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Franz Berg purchased land on January 22, 1863 on Washington Avenue, Kirkwood, Missouri; the deed stated: "This Deed made on the eight day of December eighteen hundred & sixty two, by and between George H. Gill and Ellen P. his wife of the county of St. Louis State of Missouri, parties of the first part, and Francis Berg of the same county and state of the second part: Witnesseth: that the said parties of the first part in consideration of four hundred dollars, to them in have paid: by the party of the second part, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged do by these presents Grant Bargain and Sell, Convey and confirm, unto the said party of the second part following tract of land located in the Village of Kirkwood, in the county of St. Louis, Missouri, being block No 5 (five) of the town of Kirkwood, as laid down in the part of said town of record in the Recorder's office of St. Louis County: the Eastern half of said block, as conveyed to Henry I Bodley, by deed August 1859 by Thomas C. Reynolds & wife which deed is recorded in the Recorder's Office of St. Louis County in Book 222 page 521: and the Western half was conveyed to said Bodley by Kirkwood association by deed dated 5 May 1859 and recorded in the same office in Book 227 page 62: and both of said portions were conveyed by said Bodley and wife to said George H. Gill by deed dated 16 November 1861 and recorded in the same office in Book 262 page 180. 

     Around 1863 Franz built a house on the property 309 West Washington Avenue. After his death Henry Robins, who had written a German song book with him, purchased the house from his estate.

    In 1885, Doctor James Walker Evans bought the house. Dr. Evans was a family physician that became so upset each time one of his patients died that he finally gave up medicine to sell insurance.

     One of the Evans' daughters married Howard Crosby and they raised their family in this house. They had stucco put on the outside in 1924, it was demolished in 2000.