Mekrijärvi Schoolhouse

A unit under command of Lieutenant, Knight of the Mannerheim Cross Lauri Törni (aka Larry Thorne) arrived in Ilomantsi from Tolvajärvi in August 1944 on a one-week special mission. Törni's outfit set up billets in the schoolhouse on August 12. During the stay, Törni came down with jaundice.

Where a unit under command of Lieutenant Lauri Törni (aka Larry Thorne) billeted in 1944.

After the war Törni’s company marched from Hattuvaara toward Eno and spent the night of October 16 and 17 in the schoolhouse.

Mekrijärvi schoolhouse is essentially a product of classicism of the 1920s. Construction began in 1923 and the building was completed the following year.

Military use caused a lot of wear and tear, and therefore a school board inspector suggested in 1946 that extensive restoration was needed. This was, however, delayed until 1954. The project included exterior painting and the installation of electrical wiring. Plumbing and sewer pipelines were installed in 1962.

The building currently provides tourism-related services for large groups.