{"id":793,"date":"2018-10-29T11:42:25","date_gmt":"2018-10-29T11:42:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/warjakka.com\/?p=793"},"modified":"2020-05-08T08:37:18","modified_gmt":"2020-05-08T08:37:18","slug":"heikki-kurtti-village-millionaire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/warjakka.com\/fi\/heikki-kurtti-village-millionaire\/","title":{"rendered":"Heikki Kurtti &#8211; Village Millionaire"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Heikki Kurtti - Village Millionaire\" width=\"1140\" height=\"641\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9jzQ7cvgba8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Born in 1885, Heikki Kurtti was an unusual chap who\u2019s grubby appearance and enthusiasm for making as much noise as possible in the name of music made him a recognisable figure in the Finnish village of Varjakka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He worked for Varjakka Sawmill, where he was responsible for stoking the steam engine that generated electricity for the Pyydyskari dockyard on Varjakka Island. The story is told that one Winter morning, whilst on the way to work with a colleague, Heikki\u2019s workmate dropped through the ice and drowned. There was no therapy available in those days and it is believed that the event traumatised him for life. He was a very precise person, who couldn\u2019t stand other people making noises. He would stalk his workplace with an oil can, threatening to lubricate anyone who was whistling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the warmer months, Heikki traveled to Pyydyskari with a boat that he had made himself. The shape of the keel had ended up wrong and it did not stay upright without a heavy stone in the bottom. Someone pranked him by painting on the side of the boat in big letters: VAAPPERA 1. This refers to a vessel that is unstable when unladen. Heikki got very angry about this, grabbed his axe and chopped his boat into small pieces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He survived a number of life-threatening situations, from dropping into the lake whilst checking his nets on a cold, misty morning, to setting himself on fire in the middle of nowhere. Heikki used to smoke and saved all his cigarette ends and put them into his woven bark backpack. As he skied to work one morning, he became aware that his backpack was on fire and he couldn\u2019t remove it. Someone who had been skiing behind him saw Heikki rolling in the snow, trying to extinguish his fur coat. The pack was wrecked and his lunch was scattered everywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the engine room at his workplace, Heikki made use of a round oil tank filled with hot water from the steam engine. One time, someone entering the engine room ran straight back out of the building screaming with fear, convinced that they had seen the devil himself. They told of a black furry face that had peered straight at them from an oil tank with long-taloned hands tightly grasping the edge of the tank. It was Heikki in his makeshift bath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Villagers in Pajuniemi used to wash their clothes with the water from a sandpit that filled with melting snow each Spring. One year, Heikki decided that it was finally time for his clothes to get a wash. He stuffed the pit with oily and dirty clothes and chucked small pieces of soap after them. He let the clothes soak, rinsed them in an overflowing stream and hung them on the branches of nearby trees. Women in the village were not pleased with him as he had managed to contaminate the whole pit and made the water unusable.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He was a keen fisherman and often took his catch into Oulu to sell to the market traders &#8211; particularly a couple of female fishmongers. The story goes that he would dress to impress when visiting them, in an inexplicably pristine white scarf. They joked that he would have to be a millionaire to stand a chance with them. And then it happened: at the age of 70, Heikki won a large pot of money from betting on the English football results, not once, but twice, with just twelve months between each win. It didn\u2019t seem to improve his chances with the fishladies, though, so he bought a moped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Heikki loved the idea of making music and, although he couldn\u2019t play a note, he decided to buy a new accordion with his winnings. (His old accordion was in such bad shape that whenever he squeezed it, bugs and cockroaches would shoot out of holes in the