Story has been corrected to say the Oloffsons were German-Haitian.

Mr Courlander describes an interview with Mr Oloffson. In this passage, he describes him as: "a German of Scandinavian-German ancestry. His spoke German at home, as well as French and Creole. Mrs Oloffson, who managed the hotel was "a light-skinned Haitian woman."

Nor was he a Swedish sea captain, as some say. Nadege sent me this document written by Harold Courlander, an important cultural figure who spent a lot time at the Oloffson in the 1930s and 1940s. That was around the time the original owners were there, so he is a very reliable source.

CORRECTION: It turns the Oloffson family were not Norwegian-German family as I reported on Monday. They were German-Haitian. Mr Oloffson was German with Scandinavian roots and his wife Haitian, according to Nadège Nau, anthropology PhD candidate at the University of South Florida.

Actually, more German-Swedish. He was principally German with Scandinavian ancestry. Not a sea captain at all, from what I can tell.

Did some more research. Looks like he was German of Scandinavian origin.

So, I am reaching out to someone who may know the Oloffson family. Richard tells me he thinks they are Norwegian. Checking back I realize now why I wrote Norwegian as it appears that way in a feature story in the NYT in July 1988.

Thanks for spotting that Jonathan. I think you are right. I’ll get it corrected. Enjoyed reading your memories on the old place.