Industrial heritage, everyday life and environmental relationship

Kirjoittajat

• Riina Haanpää

Abstrakti

Industrial Heritage, Everyday Life and Environmental RelationshipThis article examines the importance of industrial heritage in the life and diaries of Urho Saralehto (1897–1953). Saralehto started working for the town of Pori in the 1920s. However, in the later years of the 1920s, the economic situation declined, and Saralehto lost his job and had to work in various stop gap positions, which he describes in his diaries. Societally, the late 1920s and the early 1930s were destitute times: unemployment increased, there was a shortage of sources for livelihood and the only work opportunities were poorly paid, short-term jobs.The article examines industrial heritage in relation to its environment and its effects on people’s experiences and perceptions of their surroundings. The research work done in the field of industrial cultural heritage has rarely touched on the point of view of the ordinary person or, as in Urho Saralehto’s case, on the observations of a working man. However, the individual has always been at the very centre of the industrial environment. Saralehto’s diaries started from the early 1930s. In his diaries Saralehto reflects on the history of his environment and its then current state. Therefore, the article relies on the local habitant’s own understanding and tacit knowledge. Tacit knowledge is, by definition, something that can’t be measured or recorded by traditional, scientific methods. It is, instead, personal, experienced, local and reflective. Saralehto’s thoughts and experiences on current events are personal and special, experienced and localized. They show what he felt was meaningful in his own life and everyday incidents; describe what kind of associations there are between his work and living environment and why these relations are special.