Frigate Toivo
Listen to Tales of Tar-The Fregat Toivo
Toppilansaari housed one of Oulu’s shipbuilders, the Kraakkula shipyard. Its products included one of Oulu’s last great sailing ships, the frigate Toivo, owned by the J. W. Snellman trading firm. The launch of the Toivo was celebrated in 1871; this was always a grand event in the town. Pea soup and stiff drinks were on offer, and the poorer population could scrape off and take home the soap used as a lubricant on the boat ramp. The celebrations could go on for a week.
The Toivo’s maiden voyage took the frigate to Liverpool, England, a hub of international trading. Depending on the weather, the journey from Oulu to Liverpool could take weeks or months; this time conditions were stormy and the Toivo made it to its destination in 48 days. The vessel would return from its journey to far-off lands after five years, in 1876.
The song “Laiva Toivo, Oulu” (“The Ship Toivo, Oulu”), with lyrics by sailor Jaakko Haataja, is a satirical tune about the captain of the frigate, J. W. Snellman’s son Wille, who was known for his tough discipline. Legend has it that, among other things, Wille brought back priceless stolen images of the Buddha as a surprise present for his friend, consul Mauritz Gerstin from Tampere.
In the Toivo’s day, Toppilansalmi sound would have been busy with long tar boats, ferries and barges, which were carrying goods between the harbour and the town. Rowers would ferry people to Toppilansaari from the mainland. In summer, water taxies operated on the sound, taking the bourgeoisie with their servants, pianos and potted plants to summer villas on Hietasaari island. Lawn croquet was particularly fashionable at the villas. Plots of land were also available on Hietasaari for ordinary townspeople to lease; few could afford to build a villa or even a cottage, so they would use them for growing vegetables and spent their days weeding instead of playing croquet.
Right by the place where the frigate Toivo was built, we can find the Snellman family’s summer house, dating from the 1850s, which was named Villa Hannala after their daughter. It wasn’t far for Johan Wilhelm Snellman to walk after breakfast to the tar-scented shipyard to check on the progress of the frigate, which measured over 50 metres in length.
An oriental-style tower was added to the villa in the 1890s. Perhaps the idea came from captain Wille, who fell head over heels for all things Asiatic on his journeys.
Sources:
Hautala, Kustaa 1975: Oulun kaupungin historiaa III, 1809–1856. City of Oulu.
Kaila, E. E. 1931: Pohjanmaa ja meri. (PhD thesis)
Kaukiainen, Yrjö 2000: Laiva Toivo, Oulu. SKS Kirjat.
Pohjamo, Ulla 2014: Esikaupunki moniäänisenä kulttuuriperintönä: Oulun Hietasaari. (PhD thesis)
Seura 1937: “Intialaisesta temppelistä Tampereen taidemuseoon kulkeutuivat ryöstetyt Buddhan kuvat, joiden arvoa ei rahalla voida määritellä”. Seura, 28/4/1937(17):20.
Wacklin, Sara 1966 (1872): Sata muistelmaa Pohjanmaalta. WSOY.
Photo: Finnish Heritage Agency. A scale model of a ship from Oulu called Toivo on June 22, 1934. Johan Oscar Erickson, a former sailor from Oulu, built the scale model in America and donated it to Oulu Museum.
Augmented reality: Frigate Toivo
Address
Toppilanlaituri / Höyrymyllyntie 16, 90520 Oulu
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.