Message Board Archives
The Richmond Hill Hotel fire
Chrissy
2020-01-01 13:54:45
here
The historic Richmond Hill Hotel in Montego Bay Jamaica was engulfed in flames last night and completely destroyed after a fire broke around 9:30 pm.
The 200-year-old property is steeped in history and in the 1700s was the property of the Dewars, members of the proud Scott’s clan from which the famous whiskey takes its name. The property is currently owned by Stefanie Chin and family. They have had the property for some 60-years and reportedly said that “everything is gone”. The owners have said the hotel had no insurance.
Over the years there have been some famous people at the inn. Some of the famous people who have spent time at the inn include Richard Nixon, John Rollins, Roger Moore, Steve McQueen, Dustin Hoffman, Rosie Greer, Paul Newman, Eddy Murphy, Butch Stewart, plus various heads of Governments.
The Inn boasts one of the largest collections of artwork by Barrington Watson, Jamaica’s most renowned artist. Also lost is 200-year-old antique furniture.
Jamaica’s Tourism Minister Hon. Edmund Bartlett has extended sympathy to the owners of the historic Richmond Hill Inn in Montego Bay. He said:
“Richmond Hill has been an integral part of Montego Bay’s history for over 200 years. I am sure the damage to the property is a devastating setback for Stephanie Chin and her family, who have owned the property for decades. The Ministry of Tourism stands with you and offers sincere sympathy during this very difficult time. I know that many of the items you lost are irreplaceable but remain hopeful that we will see Richmond Hill restored to its former glory.
Why on earth would this property not have been insured?
DonD
2020-01-01 14:52:53
In reply to Chrissy
Richmond Hill Hotel, that's the hotel where my wedding reception was held on December 29th 1971.
Recall that it was a Lovely hotel with beautiful and well manicured lawns. We haven't visited that hotel since, even though we go up to Overton Plaza frequently. Will be in Ja in a few weeks time will have to pop up there. Sorry to hear about its destruction.
I am surprised that this hotel wasn't insured. An insurance agent in Mandeville once told me that perhaps close to 90% of the homes in Ja aren't insured.
Chrissy
2020-01-01 15:35:58
In reply to DonD
Oh man - your reception hotel is gone.
I still can't believe a hotel with this history was uninsured.
BeatDball
2020-01-01 15:36:58
In reply to Chrissy Should I be a party-pooper & seh...I smell a rat! & that Miss Chin is now waiting for the diaspora to donate/$hip in & rebuild!?
Ayenmol
2020-01-01 15:38:22
In reply to DonD
71 huh?
I was not even conceived yet....
Chrissy
2020-01-01 15:39:36
In reply to BeatDball
Don't rule it out - looks like the tourism minister is the first to fall for it
BeatDball
2020-01-01 15:40:32
In reply to Chrissy
Ayenmol
2020-01-01 15:41:31
In reply to BeatDball
Usually there is insurance for rats.
Maybe a long history of safety led to complacency.
But you can't have a kitchen or regular guest at any establishment sans insurance.
Chrissy
2020-01-01 15:48:25
Owner says it won't rise from the ashes
GONE FOREVER - Richmond Hill Inn Owners Say Historic MoBay Great House Won’t Rise From Ashes
The family that operated the 214-year-old Richmond Hill Inn, which was ravaged by fire on Monday night, has said that rebuilding the historic Montego Bay landmark is out of the question.
The repurposed great house, owned and operated by Stefanie Chin and her two daughters, was burnt to ashes by fire of unknown origin, which began some time after 9:30 p.m.
The smoke from the blaze covered the city of Montego Bay for three hours as residents watched in bewilderment as flames consumed the history-rich facility, which has, in the last 20 years, become a popular venue for weddings and dinner parties.
Eyewitnesses say the fire spread rapidly.
“Seconds after it started, it was spreading throughout the building,” said the 13-year-old boy who saw it first.
He added that he alerted his mother, who called the operators and the fire brigade.
A German guest staying in one of the rooms separate from the great house area reportedly tried to use a hose hoping to battle the flames, but they were too much for him.
Ayenmol
2020-01-01 15:51:32
So...the place burnt Monday night....the article was posted today....but they could only manage a couple night photos?
sgtdjones
2020-01-01 16:07:16
In reply to BeatDball
Elmore’s family owns the 19 acres of land that adjoins the property, where the Inn is located, in addition to a number of guest rooms that were not affected by the blaze.
The fire cost was ten million, now they can sell and recoup the loss, additional land.
The historical property would have been a hindrance to tear down.
Ayenmol
2020-01-01 16:09:24
In reply to sgtdjones
The historical property would have been a hindrance to tear down.
Ahhhh...
POINT
2020-01-01 16:27:20
In reply to Chrissy
That is a very Good Question . My take
is that Priceless Paintings etc; and Work should be housed in Buildings that are
seemingly impervious from most if not all events that can cause destruction .
Now this should be the goal of ALL COUNTRIES in the World . In my opinion, There must be a Partnership between Governments and the Private
Sector to insure that the rich Inheritage of Countries must be seriously preserved .
It is these works that can inspire Citizens of Countries to not only be
proud of their Heritage , but also
encourage budding Artists in various
Countries , especially those in so called third World Countries .
Obviously this attitude must be inculcated by Governments and Citizens in ALLL Countries , regardless of Standing in the World .
