2508 I STREET NW
Year Built
1887
History
The 2500 block of I Street features a variety of sizes and styles of working-class row houses. Irish immigrant builder Peter McCartney built No. 2508 in 1887 for Thomas Cahill.
The brick two story, two and a half bay detached house is unusual in that the main entrance is located on the side of the structure, with an additional door at the basement level facing I Street. There is a window above the side entrance, which overlooks a rare vacant lot (2510 I St.). The I Street door has a modern metal hood presently set below the water table. The windows vary in width and have a decorative brick motif at the top. The cornice has elaborate brick work with corbels and dentil motif. Note the delicate jigsaw work above the windows and door.
In June 1966, the house and gardens were viewed by many on the FB House and Garden tour.
Resident/Owner
1890 - David Dodson, tinner (City Directory)
1914 - Edward J Garvey, Jr. , a tinner, and Thomas Welby
1950s - Eva Johnson and roomers
1966 - Reverend and Mrs. F Everett Abbott
1983 - Thomas Cahill
Recollections
Source Material
Boyds City Directory, 1914
Foggy Bottom News, " Foggy Bottom Readies for its First House and Garden Tour June 5," May 1966
EHT Traceries, historic house survey and photo 6/1983
FBA History Project, "Rows with Spacious Front Gardens." Clio: Your Guide to History. https://theclio.com/tour/2098/10
Street view (D. Vogt, May 2022)
2506 and 2508 I Street , Nov 1983 (EHT Traceries)
2508 I St. street view, April 2024 (F. Leone)