The downtown area of Arcahaie, known as Ville De L'Arcahaie, is situated in the Ouest Department of Haiti, along the left bank of the Rivière de l'Arcahaie. This region serves as a commercial hub, featuring a variety of retail shops, the City Hall, and the Pradel Pompilus Municipal Library. Additionally, it is home to several places of worship, including the Arcahaie Cathedral, as well as numerous boutiques, such as the Arcahaie Mini Mall. Nearby, there is a memorial honoring Jean-Jacques Dessalines and a tribute to Catherine Flon, who crafted the Haitian flag from the French tricolour. The area is accessible via multiple ports and Route Nationale 1.
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History[]
The village was originally built in the Arcahaie Plain, but it was burned in 1802. During the civil war of Christophe and Pétion, it remained deserted. Reconstruction efforts did not commence until 1820, and by the law enacted on October 17, 1821 it was designated as one of the communes. Nevertheless, Archaie did not elect a representative to the House of Commons until 1843. The Saint Paul Methodist Episcopal Church from Port-au-Prince has a presence in this area, and several public structures and private residences have been restored.
• In 1802, a conspiracy emerged under the leadership of Guilhoux. That same year, the Morne Arcahaie uprising occurred against the French forces. Destrade, the leader of the insurrection, managed to push General Pageot back to the Matheux dam. In response, Rochambeau 
dispatched Lamartinière, renowned for his valor at Crête-à-Pierrot, to confront the insurgents. Lamartinière witnessed the insurgent leaders escape, while Destrade withdrew to Couyau. After establishing several positions in the hills and instructing his troops to take a firm stance against the revolts, he returned to Arcahaie. Shortly after resuming his camp, he met his demise. The two French officers, Poix and Robe, who were in command of the village, upon learning of Lamartinière's death, the massacre of the white officers of the 3rd regiment, and the integration of soldiers from this regiment into the insurgent forces, resolved to detach some colonial troops who had sought refuge in the village following the Cortad highway.
Commandant Poix instructed his forces to surrender, directing some to Boucassin and others to Des Vases, with the intention of weakening them and disarming them through the white troops of the 68th. The local inhabitants, however, refused to comply, harboring suspicions regarding the French intentions. Subsequently, the soldiers and the white bourgeois convened at the square's office alongside Robe and Poix. In response, the natives armed themselves and adopted a defiant stance. A native captain, Pierre Grenau, remained loyal to the French forces; he seized a grenadier from the 3rd column and brought him to the office. The grenadier, horrified by the sight of numerous gallows erected before the gallery, fled back to the native camp and relayed his alarming observations to his comrades. Dress arrived to deliver supplies to the soldiers, but was struck down by a gunshot. Instantly, a horrific massacre erupted in the town; gunfire echoed as the whites and natives engaged in brutal combat in the streets and within homes. The French took refuge in the church, firing upon the natives from the windows. The natives launched an assault on Fort Poix, where they slaughtered the garrison, and they also attacked Fort Guilleme; however, the French countered and expelled them from Fort Poix. Ultimately, the French maintained control over Archaie, but soon found themselves compelled to evacuate in the face of the uprising. They loaded their wives and children onto barges, but many of these vessels were too heavily laden and sank. Commandant Poix, along with the white bourgeois, retreated to Boucassin, located three leagues from the village on the route to Port-au-Prince, and subsequently withdrew to Cabaret at the Garescher plantation.
Poix la Generale[]
Historic photo of the Godet Plantation
Arcahaie, Haiti
Poix la Generale was formerly a sugar plantation located in the commune of Arcahaie, adjacent to the village.
- In 1796, Lapointe, fighting on behalf of the British, traversed this estate and moved towards J.J. Dessalines in Boucassin.
- In 1802, during the local uprising against the French, a significant battle took place at Poix la Générale. Destrade, the insurgent leader from Arcahaie, captured Fort Poix and ordered the execution of its garrison; however, the French forces swiftly expelled him. Noël Baquet, a lieutenant under Destrade, remained stationed at the Poix la Générale barrier. That same year, following the confrontations at Poix and Robe in Arcahaie, the local populace abandoned the town and fortified themselves at the Poix la Générale estate, from which they soon regained control of Arcahaie, previously deserted by Commander Poix.
- In 1807, as Pétion advanced against Christophe in the North, he gathered his troops at the Poix la Générale estate before moving on to Saint-Marc. However, Pétion retreated to Port-au-Prince after an unsuccessful campaign. In May of that year, he initiated another campaign against Christophe. Upon reaching Poix la Générale, his forces encountered a battalion from the 4th of the North. Pétion commanded an attack, leading to the battalion's defeat and subsequent pursuit by cavalry.
- In July 1808, a column led by Christophe appeared near Boucassin while President Pétion was in the South. General Bazelais engaged the enemy, successfully pursuing them on the 28th and establishing a position at the Poix la Générale estate, where David Troy distinguished himself in the ensuing conflict.
Poix-la-Ravine[]
Poix-la-Ravine was another sugar plantation of the commune of L'Arcahaie, which required the construction of a bridge over the ravine.
- In February 1798, British forces from Arcahaie established a fortified camp in this area, under the command of Lapointe.
- On June 2, 1807, President Pétion, while advancing against Christophe, reached Poix la Ravine, where he received news of Gonaives' occupation by Bazelais and Lamarre.
- In 1888, the government authorized the construction of a bridge across the Poix Ravine.
- During Pétion's campaign against Christophe in 1807, he sent troops to engage him. General Romain arrived in Arcahaie, crossed Morne Mahotte, and took control of Lapointe's post.
- The Poix-la-Général and Poix-la-Ravine plantations in the town were designated for public utility but were sold in 1826 for government purposes. The Guiton plantation at Bois-Blancs was also reserved for its use as a grazing area for horse hunters, but it was later sold.
- At the Toilly plantation, the area was characterized by campeches, gaiac, timber for railway crossings, firewood, a basalt stone quarry, iron and copper minerals, and a sulphurous spring. The heirs of Vanden, who managed this habitation, have preserved approximately 70,000 gourdes of old paper money, which was demonetized by Emperor Soulouque until 1872, representing about 10,000 worthless dollars.
- At the Thoby habitation in Arcahaie, the French constructed a dike that is now threatened by river overflow. Although parts of the dike still exist, its longevity is uncertain. The necessary repairs are minor: cementing the iron corners, replacing eroded sections, and refurbishing the dam gates. Unlike in Matheux, there is no dispute among the inhabitants of Thoby regarding the current distribution. In January 1890, Mr. Clément Haetjens was involved in these matters.