History

Until 2007, Karhunmäki area belonged to the Kukkola Estate. The owner of the Estate, the Dynasty of Kukkonen, is known to have farmed the land since the 17th century. The most well-known member of the Kukkonen Dynasty is Antti Kukkonen (1889–1978), Provost and Minister of Education. His oldest daughter, Agrologist Katri Kukkonen (1928–1991), was the last Master of the Kukkola Estate. During her reign, the City of Joensuu had proposed to purchase the Karhunmäki area of the Estate for habitual residence area, which Katri Kukkonen repeatedly declined. She wanted the area to continue to flourish and to be the Examplary Estate for Farming and Forestry it had always been. For that reason and as there were no heir of Katri Kukkonen, she bequathed the Kukkola Estate to the Foundation of Agriculture of North Karelia in 1999.

However, cultivating the Estate was unprofitable for which reason the Foundation of Agriculture of North Karelia finally accepted the City of Joensuu's proposal, and sold the Karhumäki area of the Kukkola Estate to be used as habitual residence area in 2007. Since then, the area has been developed into the beautiful residential area of fine mansions; the pride of Joensuu.