History of the Myllymäki croft

In the region of Uusimaa which is the richest in forests, in Nummi-Pusula, the history of the Löfkulla croft forms a subplot in the history of the Mustio ironworks and later also in that of the Högfors ironworks.

The first buildings of the croft were erected at about 1825 in the forest on the land of the Löfkulla farm, established in the 1760s. The crofter’s cottage built by the road running from Löfkulla to the mill was given the name Myllymäki (”Hill by the mill”). The mill, jointly built and owned by the Söderkulla, Löfkulla and Granbacka farms in the beginning of the 19^th century above the waterfall in the river running from Myllylampi pond to Haukilammi pond, was used mainly at the times when the river was flooded.

In 1851 the Löfkulla farm and the adjoining forests were sold to baron Magnus Linder, and the farm inclusive of the croft became a tenant farm belonging to the Mustio ironworks. Chamberlain to the Emperor, Hjalmar Linder sold the farm in 1899 to the Högfors ironworks. During a period of extensive felling of forests between 1905 and 1913 the farm was owned by the Loimijoen Höyrysaha Oy, a sawmill, and again after that, by the Högfors ironworks.

In the 1850s the buildings at Myllymäki comprised a single-room chimneyless cottage, a storehouse, a sauna and a drying-barn. What little land there was available for farming was cleared around these buildings. Justus Adolfinpoika (1849-1916) from Jäljä farm in Ahonpää village, who in 1873 had become a farm labourer at Löfkulla, moved to Myllymäki with his wife Lovisa Mikontytär (1853-1926). The chimneyless cottage was supplied with heating and was extended by the construction of second room with a fireplace. Once the renovations had been completed the name of the croft as well as the year 1881 were painted on the front door. The drying-barn was extended by the construction of a threshing room and a two-storey space for cutting straw.

Justus Adolfinpoika and Lovisa Mikontytär had no children of their own and raised Lovisa’s orphaned nephews at Myllymäki. After the death of Lovisa Mikontytär her nephew Kaarle Nummela stayed on at the croft.

The last labour services due to Myllymäki croft took place in 1920. The croft was then bought from the Högfors ironworks in the name of Kalle Myllymäki. After parcelling, carried out in 1923, the farm comprised a parcel of just under 30 acres and a separate wood lot located on the land of the former Kankuri farm.

Kalle Nummela (1889-1976) lived at Myllymäki from 1902 until his death. In accordance with his wishes the buildings and the movable property as well as the surrounding fields were donated to the state and the National Board of Antiquities in 1976. The remainder of the parcel was bought in 1980. The buildings are protected by the order issued for the protection of governement-owned buildings.

The grounds of Myllymäki croft are situated on a hill bank and feature 17 different buildings.

The combined cowshed and barn which separates the inner and outer courtyards has a through passage.

The croft is situated by an old mill road.

The stove in the croft.

The residential building’s porch.