The DePauw Avenue Historic District developed in the early 20^th century on land that initially belonged to Washington C. DePauw, who had his summer residence here. DePauw was a wealthy New Albany banker and industrialist during the late-nineteenth century, for whom DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana is named. His son Charles inherited the property upon the death of his father, and it was Charles and his wife Letitia who later developed the site. The first houses in the neighborhood were built in 1906, but development took off in the 1920s and continued through the 1940s. The DePauw Avenue Historic District – including homes on Beechwood and neighboring Vance Avenue – was listed in the National Register of Hisotric Places in 2008. Because this home is a contributing property in a National Register-listed district, the owner would be eligible to utilize state tax credits to help recoup a portion of rehabilitation costs. More information is available here: https://www.in.gov/dnr/historic-preservation/financial-assistance/residential-tax-credit/.

The dormer-front bungalow at 1220 Beechwood was built c.1924, during a period of rapid growth in the neighborhood. The initial owners were Glover Birk and his wife, Clyde. The Birks purchased the property from developer E.V. Knight in March 1924 and had the house built soon after. Glover Birk was a chemist and inventor who owned Birk Manufacturing Company on Monon Avenue. The Birks resided here until about 1953 when they relocated to a home on Sunset Road in Silver Hills. They continued to own the home and rent it out until at least 1960, and the house has had a series of occupants since.

The property’s judgment number is 22CO1-2302-MF-000198.  With this number you can visit the Clerk’s Office in the City-County building and enter it into their computers to find the judgment owed on the property. This is public record.