It is very unfortunate that what has
happened here in Jamaica has deprived
Jamaicans and Visitors of rich heritage of Jamaica .
The British People are well steeped in their Heritage ; they can tell you where the Romans lived etc.
If it wasn't for Jackie Onasis , the
Grand Central Terminal Building , would have been obliterated , and that Priceless Building would have only existed in Paintings ; Photographs ; and One's Memory .
Whenever these days I go to Manhattan , I make it my business to go to Grand Central Buolding . The Spire on top of the Chrysler Building is also something to behold ; and well worth cranning One's neck to look skyward and behold its Beauty ; in fact the building itself is in my opinion magnificent .
Chrissy
2020-01-01 16:46:33
In reply to POINT
Some of us don't value the 'valuables'.
Dan_De_Lyan
2020-01-01 17:36:22
[b]In reply to Ayenmol[/
not even conceived yet....
Still waiting for a man huh?
Good luck in 2020
POINT
2020-01-01 17:36:39
In reply to Chrissy
That is truly very sad . I sincerely hope that other Historic Buildings ;
and Sites in the Region are fully insured and also protected from vandalism etc .
I am , and will never ever be in the
crowd of tearing down Historical and
Great Buildings . In Kingstown ,SVG , the Main Public Library was built by funds donated by ANDREW CARNEGIE , I
would be against destroying or altering that building . Fortunately
the Government turned it into a Museum , and built another Library near to 3 secondary Schools , and also 2 Primary Schools which these 5
schools and the new library are not far from the now Andrew Carnegie Museum , which houses Artifacts from the Caribs .
XDFIX
2020-01-01 17:45:18
Anybody died?
The library of Alexandria building is the only one I regret going up in flames, not because of the building per se but the books!
We would have been further ahead today in our civilization!
Ahm, well, perhaps not the only but one of the
Chrissy
2020-01-01 18:20:33
In reply to POINT
Bro - just think about that famous museum in Brazil - all have been 'structurally adjusted'. Market rules over society - history be damned.
POINT
2020-01-01 19:05:25
In reply to Chrissy
I have always subscribed to the idea , that People in the Future must have some historical knowledge in Buildings , and the contents of buildings so that they have some historical references .
hubert
2020-01-01 23:53:41
In reply to Chrissy
This is a very significant loss..not only the building and history but the contents and artifacts. Sad to
the loss of the largest collection of Barrington Watson's artwork is gone forever.
But like others I am amazed that this building and contents were not insured.
Only in Jamaica.
That building was a prized landmark in the Montego Bay landscape. So much for history.
camos
2020-01-02 03:05:16
In reply to BeatDball
I smell a rat! & that Miss Chin is now waiting for the diaspora to donate/$hip in & rebuild!?
they could not be that dumb and remain in business for 60 years! Insurance cost is very expensive in a place like Jamaica and the wider Caribbean, very inadequate fire fighting equipment, outdated building code and poor property house keeping among other factors.
camos
2020-01-02 03:09:18
In reply to hubert those people should be bared from operating a hotel forever.
nitro
2020-01-02 14:09:53
In reply to camos
Agreed. An uninsured resort property. How were they able to obtain a license to operate is beyond me.
camos
2020-01-02 14:33:06
In reply to nitro
can you imagine the hit the entire sector would take if one or two foreign guest perish in an incident like that?
DonD
2020-01-02 14:33:19
I suspect that this hotel was being operated as a guest house. Once you leave off the main road from Gloucester Ave to Greenwood including the Rosehall strip, most "hotels" are described as guest houses. There are many such guest houses in Coral Gardens and iron shore. Hotels such as the one in question and Verney House are no longer hotels as such. In Ja one can get a permit to do just about anything by simply pressing palm. You press palm to clear goods at custom, to get a driver's licence etc.
Chrissy
2020-01-02 15:22:41
In reply to DonD
Yep it is described as an inn
camos
2020-01-02 15:38:29
If you taking in guest for compensation you should be required to have some minimum amount of insurance to operate.
pelon
2020-01-02 15:41:44
In reply to Chrissy
Shame to lose such a historical property and the artifacts, artwork and furniture. While I agree that it's a shame these properties could operate without insurance, and that is wrong... No amount of insurance claims could replace such historic items.
What needs focus is infrastructural upgrades and fire/smoke detectors by LAW in properties deemed of historic value. This level of improvidence is common in our region, yet a high tech 2 pack smoke alarm is less than $30 (USD) in retail stores, and we leave our national treasures to the will of fate.
I agree insurance should be mandatory, but the key is prevention/mitigation or at least minimisation of loss for irreplaceable artifacts, of cultural importance.
It is so uncommon to see smoke detectors and/or fire extinguishers in public areas in our area, that we have a long way to go and much legislation needed to curb such losses.
Chrissy
2020-01-02 17:09:12
In reply to pelon
Correct
cricketmad
2020-01-03 09:03:10
In reply to Chrissy
We went there in July 2019 as part of a family day tour, and there were no guests staying at the property. .It was apparent that the only revenue they were making was from entry fees charges. The property was in a state of disrepair .The location is one in a million,and there is no doubt that something new ,and spectacular will rise from the ashes of the ruins.
Chrissy
2020-01-03 11:50:36
In reply to cricketmad
Ypu'd think they'd protest the antiques, paintings and photos?
