Martta Aaltonen’s bakery

Martta Aaltonen was born in Laitila in 1894 and moved with her family first to Salo and then to Loimaa in 1917. At 25 years old, Martta married railway official Eerik Aaltonen. The couple had two children, but Eerik passed away before the younger child was born.

In 1922, Martta opened her own bakery in Loimaa. The big old recording counter (on the right) is from Aaltonen’s bakery.

The business thrived, and in the following years, Aaltonen expanded her operations by establishing various kiosks and stores in Loimaa and nearby towns. She was also an active organizer in the Loimaa association of entrepreneur women.

In her later years, Aaltonen moved to Säkylä, where she continued to run a shop until her retirement. She passed away at the age of 72 in 1966.

Caption: The roof-raising ceremony for Martta Aaltonen’s business building in 1924. In addition to her own building, the bakery also had a horse and a car. Martta was the first woman in Loimaa to own a car. The horse was used during the winter months when the roads were blocked by snow.
Photo: Veikko Hulkko Collection.