bellows) He went to Oulu to browse around a music shop. The shop assistants were initially wary of him and reluctant to show him anything until he took a large wad of banknotes from his rucksack. To get home, Heikki took his shiny new accordion on the ferry that travelled from Oulu to Hailuoto, stopping at Pyydyskari on the way. Other passengers asked him to play music for the journey, but soon regretted it when Heikki started enthusiastically pumping the accordion, making a loud, discordant racket. People in the market square in Oulu stared after the leaving ferry to see what was causing the strange whining noise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At some point Heikki bought a harmonium, which he kept in front of a window in his little cottage. Each morning he used to play a concert for the villagers, whether they wanted it or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Heikki Kurtti died in an old folk\u2019s home as an 80-year-old millionaire. His story is told on camera by his neighbour, Tapio Moilanen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Heikki Kurtti &#8211; kyl\u00e4n miljon\u00e4\u00e4ri<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Vuonna 1885 syntynyt Heikki Kurtti oli omalaatuinen mies, jonka ep\u00e4siisti ulkon\u00e4k\u00f6 ja innokkuus iso\u00e4\u00e4niseen musiikkiin teki h\u00e4nest\u00e4 yhden Varjakan tunnetuimmista henkil\u00f6hahmoista.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Heikki ty\u00f6skenteli koneenhoitajana Pyydyskarissa, Varjakan sahalla. Kerrottiin, ett\u00e4 er\u00e4\u00e4n\u00e4 talvena Heikin ty\u00f6kaveri tippui j\u00e4ihin ja hukkui heid\u00e4n ollessaan matkalla Varjakan sahalle t\u00f6ihin. T\u00e4m\u00e4 j\u00e4rkytti Heikki\u00e4. Noihin aikoihin ei ollut terapiaa tarjolla, joten monet uskoivat tapahtuman j\u00e4\u00e4neen vaivaamaan Heikki\u00e4.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ty\u00f6ss\u00e4\u00e4n Heikki oli eritt\u00e4in tarkka ja h\u00e4n huolehti Pyydyskarin h\u00f6yrykoneen toimivuudesta. H\u00e4net saattoi usein tavata konehuoneella \u00f6ljykannu k\u00e4dess\u00e4 voitelemassa koneen osia. H\u00e4n tarjosi \u00f6ljy\u00e4 my\u00f6s niille, jotka vihelteliv\u00e4t t\u00f6idens\u00e4 lomassa, jottei heid\u00e4n tarvitsisi turhaan vinguttaa. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kes\u00e4isin Heikki matkusti Pyydyskariin soutamalla omatekem\u00e4ll\u00e4\u00e4n veneell\u00e4. Vene oli kuitenkin karppi eli pohja oli hyvin kapea, jolloin se helposti kaatui kyljelleen ilman ison kiven painoa veneen pohjalla. Joku p\u00e4\u00e4tti tehd\u00e4 Heikille j\u00e4yn\u00e4\u00e4 ja maalasi veneen kylkeen isoin kirjaimin VAAPPERA 1. Vaappera tarkoitti venett\u00e4, joka ei pysynyt pystyss\u00e4 ilman painotusta. Heikki suuttui tapauksesta niin, ett\u00e4 haki samantien kirveen ja hakkasi veneens\u00e4 s\u00e4p\u00e4leiksi.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Heikki selviytyi useammasta l\u00e4helt\u00e4 piti tilanteesta, kuten hukkumiselta er\u00e4\u00e4n\u00e4 eritt\u00e4in sumuisena aamuna, jolloin h\u00e4n joutui vedenvaraan tarkastaessaan katiskojaan. Kerran h\u00e4nen konttinsa puolestaan syttyi tuleen, kun h\u00e4n oli hiit\u00e4m\u00e4ss\u00e4 Pyydyskaria kohti. H\u00e4n oli piipahtanut kauppaan, ostanut ev\u00e4it\u00e4, tupakoinut ja laittanut tupakan natsat sel\u00e4ss\u00e4\u00e4n kantamaansa konttiin. Kontti syttyi tuleen keskell\u00e4 j\u00e4\u00e4t\u00e4, eik\u00e4 h\u00e4n saanut sitomiaan kontin hihnoja auki. Per\u00e4ss\u00e4 hiiht\u00e4nyt ty\u00f6kaveri oli n\u00e4hnyt, kuinka Heikki oli tehnyt lumessa kuperkeikkoja yritt\u00e4ess\u00e4\u00e4n sammuttaa tulta. Kontti hajosi ja Heikin ev\u00e4\u00e4t levisiv\u00e4t ymp\u00e4riins\u00e4.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ty\u00f6paikallaan konehuoneessa Heikill\u00e4 oli \u00f6ljytynnyrist\u00e4 tehty kylpyamme, jonka h\u00e4n tapasi t\u00e4ytt\u00e4\u00e4 h\u00f6yrykattilasta laskemallaan kuumalla vedell\u00e4. Er\u00e4\u00e4n kerran joku ohikulkija poikkesi konehuoneeseen ja rynt\u00e4si samantien s\u00e4ik\u00e4hdyksest\u00e4 huutaen ulos. H\u00e4n oli varma siit\u00e4, ett\u00e4 oli n\u00e4hnyt konehuoneessa itse pirun, jonka karvaiset mustat kasvot olivat tuijottaneet h\u00e4nt\u00e4 ja jonka pitk\u00e4t kynnet olivat puristaneet tynnyrin reunaa. My\u00f6hemmin selkeni, ett\u00e4 se olikin ollut vain Heikki kylvyss\u00e4\u00e4n.