Today in History: January 13

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – On this day in Bahamian history the Compleat Angler Hotel in Alice Town, Bimini was destroyed by fire, in 2006.

The historical landmark also housed the Hemingway Museum, named after American author Ernest Hemingway who made it his residence from 1935-1937.

Hemingway penned the novel, “To Have And Have Not” during this period.

The Bahamas Historical Society notes that one person died in the fire.

Julian Brown, a former Olympian in the 1960s and whose family owned the hotel, is said to have rescued one guest who was still inside before trying to extinguish the fire.

In 2015, British investor, property developer, football club owner and philanthropist,  Jack Arnold Hayward died at the age of 91.

Hayward was instrumental in the development of the city of Freeport on Grand Bahama from the 1950s as co-chairman of the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA).

The GBPA operates the Free Trade Zone, under special powers conferred by the government under the Hawksbill Creek Agreement.

Sir Jack Hayward High School in Freeport was named after him in 1998. In 2016 the Grand Bahama Highway Bridge was also renamed in his honor.