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21. Kilbourn-Belin-Tapper House (Office of Dr. Owen Oksanen)201 8th St.
Many prominent members of the Port St. Joe community lived in this distinctive frame vernacular bungalow with porches on three sides. Built in 1918 or 1919 by a couple from New York and first occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Max Kilbourn, owners of the ice plant and a fishing business.
Max Kilbourn was born in 1873 in Oxford, Michigan, moving to Apalachicola with his family at the age of 10. By 1899 he had established a wholesale fish and ice business in Carrabelle and in 1900 married Eda Pickett. The Kilbourns moved to Port St. Joe in 1919 where he established an ice plant and fish processing plant on what was later to be the site of the St. Joe Paper Company mill.
Eda was a gifted musician and composed two locally famous songs: “Ripples of Carrabelle,” inspired by the moonlight reflected on the Carrabelle River and “Echoes of St. Joe.” Jake Belin
Jake Belin was born in Holmes County, Fla., in 1914 and began working for the St. Joe Paper Company as sales manager when it opened in 1938. He served two terms as mayor of Port St. Joe. Jake loved history, especially Florida history, and was sought-after on historical matters. He served the St. Joe Company as president, chief executive officer, director, and chairman of the board in a career that spanned over 60 years. Jake Belin was also president of The Nemours Foundation and The Alfred I. duPont Foundation. Robert Tapper
The home was purchased by Captain Robert Tapper in the early 1930s. Captain Tapper and Mrs. Tapper lived there until their deaths.
It is now the office of Dr. Owen D. Oksanen.
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