Cortenkatu street 3, kiosk and kiosk window
At the beginning of Cortenkatu street, next to the former tobacco factory, there is now a beautifully restored house built in the 19th century. Houses like this always put elf Briskie in a good mood.
Elf Briskie strides along Rantakatu street, lost in his own thoughts. He approaches Cortenkatu street as the church bell strikes three. Tonight's patrol continues to Cortenkatu street, one of the oldest streets in the city. Over the centuries, not only people but also elves and even ghosts have wandered along this street.
"The night watchmen no longer patrol the city," Briskie thinks to himself. He still remembers when the night watchman set off at nine o'clock and shouted: "It's ten o'clock – o'clock!" And then he repeated his cry every hour until four in the morning. The city hired old men who were no longer fit for other work as night watchmen. The main thing was that the old man could make some noise.
Before the fire watch began, Matti Sarklin, an old sailor, would strike his evening drum to signal that it was time to turn in for the night.
"It often made the children playing outside rush home," Briskie recalls. The night watchman would sternly order them off the streets.
That's how it was back then. Briskie's thoughts drifted back to the sailing ship era, when he began his career as an elf in Katinhäntä. He remembers the residents from that time and their antics, both good and bad.
- The tobacco angels were a funny sight as they ran to work and back home in their white work coats, Briskie smiles to himself, as he had only good things to report about the hard-working boys. Johan Leufstadius' tobacco factory operated on this corner of Cortenkatu street. The manufacturer had been granted privileges for his operations in 1848. He advertised his products as the best Virginia tobacco. Briskie is happy that Leufstadius' house is still standing.
Opposite the corner was the house of Judge Alopaeus, later known as the house of district doctor Carl Robert Ehrström.
- It is sad to note that the house was destroyed in a fire. Would we have a museum without Ehrström's open-minded approach, he wonders. Of course there would be a museum, but perhaps not Finland's first local museum.
- Oh yes, I was supposed to write down the nice things, Briskie orders himself to pick up the electronic notebook that has replaced his work partner. He ticks the pluses in the information about the new house's residents.
- Electricity and artificial intelligence. Soon even the elves will end up in the museum among the memories, he worries. He misses his original work partner, the elf Slightbrisk, who was retired. It was so nice to work together.
- I think it was Dr. Johan Justus Staudinger, who lived next door to the tobacco factory. People didn't want to bother the doctor with minor ailments. People also sought advice from healers, who had their own methods. Stomach ailments could be cured by eating flax seeds and drinking alternately cold and hot water, Briskie shakes his head to himself and mutters that modern people would not be cured by such methods.
Next to the tobacco factory is a beautifully restored house built in the 1800s. Houses like this always put Briskie in a good mood.
- I remember Helmi very well. She was a very creative person. One example of Helmi's ideas is the kiosk that still stands on Cortenkatu street. It's a nice little feature on Cortenkatu street, the elf nods to himself. Helmi bought the building in 1964 from kiosk owner Tauno Tuular. The kiosk was brought to the corner of the plot from Varvi. He kept the kiosk open for a while. Perhaps the business was not profitable in this location.
In any case, the kiosk business was short-lived. The building, on the other hand, remained in place.
The church bell strikes four times. Tonight's round is coming to an end, and it's time to tiptoe back to my home to rest and wait for tomorrow's round.
"What is the reason for this electronic silence?" Elf Briskie suddenly notices that library elf Taavetti's digital buddy Tuisku has not made a single update all night. And where is elf trainee Touho?
Elf Briskie makes one more update and sends a tip to Santa Claus: Samuli Paulaharju's book Wanha Raahe as a gift for all the kind people of Katinhäntä.
The text is based on the map and text published in Samuli Paulaharju's book Wanha Raahe (Old Town Raahe).
More information
Samuli Paulaharju: Wanha Raahe
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