NCModernist George Birmingham

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.

1951 - 2413 Perkins Road, Durham. Traditional design. Photo by Steve Gardner.

1951 - 2710 Stuart Drive, Durham. Traditional design. Photo by Evan and Steve Gardner.

1951 - 3010 Surrey Road, Durham. Traditional design. Photo by Evan and Steve Gardner.

1952 - 1121 Anderson Street, Durham. Traditional design. Photo by Steve Gardner.

1955 - 2705 Dogwood Road, Durham.

1956 - 3317 Rugby Road, Durham. Traditional design. Photo by Evan and Steve Gardner.

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1956 - 2801 Ashley, Durham.Designed and built by Birmingham.
Sold in 1998 to Joseph R. Anderson. Sold in 2015 to Chad Bebout.

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1956 - 2712 Ashley, Durham. Designed and built by Birmingham.As of 2013 owned by Faith Birmingham. Sold in 2014 to Joseph B. Weaver.

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1956 - 2714 Ashley, Durham. Designed and built by Birmingham.
Sold to Ted Farlow.Sold in 2014 to Jolley Property Mgmnt LLC. Has been a rental for years.

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.

1956 - 2716 Ashley, Durham. Designed and built by Birmingham.
Sold in 2010 to Jerry Davis.

1957 - 32 Beverly Drive, Durham. Traditional design. Photos by Evan and Steve Gardner.

1957 - 1101 Vickers Avenue, Durham. Traditional design. Photo by Evan and Steve Gardner.

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1958 - 2721 Ashley, Durham. Designed and built by Birmingham.
As of 2013 owned by Patricia Birmingham Farlow, Trustee. Rental.

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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.

1959 - 1109 Vickers Avenue, Durham. Traditional design. Photo by Evan and Steve Gardner.

1960 - 2740 McDowell Road, Durham. Photo by Evan and Steve Gardner.

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1960 - 2711 Ashley, Durham. Designed and built by Birmingham.
Sold to Patricia Birmingham Farlow, Trustee. Sold to Karen Jolley.

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1960 - 2715 Ashley, Durham. Designed and built by Birmingham.
Deeded to Faith Birmingham. Sold in 2014 to Karen Jolley. Remodeled, bottom photo.

1961 - 1631 Marion Avenue, Durham. Traditional design. Photo by Evan and Steve Gardner.

1961 - 3605 Rugby Road, Durham. Traditional design. Photo by Steve Gardner.

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1961 - The Ellen S. and Walter R. Guild House, 2625 McDowell, Durham. Designed and built by Birmingham. Sold in 2009 to Donald Hopkins and Jennifer Campbell.

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1962 - 2709 Ashley, Durham. Designed and built by Birmingham.
Sold to Ted Farlow. Sold in 2013 to Adam W. Cherry.

1962 - The Cameron House, 2818 Chelsea Circle, Durham. Traditional design. Photo by Steve Gardner.

1962 - 3000 Devon Road, Durham. Traditional design. Photo by Evan and Steve Gardner.

1963 - 3515 Darwin Road, Durham. Traditional design. Photo by Steve Gardner.

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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. Sold in 2019 to Eli Morgan.

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.

1965 - 3851 Somerset Drive, Durham. Traditional design. Photo by Steve Gardner.

1966 - 23 Clover Place, Durham. Traditional design. Photo by Steve Gardner.

1966 - 4011 Nottaway Road, Durham. Traditional design. Photo by Evan and Steve Gardner.

1966 - 1528 Pinecrest Road, Durham. Traditional design. Photo by Steve Gardner.

1966 - 1532 Pinecrest Road, Durham. Traditional design. Photo by Steve Gardner.

1967 - 3612 Darwin Road, Durham. Traditional design. Photo by Steve Gardner.

1968 - 2702 Ashley, Durham. Designed and built by Birmingham. As of 2012 owned by Patricia Birmingham Farlow. Sold in 2013 to Jolley Property Management.

1968 - 2706 Ashley, Durham. Designed and built by Birmingham.
As of 2013 owned by Ted Farlow.

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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. Rental.

1976 - 2604 Broad Street, Durham. Designed and built by Birmingham. As of 2013 owned by Ted Farlow. Rental.

Sources include: Virginia Faust, Steve and Evan Gardner.