Juan Vasquez and the rest of his crew were hard at work Tuesday on a future Italian bistro that will be at the southeast corner of the Court Circle. When they were taking down the front walls last week, they found the front of an old notary and tax service which was apparently run by a man named George R. Bilbe. The Post-Signal then asked readers with information about the business or Mr. Bilbe to contact the office. Readers continue to call with interesting anecdotes and information about the business and its owner.
It didn’t take long before we received four phone calls Thursday morning of people who recalled a Birmingham, Ala. native named George Bilbe, who graduated in accounting from Auburn University in 1926 and moved to Estherwood and opened his tax consulting business.
According to old phone books at the Acadia Public Library, Bilbe had moved his office at least twice on Parkerson Ave. during his his career. In 1951, he was located at 118 Parkerson Ave. In 1955, he was located at 530 Parkerson Ave. and in 1962 he was located at the building that is currently being constructed by E.L. Habetz Construction.
Bilbe was also an Army veteran of both World War I and served as an Army Captain during World War II.
He died in 1962 at the age of 58 and was given full military honors at his funeral.
Guy Cuccio said that he was in the American Legion with Bilbe and that they played in several drum and bugle corps competitions together.
“He was a good old boy,” laughed Cuccio.
Local attorney Scott Privat called in to say that George Bilbe Jr. is currently a professor at Loyola University in New Orleans. Privat provided us with Bilbe Jr.’s phone number but attempts to reach him were unsuccessful.
The Post-Signal would like to thank Ann Mire of the Acadia Parish Public Library for her help in researching information on Mr. Bilbe.
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