Finland's
first shoe factory started in Korkeakoski in
1897. A self-made man, Mr Edward Wallenius had built a modern tannery
four years earlier. The first generator produced light in 1895 and a hydroelectric
plant was built in 1899. Edward Wallenius left the factory in January
1900 and he had later a tannery and a shoe factory in Siberia, after the
Russian revolution he lived in China and Syria. Mr Emil Aaltonen
bought Korkeakoski factories in 1926 and 'the University of Shoemakers'
was in action until 1984, when Luhta company bought the factory and started
to produce leather garments under Big-L label. The
Koskenjalka Shoe Museum was founded in 1985 and is situated in the old
heel factory. The museum has permanent and special exhibitions; shoes,
tools, electricity and housing conditions.
Big-L
has a factory shop in Koskenjalka
and shop is open from May to September daily from 12 AM to 6 PM. (Closed
on mondays)
Museum has shoes
of the presidents Juho-Kusti Paasikivi, Mauno Koivisto and Tarja Halonen.
Nokia´s famous
Reinos are shoes of the year 2007