Andersin

Director Hjalmar Birger Andersin (1857-1936)

Verla passed into the hands of local director Hjalmar Andersin in 1909, after the death of Gottlieb Kreidl, who was one the founders and owners of the mill. Andersin worked as Verla's superintendent until 1921.

Hjalmar Andersin was born in Valkeala in 1857 into the family of Anders August Andersin and Charlotta Sofia Virginia Högström. Hjalmar married Maria Aqvilina Nylund in 1884. A couple of years later, in 1886, they had a son, Mauritz Andersin, who died before his parents in 1920.

Hjalmar Andersin went to school in Heinola and Porvoo. He also made study trips abroad in forest management. He first worked at the Akaa steam-powered sawmill and in 1877, at the age of 20, he became a timber buyer and forester at Kymi Company. Later, in addition to his main job, he also worked as a manager for the Mäntyharju waterway log driving from 1892 to 1900. From Kymi, Andersin moved to the Verla groundwood and board mill in 1909. Andersin worked as Verla's superintendent for more than ten years, until 1921.

In December 1921, Andersin announced his resignation as mill manager due to illness in his family, but Andersin continued on the board of the company as an expert on forestry matters and he was granted a pension.

Andersin bought his birthplace Virranniemi in Jokela, Valkeala, in 1922 and moved there to spend his pension days.

Andersin is said to have helped the needy and he was a humorous and kind man. He was an excellent hunter and fisherman, and he had his own dogs when he was in Verla. Andersin was also a member of the Finnish Kennel Club and participated the club's hunting trips.

He also actively participated in social affairs even in retirement, working e.g. as the supervisor of the Kouvola branch of the Nordic Union Bank. He also served on the boards of various business enterprises. For his civic merits, Andersin was awarded by the President of Finland the decoration of the Knight First Class of the Order of the White Rose of Finland.

Sources
Kymin henkilöstökortit, UPM keskusarkisto
geneanet.org
Kouvolan Sanomat 12.2.1927
Tidskrift för Jakt och Fiske 1.3.1927
Kouvolan Sanomat 13.2.1932
Suomen paperi- ja puutavaralehti 15.2.1932
Liiketaito 4/1936
Ahvenisto Inkeri, Tehdas yhdistää ja erottaa, 2008.