- "The Emperor is coming!" On the second day of September 1819, the Pattijoki customs house was crowded with people. Someone noticed that a convoy, seven horses and a wagon equipped to function as an imperial mobile kitchen, was approaching Raahe.
The town had been thoroughly cleaned up: houses had been painted, fences and bridges repaired, pigs and other domestic animals that had been wandering loose in the yards had been put out of site to pastures. The houses of merchant C.F. Frieman and Palin's mamsels, near the customs gate, had been decorated with deciduous trees. Ships berthed in the town harbour were decorated with festive flags. Raahe was ready for the visit of the Russian Emperor Alexander I (1777-1825).
A clavier, bought in Stockholm, had been brought from Ollinsaari Manor. Court Councillor Bergbom's daughter Carin was ready to play the grandest piece she knew: "Napoleons tåg öfver alperna". The crowd ran along the roadside cheering. Old and young alike had come to see this worthy guest.
It had been decided to accommodate the Emperor in the house of the merchant Johan Frieman (now the Youth Services) by the Pekkatori square. There everything was ready for the dignified guest.
From Raahe, the Emperor travelled by sea to Siikajoki, accompanied by the sailing boats of Fredrik Sovelius and Zachris Franzén.
Additional Information (In English)
Wikipedia - Alexander I of Russia
City of Raahe - Youth Services
Additional Information (In Finnish)
Raahen Matkailuoppaat ry - Keisarillinen visiitti Raahessa 2.9.1819
Raahen Matkailuoppaat ry - Soitinharvinaisuus Kansallismuseossa
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