If you listen closely, you can still hear the sweet voices of B.B. King, Fats Domino and Ike and Tina Turner coming through the woodwork, all visitors to The Historic Bobb Home at 634 Field St. in New Iberia, according to its new owner Wendell Washing-ton.

The house, now owned Washington, is in the process of being turned into small apartments after more than three decades of neglect and decay.

“The building itself is about 70 to 75 years old and was sitting empty for about the last 30 years,” Washington said. “When I bought it in October, the police told me they were glad because of all the activity that was happening here.”

Wendell Washington stands next to the plaque recently placed at the refurbished Historic Bobb Home, which once was the resting spot for famous musicians who came through New Iberia. JUSTIN HALL / THE DAILY IBERIAN Advertisement

The building Washington bought from Winston Broussard originally was owned by the Bobb family, who let famous performers stay with them during the age of segregation.

“People like B.B. King, Fats Domino, as well as people from the naval base stayed here,” Washington said. “During segregation, they couldn’t stay at the Frederic Hotel, which was the main place to stay in town.”

Washington said there is already a plaque hanging on the front of the building, sponsored by Southern Mutual Help Association, honoring its past but that he wants to take it to the next level.

“I plan on getting it registered with the National Register of Historical Places,” Washington said. “Once I get the planning done, then I will be able to work on that.”

Patricia Duncan, of the state Office of Cultural Development, said she has not received a request from Washington yet, but once she does, she said she will begin the lengthy process.

“There are three requirements for getting it registered: age (50 years or more), building integrity and importance, either historical or architecture,” Duncan said. “I will evaluate it to see if there is a case.”

Washington said the house was in such a state of disrepair he had to first put a roof on the building before renovating the floors one at a time, starting with the top floor and working his way down the two-story building.

He said the only original part of the house that was saved was the woodwork surrounding the kitchen cabinets.

Everything else had to be replaced, Washington said.

“I had people telling me that I was wasting my money,” Washington said, laughing.

The building is almost completed and should be ready for tenants soon.