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pajuniemell\u00e4 kyl\u00e4l\u00e4iset ruukasivat hakea pyykkivetens\u00e4 hiekkakuopasta, johon kev\u00e4isin suli lumivett\u00e4. Er\u00e4\u00e4n\u00e4 kev\u00e4\u00e4n\u00e4 Heikki p\u00e4\u00e4tti my\u00f6s ryhty\u00e4 pyykk\u00e4\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n. H\u00e4n survoi rasvaiset ja nokiset vaatteensa kuoppaan ja vuoli paketillisen m\u00e4ntysuopaa sekaan. Liotettuaan vaatteita aikansa kuopassa h\u00e4n huuhteli ne tulvavedess\u00e4 ja nosti kuivumaan lep\u00e4n oksille. Kyl\u00e4n naiset olivat Heikille hyvin vihaisia, sill\u00e4 samalla pyykkikerralla sotkeentui koko kuoppa ja pyykkivesi muuttui k\u00e4ytt\u00f6kelvottomaksi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Heikki oli innokas mateiden pyyt\u00e4j\u00e4. Kalat h\u00e4n vei sitten Oulun torille myyt\u00e4v\u00e4ksi, etenkin parille naispuoliselle kalakauppiaalle. Kerrotaan, ett\u00e4 Heikill\u00e4 oli tapana pukeutua hohtavan valkoiseen kaulahuiviin kalakauppoja tehdess\u00e4\u00e4n. Er\u00e4\u00e4nkin kerran naispuoliset kalakauppiaat olivat kiusoitelleet Heikki\u00e4 ja lupautuneet h\u00e4nelle vaimoksi, jos t\u00e4m\u00e4 voittaisi veikkauksessa. Sattuipa niin, ett\u00e4 70-vuotiaana Heikki voitti suuren potin rahaa veikkauksesta, ei vain kerran, vaan jopa kahtena per\u00e4kk\u00e4isen\u00e4 vuotena. T\u00e4m\u00e4 ei kuitenkaan n\u00e4ytt\u00e4nyt edist\u00e4v\u00e4n naimakauppoja, joten Heikki osti itselleen mopon. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Heikki oli eritt\u00e4in kiinnostunut musiikista ja, vaikkei h\u00e4n osannutkaan soittaa nuottiakaan, h\u00e4n p\u00e4\u00e4tti ostaa haitarin. H\u00e4nell\u00e4 oli jo aikaisemminkin ollut haitari, josta palkeet olivat puhjenneet. Joka kerta, kun h\u00e4n veteli vanhalla haitarillaan russakat hyp\u00e4hteliv\u00e4t palkeesta toiseen. Heikki meni oululaiseen musiikkiliikkeeseen uutta haitaria ostamaan. Liikkeen myyj\u00e4t aluksi ep\u00e4iliv\u00e4t h\u00e4nen pilailevan. Kun Heikki otti ison rahatukon repustaan, he ymm\u00e4rsiv\u00e4t h\u00e4nen olevan tosissaan. Heikki vei uuden haitarinsa Hailuoto-laivalle, jolla h\u00e4n usein kulki Pyydyskarin ja Oulun v\u00e4li\u00e4. Muut matkustajat pyysiv\u00e4t Heikki\u00e4 soittamaan musiikkia. Heikki alkoi vedell\u00e4 palkeita ja sai paljon \u00e4\u00e4nt\u00e4 aikaan. Ihmiset Oulun kauppatorilla ker\u00e4\u00e4ntyiv\u00e4t tuijottamaan l\u00e4htev\u00e4\u00e4 laivaa, josta kuului erikoisia vingahduksia. Jossakin vaiheessa Heikki osti pianoharmooniin, jota h\u00e4n piti m\u00f6kkins\u00e4 ikkunan alla. Joka aamu h\u00e4nell\u00e4 oli tapana soittaa kyl\u00e4l\u00e4isille aamukonsertti.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Heikki Kurtti kuoli vuonna 1965 poikamiehen\u00e4 ja miljon\u00e4\u00e4rin\u00e4 vanhainkodissa. H\u00e4nen tarinaansa on eteenp\u00e4in kertonut Heikin naapuri Tapio Moilanen.&nbsp;<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Born in 1885, Heikki Kurtti was an unusual chap who\u2019s grubby appearance and enthusiasm for making as much noise as possible in the name of music made him a recognisable figure in the Finnish village of Varjakka.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":1174,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-793","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stories"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/warjakka.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/FI-HK.jpg?fit=1200%2C197&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/warjakka.com\/fi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/793","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/warjakka.com\/fi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/warjakka.com\/fi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/warjakka.com\/fi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/warjakka.com\/fi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=793"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/warjakka.com\/fi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/793\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1175,"href":"https:\/\/warjakka.com\/fi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/793\/revisions\/1175"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/warjakka.com\/fi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1174"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/warjakka.com\/fi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=793"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/warjakka.com\/fi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=793"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/warjakka.com\/fi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=793"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}