THE SPA

HEINOLA SPA 1892–1944

Founding and growth

The Heinola Spa opened in the summer of 1892.

The town purchased the spa in 1911. The highest number of visitors was reached in 1916–1917, when a large proportion of the guests were Russian. The beach with its water chute was completed in 1915.

Heinola had become a popular spa resort.

Fire and redevelopment

The spa was destroyed by fire in May 1930. New buildings, designed by the architect W G Palmqvist, were completed in time for the summer season of 1931.

Cures and leisure

The spa offered a wide range of treatments and cures, including water baths, showers, medicinal baths, electrotherapy, light therapy, mud and clay treatments, massages, therapeutic exercises, sunbathing in air baths and radium water consumption. Leisure activities included socialising, walks in the park, music, boat trips and entertainments.

The war years and the end of operations

During the Continuation War, the top floor of the main building was used as a hospital. In 1944, it was leased to an organisation providing subsidised holidays to be used for the treatment of patients with rheumatism.

Since then, the buildings have served as a school and a library, among other things.

1. The first main spa building was completed in 1892 and was designed by the architect C Richard Rosenberg. The building was destroyed by fire in spring 1930.

2. Aerial view of the spa from the early 1930s. In the centre are the new spa buildings, the dry treatment centre and the main building, both completed in 1931. The beach with its water chute was popular with both spa guests and townspeople. Spa guests could use the tennis courts.