This Is The History of Thibodaux

By: Laynie Barrilleaux

Mr. Gibbens Robichaux escorted Rotarians down memory lane as he reminisced about the history of Thibodaux, Louisiana. Mr. Robichaux is a descendent of Henry Skylar who founded Thibodaux in 1796. The city was established primarily because of the water along Bayou Lafourche which was connected to Bayou Terrebonne. The first “establishment” in Thibodaux? A bar, of course!   

Mr. Gibbens is credited for writing the E.D. White Alma Mater and founding the Bayou Community Band.  He was the full time organist for St. Joseph Co Cathedral for many years and has played for over 1500 funerals and 500 weddings (which, by the way he’ll do for any one of as for free if we get married at the age of 90 or more).  Mr. Gibbens shares his love and knowledge of history and daily happenings through a column called TIDBITS. 

Here are some other “tidbits” he shared with us about Thibodaux.  Governor E.D. White established the town of Thibodauxville in 1830.  In 1912 Louisiana entered into the Union.  Courthouse records for our city go as far back as 1808.  For many years there were no bridges or ferries along the Bayou, but in 1898 the Bayou solid.  Mr. Robichaux brought along a copy of a 1938 Comet and read some of the headlines.  One of them noted that the Rotary was having Tuesday meetings and that the Rotary was recommending the city install a dial phone system.  Telephone numbers were three digit numbers at the time. 

City Bakery was established in 1919 and during its three day closing celebration in 1985 it sold over 500 dozen donuts.  Thibodaux City Hall had a jail with two cells – and one cell seemed to be inhabited every Saturday night by the same citizen.  St. Joseph church burned in 1917 and rumor had it that the Monsignor was responsible because he wanted the church built on another site. 

Joe Robichaux was granted the contract to build the cathedral in 1920 for $300,000.  Three years, 40 bricklayers and 400,000 bricks later the church was completed and Mr. Robichaux died three weeks later.  The gold on the ceiling was painted with a brush by one man – it took 13 months to complete. 

The current day Red Goose housed the first post office and there was also a very popular Pavilion where residents went to dance.  Only problem – rest room was down by the barges.  Mr. Robichaux can still recall the aroma.  

Thank you, Mr. Robichaux, for a delightful stroll down memory lane.  ~Laynie