The history

The farm of Tammuri in Otepää parish belongs to the few ancient holdings which have never been divided. The main house was built to its present dimensions in 1877, before that the building was a little smaller. If one looks at the big trees one can tell that the main house is 150-160 years old. The outbuildings such as the cattle-shed and the piggery were situated approximately 200 metres to south and these remain as just shells.
Anyway, the farm is older than the manor of Pühajärve, which was built in 1887.

1909 Tammuri was sold to Jaan Kenk who paid1500 gold roubles for it. Jaan was a capable or perhaps simply a rich man. In the time of the Estonian Republic the farm was one the two richest in this area. To demonstrate this he donated to the community one of the two chandeliers in the Otepää Churches.

In 1928 he hired a new farm hand Eduard Ilves who was his nephew. Eduard had come from Sangaste. The count of Sangaste was very famous in Estonia not only as breeder but for his manor building and park.
Eduards father worked at the manor as overseer.
And Eduard was my grandfather!

Jaan Kenk died in 1940. He had no children and he left Tammuri to my grandpa. The Second World War and the Soviet occupation did not bring very much happiness. My mother was born in Tammuri and life went on. In beginning of the Second Republic the owners were given the fields and forests back. It is impossible to describe or to understand life during the collective farming time.
In 2000 my grandmother left the farm to me. During the years 2000 – 2006 I spent every weekend restoring, thinking and planning. In 2006 I finally moved from Tallinn to Tammuri. I have put my heart and soul into it. I spent the first years of my childhood and all my holidays here.
Now I feel like the wanderer: “ I have finally reached home.”