As a scene of the rapids war
Electricity companies Pohjolan Voima and Imatran Voima bought parts of the rapids from farms in Kuusamo, with the aim of building a powerplant in Kitkajoki. The premature buying rush, the creation and breaking of the purchase ban agreement, and the purchase ban issued by the Bank of Finland to the company happened during 1955. The rapids mission of 1961 and 1965 also brought about a new twist in the rapids war.
Heimo Rontti, who acted as the seller’s representative in Virkkula’s shop, was a well-known preacher from Conservative Laestadianism in the area. Many residents of the village of Virkkula still remember how the agents who handled the rapids purchases came to the village by helicopter, which landed on the hillside field. After all, there was no road to the village at that time, and agents tried to operate as quickly as possible.