What is believed to be a suspicious fire on the famed Iron Market's North side known as Hyppolite Market early Friday morning, May 30, 2008, devastated not only many vendors who rely on this fascinating building to sell their produces, but also treasure's lovers who've always captured this historical place alive with their spirit.
The vendors vehemently criticized the mayor of the capital as well as the Haitian government for their incapacity to protect this 119-years-old steel structure. They expressed deep concern over this fire and invited the authorities to take their responsibilities
as they are
expecting
them to conduct a thorough investigation of the incident
as well as to rebuild the marketplace.
A splendid example of metallic infrastructure of the late 19th century complete with minaret and painted in red and green, the famed iron market was manufactured by a French factory for the turkish government and purchased in 1889 by President Florville Hyppolite to be used as a market.
Extending two city blocks on Jean-Jacques Dessalines Blvd. in downtown Port-au-Prince where tap-taps congregate every day, the Iron Market holds many treasures: on one side mingle tables of exotic spices with an accumulation of earthly essentials. On the other side which has been destroyed by fire, stands the country's greatest selection of naive arts and handicrafts: paintings, mahogany tableware, baskets, hats of a prodigious variety, wood sculptures, steel sculptures and all kind of craft objects.
