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![]() ![]() GEORGE W. BIRMINGHAM, JR. (1921-2008) Birmingham was born in Durham. He served in the Navy during WWII, building the airstrip in Guam that launched the US nuclear attack on Japan. After the war, he went into the construction business with his father but they parted ways amicably after a while. From then on, Birmingham built dozens of houses in Durham, especially a group of houses on Ashley that would become known as Birmingham Woods. He built homes all over Durham. During the 1980's, Birmingham exposed imcomptence by the City Inspections Department which was subsequently verified and resulted in the resignation of the department head. He led classes for the public on homebuilding and appeared in a 1991 NC Public Television documentary on residential building. During the late 1980's and 1990's, he was locally famous as a private building inspector. If you were the buyer, you wanted George on your team. He was known for finding hidden problems in houses that were (usually unintentionally) covered up by present or past owners. He served as expert witness in several lawsuits, one winning $930,000 in damages. |
1956 -
2801 Ashley, Durham. Designed and built by Birmingham.
1956 - 2712 Ashley, Durham. Designed and built by Birmingham. As of 2013 owned by Faith Birmingham. Sold in 2014 to Joseph B. Weaver.
1956 -
2714 Ashley, Durham. Designed and built by Birmingham.
![]() 1956 - 708 Wisteria, Durham. Designed and built by Birmingham. As of 2013 owned by George Brandon Farlow, his grandson. Sold in 2014 to Benjamin McKeithan.
1958 -
2721 Ashley, Durham. Designed and built by Birmingham.
1958 - 2717 Ashley, Durham. Designed and built by Birmingham. Sold to Juanita Birmingham, George's wife. Sold in 1989 to Cindy Purvis who still owned it as of 2013.
1960 -
2711 Ashley, Durham. Designed and built by Birmingham.
1960 -
2715 Ashley, Durham. Designed and built by Birmingham.
1962 -
2709 Ashley, Durham. Designed and built by Birmingham.
1963 - 2710 Ashley, Durham. Designed and built by Birmingham. Inherited by Patricia Farlow and L. Faith Birmingham. Sold in 2012 to Karen Jolley. Sold to her LLC, Jolley Property Management. Restored and renovated in 2013 by Steve Jolley Builders. Sold in 2013 to Mary Selma Pittman and Jennifer Marie Thornberg. 1963 - 2705 Ashley, Durham. Designed and built by Birmingham. Sold in 2014 to Marshal Morgan. ![]() 1963 - 2512 Sevier Street, Durham. Photo by Evan and Steve Gardner. Sold in 2001 to Teresa and Christopher Perrien. ![]() ![]() 1964 - The Harry and Jane McPherson House, 3915 Nottaway Road, Durham.Sold in 2003 to Robert Pope. Completely renovated and expanded in 2006. Sold in 2011 to Linda Harpole. ![]() ![]() 1965 - The George W. Birmingham Jr. House, 2701 Ashley, Durham. Designed and built by Birmingham. Sold in 2011 to Nelson R. Maldonado. 1968 - 2702 Ashley, Durham. Designed and built by Birmingham. As of 2012 owned by Patricia Birmingham Farlow. Sold in 2013 to Jolley Property Management.
1970 - 1306 Stadium Drive, Durham. Designed and built by Birmingham. Deeded 2005 to Anne C. Burton. Sold in 2006 to Mark A. and Lisa K. Bowman. Sold in 2007 to Charles K. Titel. Sold in 2011 to Aaron Lubeck. Silver Wevill added to title in 2012. ![]() ![]() 1976 - 2602 Broad Street, Durham. Designed and built by Birmingham. As of 2013 owned by Faith Birmingham. Now a rental. ![]() 1976 - 2604 Broad Street, Durham. Designed and built by Birmingham. As of 2013 owned by Ted Farlow. Now a rental. Other traditional houses designed and built by Birmingham include: ![]() 1951 - 2413 Perkins Road, Durham. Traditional design. Photo by Steve Gardner. Sources include: Virginia Faust, Jim Wise, Steve and Evan Gardner. |