HISTORY
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Steamship Cooperative 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. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
Source: Juhani Valanto: "Matka entisyyteen, s/s Tarjanne
90 vuotta" |
