History

Wanhakulma is located at the corner of Koulukatu (formerly Mentzerinkatu) and Kauppakatu.

The property has three buildings on its premises. The main building is approximately 700 square meters. The building's facade design dates back to the early 1900s. There are interior photos from the 1960s, when the building housed a KOP bank branch and three apartments. During the time it was owned by the city, more interior plans were made due to office modifications.

Another building on the property is a small "gatekeeper's" cottage, which consists of two rooms and is about 29 square meters. This house is currently rented out. There are no remaining plans for this house, and the construction date is unknown. According to experts, the house may have been built in the early 1800s after the Raahe fire. The foundations are made of natural stone and may predate the Raahe fire.

The third building is a two-story outbuilding with two small apartments. There is a preserved facade design from the early 1900s, as well as some interior plans from the time when the City of Raahe owned it. The construction date is unknown.

The first phase of the building along Kauppakatu was constructed by Mikael Montin Henrikson (February 6, 1765 – March 11, 1843) in 1812. The portion along Koulukatu was built later, but the exact year is unknown, but it is believed to be in the 1800s. Mikael Montin, a lifelong bachelor, was a merchant who operated his business in the building. Another building known as the Montin House stands in Pekkatori Square.  several generations and branches of the Montin family have lived in Raahe.

From the 1850s to the 1860s, the building was owned by Sea Captain Anders Lindman, and after his death, it passed to his widow, Sofia Lindman, until May 25, 1891. During Sofia Lindman's ownership, a grocery store (höökarin puoji) operated in the building. Ownership then transferred to Johan Anders Lindman and Miss Anna Elvira Lidman.

The property changed hands several times in the early 1900s. In 1918, it was purchased by Raahe Oy for use as an office. At that time, Raahe Oy was a forestry company involved in sawmilling. In 1925, the headquarters of the local Civil Guard moved into the building.

Kansallis-Osake-Pankki (KOP) purchased the property in 1929, and the KOP bank branch operated there until 1971. The main building still contains a vault with solid doors built by the bank, and the locks are still functional.

The property was transferred to the City of Raahe in 1973, after which several city offices operated there, including payroll and accounting, social services, youth services, the energy department, and cultural services. The city's property and surveying department occupied the building in the 1990s.

The current owner acquired the property in 2000, and room rentals began in the main building, while the outbuildings were rented as apartments. The premises also housed a flea market until 2018.