Early history of the Ekenäs bathing facilities (Ekenäs badinrättning)

In January 1902 Mr. Lindman decides to call up a meeting in order to see if founding a new bathing facility in the town would be feasible. Eventually, this leads to establishing a public company named Aktiebolaget Ekenäs Badinrättning; apart from Mr. Lindman three other gentlemen are to constitute the board: consul Höijer, master builder Fransson and bailiff Ljungberg.

The ambitious building under construction requires poling for its foundation due to its very close proximity to the seashore; however in July 1903 a new building is erected at the address Västra Strandgatan. This exceptionally attractive building designed by Theodor Höijer is still in our time standing where it has always been – and we may say that, in the 2020s, the Gamla Bastun is in better shape than ever.

The delicate line of Höijer’s pen and his most unique design style can be seen in many buildings of architectural significance to be found in the capital Helsinki, such as the public library at Rickhardinkatu (built in 1882), the art museum Ateneum (1887), one of the three museums forming the Finnish National Gallery, as well as the renowned Hotel Kämp (1887).

During the operational year 1904 the treatments at Ekenäs bathing facilities include steam bath cabins, showers, bathtubs, mud baths, pine needle baths and so called Neuheimer baths, among others. Bathing rooms for the town’s working class are open on Saturdays exclusively.

The earliest days of the bathing facility do not pass without mishaps or bad luck; back in 1908 the company is forced to declare bankruptcy and is thereafter sold in auction to consul Höijer. An unusually violent autumn storm in September 1913 causes flooding that leads to serious damages affecting half of the property’s area.

During the summer of 1917 the bathing facility’s list of treatments grows to include such exotic and bygone variants as carbonation and turpentine baths (?!). During the month of July the facility orders three thousand fresh birch whisks to meet the sauna bathing requirements of its clients. In the spring of 1922 the township of Ekenäs decides to buy the facility from Mr. Höijer. After the deal the building goes through a total renovation. The pupils at the town’s elementary school are given the opportunity to have sauna at the facility once a month as well before Christmas.

In 1926 the building is again thoroughly refurbished, which leads, among other things, to removing the gentlemen’s department to the second floor. The brand new treatments embrace now electric baths, UV light treatments along with electric skin treatments (known as diathermy or deep heating). Two years later the facility finally acquires a genuine Finnish sauna. In 1932 the facility offers its clients the services of its own physician by the name Einar Runeberg.

In mid-January 1940, during the so called Winter War, an bombing raid by the Soviet air force causes damages to the brick building. However, the reconstructions are swiftly completed already in early April. Therefore, on May 9th, the bathing facility is reopened without further delay. Due to the ongoing rationing the visiting guests are requested to take with them their own soap.

In 1949 the bathing days for the ladies are on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, while the corresponding times for the gentlemen are Thursdays and Fridays. Ekenäs Badinrättning, serving as the township’s public bathing facility, is operational until the late 1960s.

In the 1970s the Swedish-language school theater known as the Skolteatern (today referred to as the Unga Teatern) runs its operations in the building. In 1984 a local youth organisation called Västnyländska ungdomscirkeln (VNUR) moves to the historic house, still strikingly beautiful, yet quite worn-off due to many year’s usage.

In 1995 the building is owned by the above mentioned organisation, while the underlying lot is rented from the township of Raseborg. The house that everyone knowns by the name Gamla Bastun serves as the base for an array of organisations, handicraft workers and people in the field of culture. Its rooms are occupied by the genealogical researchers of Raseborg, the local sea scout corps (Havsörnarna = the Sea Eagles), the Ekenäs yacht club (ESS) as well as handicraft artist Anna Wasko.

In the spring of 2009 the facility Gamla Bastun is seriously damaged by a fire, yet the building’s brick walls remain intact. A complete renovation follows during which it is possible to reclaim all of the wooden roof beams, yet the majority of the structure on the third floor have to be rebuilt; this includes the tin roof, windows, doors, toilets, floors, insulation as well as the electric wiring.

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