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The Kissakoski Power Plant and Electricity Exhibition is located 6 km from
downtown Hirvensalmi towards Mäntyharju. The power plant and electricity
exhibition is owned and run by Suur-Savon Sähkö Oy.
A paper mill and groundwood mill were built in Kissakoski in 1909. Although
the paper mill closed its doors in 1920, the groundwood mill continued running
up until 1939. To power these factories, an electricity-producing
hydroelectric power plant was built in 1932, which produces electricity for
both the factories and for the town of Mikkeli. At its best, the Kissakoski
power plant produced electricity for almost all of Southern Savo.
The power plant is still in operation. It produces enough electricity for
about a thousand households. The electricity exhibition is connected to the
generator hall, which allows visitors to learn more about the past and present
of electricity production in an actual operational power plant.
The electricity exhibition displays items related to building and servicing
power lines, to the power plant’s office and a diver’s suit needed for repairs
at the hydroelectric power plant. The exhibition has informational and lively
settings that depict raising power line poles, etc. The museum grounds also
have a wooden box converter built in 1948 from Pökkää, Ristiina that was
operational up until 1990.
The brick building of the former groundwood mill where the electricity
exhibition is located, together with worker accommodations and villas at
Kissakoski, give rise to a unique milieu that is significant to the history of
the industry. Besides the exhibition, the factory building has a restaurant, a
tinned fish factory and art exhibitions.
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