Utajärvi and Vaala. You can find the stories by following the digital map of the Tales of Tar route. You can also read the stories on this website.
The Oulujoki river stories have been realised by Rokua UNESCO Global Geopark/Humanpolis Oy as part of the project “Geoparks – attractive sustainable travel destinations”, which is funded by the European Union’s Regional Development Fund and the Finnish Government.
Photos: Finnish Agency of Heritage
The stories are available in English, Finnish, Easy Finnish, and Swedish.