THE LADY WHO BUILT THE TOWER

The refurbishment and renewal of the Olympic Stadium is underway. While following the ongoing work, we also take a peak in the history books to tell you about the Stadium construction back in the 1930s.

The construction of the Olympic Stadium was launched in February 1934. From the very first tree felled on 12 February 1934 to the inauguration on 12 June 1938, the Stadium project employed about 3,000 workers during the four-year construction period. One of them was Aino Lehtinen, a lady who singlehandedly carried, on her back, all the lime mortar used for the plastering of the Tower, from bottom to the top. 

Every morning Aino would be heading for the Stadium at five in the morning. First, she would mix the mortar with water and cement. The mortar had to be ready at seven o’clock sharp when the plaster masters started their work. The actual work of Aino was to fill her container with the plaster, take it on her shoulders and start climbing the Tower. With the plaster, the container weighed almost 40 kg. Having reached the plasterers, she would bend over and let the plaster slide over her head to a vessel. She did this innumerable times every day. Aino did not have to climb all the way to the top of the Tower; at times, there was an outside builder’s lift to help her out. However, not every floor had a landing slab, and therefore Aino also carried her heavy back up the stairs. This work was Aino’s responsibility, hers alone.

When the working day was done in the Tower and the plasterers headed home, Aino stayed behind because she had to clean the plaster barrels and tools. According to the story, Aino had said ”Tell the grandchildren too that I did it all on my own.” Aino Lehtinen died in 1988 at the age of 90.

Source: Raatikainen, Lipponen, Suvanto & Vihavainen (1994) Meidän kaikkien stadion