Postcard sent from Tiavassalo to Astoria 

With Russian stamp

Elma, Teuvo, Tenho, Eini, Ellen, Matti

Children of Edla's sister Hella Laine

                                   In Taivassalo,  I stayed at Eini's home where the painting

In the show where done. Eini's children Taimo and Taija

where my generous hosts. They spend summers there with Taimo's

Children and grandchildren.

Vilulahti, The Cold Bay

Potato picking, Holmes ranch Olney OR

                                        Potato picking Holmes ranch, Edla Lahti third from the left

Uuno Lahti

My Father

Nilo Vilulahti 

Edla Suojanen 

Grandparents, both born in Tiavassalo 

Immigrating to Astoria around 1910 

Married in 1916

Edla Lahti 

Niilo Lahti 

Grandfather

Edla Lahti and unknow ladies

Tiavassalo church built in 1500

Breathtakingly Beautiful Church

Taivassalo Church is the oldest of the three medieval stone churches in Finland that are dedicated to the Holy Cross. The construction of the church is believed to have begun between the years 1425 to 1440. In 1460s, the third aisle was built and the inner walls were decorated with new murals. It was the first time in Finland that frescos were painted to nearly all important surfaces of a church by a group of professional artists.

The medieval altarpiece as well as wooden sculptures of Taivassalo Church were donated to The National Museum of Finland in 1890. However, Taivassalo Church still has a magnificent triumph crucifix above the altar, in front of the chancel window. This crucifix is one of the oldest and best preserved crucifixes in Finland. The rococo front of the organ, which is unusual by Finnish standards, has remained intact ever since 1767 although the organ has been replaced several times.

As a whole, the church with its murals looks much the same as it would have looked at the end of the Middle Ages.

Pictures taken around Tiavassalo.