Johan Ludwig Runeberg, the Finnish national poet spent the summer of 1825 in Ruovesi working as a tutor at the Ritoniemi manor. The spring is known to have been the young poet's favourite haunt and source of inspiration.

In addition to the spring now bearing his name, the poet's stay in Ruovesi is commemorated by a statue in the Church Park.

The spring is now part of a nature conservation area containing a number of rare plants.