My history |
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Steamship
Tarjanne |
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Steamship Cooperative was founded in Ruovesi 3rd of August 1907. Cooperative was named after beautiful
Tarjanne lake and its purpose was to carry out a plan for a new ship. In cooperative’s autumn meeting same year it was
stated that there were enough members and shares marked. It was also decided in the meeting that the ship was to be ordered
according to the lowest offer from Lehtomäki workshop in Joroinen.
New ship was naturally named Tarjanne. According to contract ship’s length was 29,45 meters,
width 6,15 meters and passenger capacity 250. Ship was supposed to reach cruising speed of 12 knots. |
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Tarjanne finishes
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Tarjanne construction started in autumn at Vilppula Mäkitalonlahti dock. In May 1908 Tarjanne was launched
and sailed from Vilppula to Tampere via Ruovesi where there were hundreds of people, musicians and a choir gathered at the
wharf to welcome Tarjanne.
Test cruise was made 22nd of May 1908 and for the first cruise from Tampere to Virrat Tarjanne left
for the next day 23rd of May where brass band playing Vaasa march welcomed Tarjanne. |
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Tarjanne and Akseli Gallen-Kallela
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It is said that Akseli Gallen-Kallela was involved in Tarjanne’s interior and decorations design
in late winter 1908 but there are no solid documents found. What is proven is that Tarjanne’s upper deck’s restaurant
was renewed in 1916 according to Gallen-Kallela’s design. |
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Poet’s way
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Bus route from Vaasa to Virrat adjusted to Tarjanne’s schedule was organized in spring 1934.
The new Vaasa – Virrat – Tampere route was quite popular throughout the whole summer. Travellers also from other
parts of Scandinavia travelling via Vaasa started using this new route. Because the route was geographically the same that
Johan Ludvig Runeberg and Zacharias Topelius had travelled already hundred years earlier, the name “Poet’s way”
was established. |
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Ltd. Poet’s Way
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Steamship Cooperative Tarjanne’s era was coming to its end and Ltd. Poet’s Way was founded
in 1967 to continue cooperatives honourable work. For the first managing director of the new company was chosen Kai Viila,
Laiva Oy Matkailu’s managing director. Viila managed both companies to gain more effective marketing and administration.
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Source: Juhani Valanto: "Matka entisyyteen, s/s Tarjanne 100 vuotta" |
