In the University of the Third Age (UTA) in Jyväskylä began a research seminar in 1999, which I also attended. The seminar covered the basics of scientific study, and in a very early stage our instructors encouraged us to think of a research subject of our own. I chose a wooden observation tower in the vicinity of my home that I consider an old friend of mine, and which is now in the point of collapsing due to its age.
I knew that Geodetical Institute had built these types of towers in the end of 1920’s, but why in that particular place, in the edge of a field, for what purpose, and were there others like that somewhere else? My questions were answered after I inquired the Helsinki Geodetical Institute for some material. The history of the institute (Juhani Kakkuri: Geodeettinen laitos 1918-1993) told me, that the towers were used for surveying utilizing triangulation.
Relatively early in the history of determining the shape of the earth, people progressed from a pancake to a sphere. As astronomy advanced further in the end of the 17th century, it was discovered that the earth was not a perfect sphere, but flattened either on the poles (British Newton) or on the sides (the French). Simultaneous measurements on the equator in Peru and on the polar circle in Finnish Lapland solved the argument. After this surveying begun to advance in different countries.
During the Swedish rule surveys were done utilizing high hills and church towers for the needs of taxation and to facilitate transportation. After Finland gained independence, regular surveying was begun. The Geodetical Institute formed a network of vertical and horizontal chains of triangulation towers, which contained almost 400 towers. Their location was determined by astronomical measurements with the help of the North Star. The exact information of each tower was recorded in the triangulation point book.
In my work I wanted to obtain information on the towers built in Central Finland and the feelings and behavior of the people who lived near them. What the tower had meant to them now, as the even the ones that the National Survey Board has re-erected, have fallen or been dismantled, with an exception of one? To my joy I discovered that people who answered my survey had similar memories as myself. What kind of recollections from different times did the people who lived near the tower, the villagers and the visitors have, and what had their relationships to people of the tower been like? These things I have recorded, compared and pondered. The work brought pleasure for me and roused the people who answered me to remember. The triangulation tower was quite often an observation tower and also a therapist.
Liisa Suomäki
E-mail:sulima@iobox.fi