History of Kirkkolahti

The history of Kirkkolahti in Liperi stretches back centuries, to a time when people and goods traveled mainly by waterways and fishing was everyman's way to feed the family. The first villages and early industries grew up along these lakes and rivers.

On the shore of Kirkkolahti still stands the protected red-brick building of the old dairy. The same red brick was used to build Liperi's impressive church on the opposite side of the bay. The Liperi Heritage Association has collected stories from the people of the village.

A story connected to a father's passion for fishing

In summer evenings after work, father was always in such a hurry to get out on the water that he barely managed to take off his jacket and tie and roll up his sleeves. Mother often scolded him: "You could at least change into an older shirt for a fishing trip."

Some twenty years later, at a gathering, an older man recalled that his relatives had once lived in Liperi. "One funny thing stuck in my memory – there was a man there who used to check his fishing nets wearing a white dress shirt."

– Riitta Tiihonen / Liperi Heritage Association