F. Leone, 2022

2639 I STREET NW

YEAR BUILT:

1877

HISTORY

Following the construction of the Potomac River Freeway, the three isolated row houses (2635, 2637, 2639 I St.) are all that remains of the once-thriving neighborhood west of 26th Street. The houses were included in the original proposal for the Foggy Bottom Historic District, but omitted from the final designation, so they lack historic protection. The highway construction has left the houses difficult to access.

No. 2639 is a single dwelling that appears to have been designed as a double residence, and has a side entrance on 27th St. as well as two front doors. It was built by W.H. Serrin and owned by Edward Welsh in 1877.

The house has a raised front patio with an iron railing and canopy. Its cornice is dentilled and matches those of Nos. 2635 and 2637.

RESIDENT(S)/ OWNER(S)

1890 - James Boyce (CD)
1900 - Charles and Mary E. Colburn. They were both born in 1853 in DC. Charles works area a grocer. They have three sons, Walter E.(b. 1893) Moris L. (b. 1895) and Lawrence H. (b. 1897) and were all born in DC. (Census)
1910 - Isaac Robin (b. 1872, Russia) and wife Fannie (b. 1875, Russia. Isaac works as a proprietor. Son Edward (b. 1901, NH), Phillip (b. 1907, DC) and daughter (Rosie, B. 1909, DC) (Census)
1920 - Isaac Mostow (b. 1888, Russia) works as a petro grocer. Wife Mollie (b. 1893, Russia) Son Melvin (b. 1913, DC) and daughter Saide (b. 1915, DC) (Census)
1930 - 1940 -Julius Goldberg (b. 1901, Russia) works as a grocer. His father Henry (b. 1877) and brother Harry (b. 1905) were also born in Russia and are grocers.
1950 - Louise Satojsky (b. 1912, NY) and her brother Harold (b. 1923, DC) are both proprietors. Also living in the house are sister-in-law Doris (b. 1927, DC) and niece Paulette (b. 1947, DC) (Census)
1983 - R. Barnhard and Y. Anderson

RECOLLECTIONS

SOURCE MATERIAL

FBA History Project, Foggy Bottom Historic District Walking Tour, "Highway Overlook - Lost Foggy Bottom." https://theclio.com/entry/142862

Frank Leone, Funkstown, "The Highway that Ate Foggy Bottom." Dec. 3, 2022, https://www.foggybottomassociation.org/post/funkstown-the-highway-that-ate-foggy-bottom

EHT Traceries, historic area house survey, 1983