The Oloffson Hotel, a celebrated gem of Haiti’s gingerbread architecture and a frequent host to notable figures like Graham Greene, has tragically burned down, marking a painful chapter in the country’s turbulent reality. On Saturday night, the hotel went up in flames in what is believed to be an act of arson, as reported by Richard Morse, the hotel’s Haitian American owner, during a conversation from Maine on Monday.
Destruction of the iconic building was confirmed through drone imagery that revealed the ruins of what was once a vibrant gathering place for both locals and tourists in the heart of Port-au-Prince. For over a century, this ornate hotel symbolized not just luxury but also Haiti’s rich cultural legacy.
The current unrest in the area, attributed to gang control, clouds the specifics of the incident, leaving the community in sorrow over the loss of such an irreplaceable landmark. "It’s heart-wrenching to witness the decay of our history. It's an act that embodies a total disregard for both life and heritage," lamented Frederick Mangonès, a prominent Haitian architect. The Oloffson’s demise is emblematic of the wider ramifications of gang violence that has engulfed the nation, shaking the very foundations of its past.
