New Finland District, Saskatchewan, Canada


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English version ...........Finnish translation / Suomen käännös


New Finland Sauna

As Narrated by long-time resident of New Finland, Albert Maki

One of the first buildings to appear on a New Finland homestead was a sauna; as the Finns believed that cleanliness was next to Godliness; a sauna was an absolute necessity.

The first step in building a sauna was a firm level square foundation of stone; 16 x 24. Then the search for suitable trees for the walls; they had to be about 10 inches in the bottom [the bigger the better] and as straight as possible. Bowed trees present quite a problem.

The green tree was limbed and cut to length then the straightest logs placed lengthwise on the long side of the foundation and another placed vertically on top with the bowed part down, to make a corner. Each log was then shaped with an axe to fit the lower one, then turned over 180 degrees with bowed part up and shaped again to fit.

This method was used all around the building, all four corners at the same time, alternating the narrow and wide ends of the log to made a symmetrical corner. Using a hand auger 1 - 1/2 inch holes were made the whole width of two logs and they were secured together with wooden pegs whittled out of poplar or willow, alternately along the log. The walls were ten logs high and openings were left for a door and small window using logs, not suitable for the walls, for the shorter areas.

The rafters and eaves were made with small logs [about five inch] to make a V-shaped roof; and 1 - 1/2 inch logs crosswise to rafters to form a foundation. Thereafter were covered with birch bark sheets found in the valley, to form a waterproof roof. Boards for the sides and door were made by hewing off the rounded sides of a log and secured with wooden pegs or nails if available. The floor was made of four inch logs hewed on one side to make it level for walking. Clay, re-enforced with straw, was used for chinking the walls, inside and out.

Inside, the heater, kiaus, was made with stones using flat ones for top and bottom to from a nest for the firebox. In later years old oil barrels and scrap iron were used. They were inventive and adaptable and used whatever was available. The firewood was laid and the sauna was heated until the stones were very hot. In early years they were called savu or smoke saunas, and a small open window was left at that end for the smoke to go out. Later one stove pipes were used.

Later on stove pipes were used. To catch the steam and heat, a platform was made with two or three steps, again with hewn logs, about three to four feet off the floor and against the back wall. When the stones were very hot, fire was allowed to die down, and it was ready for use. The hardiest citizens were the first ones in to get the most benefit from the hot steam, when water was thrown against the red hot stones. To open the pores and bring out perspiration, switches, vihtas, were made and used as the name applies. They were made out of oak or hazelnut branches, steamed to make them hot and pliable and keep the leaves intact. In the winter, for closing off pores tempering / karkaasemista, some would cool off in the snow not possible in summer unless close to water.


Image of Sauna Buildng
Volume 1 "LIfe in the New Finland Woods"
Image of Sauna Interior
Volume 1 "Life in the New Finland Woods"


English version ...........Finnish translation / Suomen käännös


New Finlandin saunat

Saskatchewanin New Finlandissa pitkään asunut Albert Maki kertoo alueen suomalaissaunoista seuraavasti:

"Yksi ensimmäisistä rakennuksista, joita pystytettiin New Finlandin maatiloille, oli sauna; suomalaisille puhtaus oli kaikki kaikessa, joten sauna oli välttämätön.

Ensimmäinen askel saunan rakentamisessa oli tukeva ja tasainen kivistä tehty perusta, kokoa 16 x 24. Sitten piti löytää seiniksi käyviä puita; niiden oli oltava noin 10 tuumaa tyvestään (mitä isompia sitä parempi) ja mahdollisimman suoria. Kaarevat puut aiheuttivat aikamoisia ongelmia. Tuoreen puun oksat karsittiin pois ja rungot sahattiin halutun pituisiksi. Suorimmat hirret asetettiin perustan pitkille seinille. Kulma tehtiin asettamalla hirsi edellisen päälle kaareva puoli alaspäin. Se sovitettiin kirveellä alempaan hirteen sopivaksi, käännettiin 180 astetta ja sovitettiin siihen toiseltakin puolelta.

Tätä systeemiä käytettiin ympäri rakennuksen kaikissa neljässä nurkassa yhtä aikaa hirsien paksua ja ohutta päätä vuorotellen, jotta kulmasta tuli symmetrinen. Käsiporalla tehtiin puolentoista tuuman reikiä kahden hirren paksuudelta ja hirret kiinnitettiin toisiinsa haavasta tai pajusta veistetyillä tapeilla pitkin hirttä suuntaa vuorotellen. Seinät olivat kymmenen hirren korkuisia. Seiniin jätettiin aukot ovelle ja pienelle ikkunalle käyttämällä lyhyitä hirsiä, jotka eivät olleet sopivia pitkille seinille.

Kattoparrut ja räystäät tehtiin kapeammista puunrungoista (noin viisi tuumaa) V.n muotoista kattoa varten, ja puolentoista tuuman rungoista ristisuunnassa pohjustaa varten. Se katettiin laaksosta haetuilla koivun kaarnalevyillä, joista tuli vedenkestävä katto. Laudat pieliä ja ovea varten tehtiin höyläämällä pyöreät rungot molemmin puolin. Ne kiinnitettiin tapeilla tai nauloilla, jos sellaisia oli saatavilla. Lattia tehtiin neljän tuuman hirsistä, jotka oli höylätty tasaiseksi yläpuolelta. Oljilla vahvistettua savea käytettiin seinien rakojen tukkimiseen molemmin puolin. Sisällä oleva kiuas tehtiin kivistä. Litteistä kivistä tehtiin sen pohja ja kansi, joiden väliin jäi aukko tulipesälle. Myöhempinä vuosina käytettiin vanhoja öljytynnyreitä ja rautaromua. He olivat kekseliäitä ja käyttivät mitä vain oli saatavana. Polttopuut asetettiin tulipesään ja saunaa lämmitettiin kunnes kivet olivat erittäin kuumia. Alkuvuosina niitä sanottiin savusaunoiksi, ja pieni ikkuna jätettiin auki, jotta savu kulkisi ulos. Myöhemmin alettiin käyttää savupiippuja. Löylyjen saamiseksi tehtiin kahden tai kolmen tason lauteet höylätyistä rungoista, noin kolme tai neljä jalkaa lattian yläpuoellle takaseinää vasten. Kun kivet olivat tosi kuumia, tulen annettiin sammua ja sauna oli valmis käytettäväksi.

Sitkeimmät asukkaat menivät ensimmäisinä sisälle saadakseen kovimmat löylyt tulikuumien kivien nostattamasta höyrystä, kun kiville heitettiin vettä. Hiki saatiin virtaamaan ja hikihuokoset avautumaan käyttämällä vihtoja. Ne tehtiin tammen tai pähkinäpuun oksista, jotka höyrytettiin notkeiksi ja kuumiksi, ja estämään lehtien irtoaminen. Talvella jotkut kävivät lumihangessa vilvoittelemassa ja sulkemassa hikihuokoset, mikä ei ollut kesällä mahdollista, paitsi jos sauna oli veden lähellä."

Finnish translation of Albert Maki's Sauna article as it appeared in the Wednesday, September 15th, 2010 edition of Canadan Sanomat
Translated by Canada Sanomat editorial team and sent in by Aarre Ertolahti, Canadan Sanomat





New Finland Sauna was contributed by long-time resident of New Finland, Albert Maki
New Finland Historical and Heritage Society


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Submitter Red Lauttamus

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