The room bearing the name of Office Manager Ture Ilmonen evokes the era when the Ilmonens made Verla their home for many years. Above all, VB1 was a home. From the window, a beautiful view opens up to Vähä-Kamponen, just downstream from the Verla rapids. Here, the movement of the water and the shifting of the seasons can be truly seen and felt.
Room Layout & Features
A romantic upstairs room, beautifully renovated with deep respect for the past, accommodating 1–2 guests. The room’s window offers a soothing view of the forest, with the Verla rapids shimmering beautifully between the tall pine trunks. The room features a compact en-suite bathroom with a toilet and independent ventilation.
Two single beds (2 pcs, 90×200 cm)
Nightstand
Chest of drawers
Water-circulating central heating
Wooden floor
Coat rack
Table and chair
Complimentary Wi-Fi
En-suite bathroom: shower and toilet
Hairdryer
Floor squeegee
Mirror
Ventilation
House Rules & Conditions
Every guest staying at VB1 Ilmonen agrees to abide by the house rules and general terms and conditions.
Office Manager Ture Magnus Ilmonen
Ture Magnus Aleksander Ilmonen (1890–1958) was the office manager of the Verla groundwood mill and board mill. His life beautifully combined international years of work in Baku with a long, peaceful everyday life in the Verla mill community. He is remembered as a quiet and kind man of exceptionally broad education and many passionate hobbies, whose home reflected his taste, skills, and the soul of a collector.
Origins and Family
Ture was born on December 1, 1890, in Helsinki and was baptized there, but the family's roots were also linked to the clergy: at the time of Ture's birth, his father, Robert, served as a chaplain in Ristiina. The family later moved to Askola, where his father worked as an assistant pastor; according to church records, the family lived in Askola from 1891 to 1914. His mother, Maria Sofia (née Sturen), was born in Helsinki and had studied at the drawing and art school of the Friends of Art (Taiteenystävät). It is highly likely that Ture inherited his artistic talents from her.
Journey into the World: Baku
Ture attended secondary school for four years and, in 1909, entered the Commercial School of Helsinki Merchants (founded in 1908), which provided him with a practical foundation well-suited for international work. After obtaining his passport on October 6, 1913, he set off for Baku. He initially worked for the Nobel Brothers and, from the autumn of 1917, entered the service of Kymin Osakeyhtiö (Kymmene Corporation). Records from his 60th birthday profiles note that his roles in Baku included working as a correspondent at Ludvig Nobel's mechanical engineering works, before transferring to Kymin Oy's Baku office on October 1, 1917, where he worked as a bookkeeper and procurator.
Office Manager of Verla
Following his years in Russia, Ture returned to Finland and worked as a bookkeeper for Kymin Oy in Kuusankoski in the autumn of 1921. The couple first appears in Verla’s local population registers in 1926, where Ture is listed as a clerk. Historical records indicate that his official service at the Verla mill began on April 16, 1926. He eventually rose through the ranks to become the office manager of the Verla mill. A commemorative article published in 1950 describes him not only as a key figure at the factory but also as a personality with whom conversation was "always interesting and rewarding" due to his deep knowledge of literature.
Home, Character, and a World of Hobbies
Ture comes across as a person who built a deeply rich inner life. In his 60th birthday feature, his hobbies are listed as archaeology, stamp collecting, sport fishing, flower cultivation, painting, and literature, noting that he had earned recognition from experts in these fields. The same text mentions an "exceptionally large and impressive" collection of antique weapons, highlighting his long-term dedication as a collector and his keen eye for historical value. Described as quiet, kind, and witty, he may not have been the loudest figure in the village, but his presence was warmly felt in conversations and the unique atmosphere of his home.
The Verla Years and the Journey's End
The Ilmonens lived in Verla until 1956, after which they moved to Kouvola. Ture passed away in Kouvola in April 1958. Historical records show that the Ilmonens were the only ones to ever live permanently in the VB1 house. This turns the building into a unique historical imprint: the place is not just a structure, but the beautiful framing of a long and meaningful chapter of life.
