Vesterbacka, 1201

The chalet takes its name from Vesterbacka in Vimpeli. In the mid-19th century, a local farmer lit a fire in his newly built fireplace. To his shock, the structure crumbled into dust.

Believing it to be the work of evil spirits, he sought help from Jakob Fellman, the parish provost of Lappajärvi. The progressive clergyman quickly identified the material as limestone. From this apparent misfortune came opportunity. At Fellman’s initiative, limestone began to be quarried and crushed for agricultural use.

This marked the beginning of Vimpeli’s traditional lime burning and later mining industry. Well-preserved lime kilns can still be seen in the area today.