December 17th Old Town Raahe Advent Calendar

Koulukatu street was given its current name in 1930. Prior to that, the street was named Mentzerinkatu starting from 1911. From 1750 to 1911, the street was known as Södra Staquetsgatan. 

In the past, it was said in Raahe that Kajaani had two streets: one for the bourgeoisie on fair weather and one for pigs during the rain. Raahe has always had more than two streets. In the early days, there might not have been many streets, as the town ended at the southern end of Mentzerinkatu street, and to the north, there were the quaters of Katinhäntä. The name Katinhäntä - cat’s tail, however, has nothing to do with cats but comes from the Swedish words "gatans ända," which means the end of the street or the outskirts of town. 

Throughout its history, Raahe has shown a strong inclination to change street names. Koulukatu street hasn't always been called Koulukatu. From 1750 to 1911, it was known as Södra Staquetsgatan street. In 1930, the street was named Mentzerinkatu and later, in 1930, it became Koulukatu. 

Mayor Mentzer well deserved to have his name preserved in Raahe's street names, as he secured the town's rights, for Raahe, and Raahe began its existence much like in modern times when Reinilä brought Rautaruukki steel factory. Much thanks to Mentzer, Raahe became a Tapulikaupunki, which historically referred to a type of town in Finland under Swedish law. These towns were granted the right to conduct foreign trade during the time when Finland was under Swedish rule. There may be many Koulukatu streets (school street) in Finland, but there was only one Mentzerinkatu street in Raahe.