The border made a strong mark on Kuusamo. The former office of the Swedish logging company in the centre of the church town became the barracks of the border company responsible for guarding the eastern border. There were also eight continuously manned stations on the border. The men for the border company were recruited from outside the locality, many from Southern Ostrobothnia.
The White Guard rose to be at least as important an organization. Almost all the young men of Kuusamo joined it. It focused on maintaining the national defence spirit, also acting as an organizer of sports events and armed exercises. Most of Kuusamo’s villages had their own White Guard. The church town section had an office building next to the River Nilojoki bridge, next to it was a sports field. The women’s organization Lotta Svärd also actively maintained the national defence spirit in Kuusamo, also managing the café next to the White Guard office building.