912 25TH STREET NW
Year Built
1887
Click photo below to see full sized image.
D. Vogt, 2022
Documents
History
This group of four brick houses with two bays two and a half stories, Nos. 912-914 1/2, were built, designed, and owned by B.H. Warner & Co. as a speculative project in 1887. The houses have molded brick arches over the windows and a dentilled brick cornice runs the length of the houses.
The original house at No. 912 had a wood paneled front door and lights and a transom above topped by a brick segmented arch. The windows were 6/6 double-hung with wood frames and shutters. In 1988 a permit was requested from HPRB to add an addition to the rear of the house. It is slightly taller than its neighbors to the south because the first floor is raised 1/2 story from the ground. It also has a structure on the roof that replaced a pre-existing less attractive structure.
Resident/Owner
Dr. Joseph Giordano, who treated President Ronald Reagan at GWUH after his 1981 assassination attempt.
Suzanne Foss
Gaines and Brigitte Mimms
Recollections
The story of our home: Brigitte and I were in DC to visit our son Remy who was a student a George Washington University. We were at a period in our lives when we where thinking of buying a second home - DC vs. NYC. I am originally from New York and very comfortable in the city. Brigitte and I had lived in Manhattan for five years when we were young. Brigitte always felt that DC was more like Bruxelles in that the buildings are not tall, there are many parks, and a large international community.
In any case, we were wandering around Foggy Bottom when we saw an open house sign. The owner was charming, Suzanne Foss. She was a real estate agent and her husband was with the World Bank. So we bought a house without really thinking much about it.
The story that attracted me also, besides Suzanne being charming, was the fact the home had been owned by the surgeon who took care of President Reagan at the time of the assassination attempt. The President had been taken to GW Hospital. Apparently the surgeon had bought our home and was responsible for adding the third floor. This occurred prior to the neighborhood becoming being protected by historical preservation. I was very attracted to the story of the doctor as well as the idea that there was a third floor, however it had a gabled roof and low ceiling. My daughter’s obstetrician (former chairman of the department) confirmed the story of the surgeon. We did not do any renovations to the home before 2012 as our children ended up living in the home, which was not the original plan. (Excerpt from email, G. Mimms, 2021)
Source Material
FBA History Project, Foggy Bottom Historic District Walking Tour, "The Historic District's Longest Row." https://theclio.com/entry/144546
EHT Traceries Photo Nov 1983
The sidewalk view with brick entry and patio area. (D. Vogt, May 2022)
A streetscape view of 25th St. (EHT Traceries, Nov 1983)
The facade of house in 2006. (G. Mimms collection, 2021)
The roof addition and skylight in 2006. (G. Mimms collection, 2021)
The kitchen facing 25th St in 2006. (G. Mimms collection, 2021)
900-912 I St houses with spring gardens (early 2000s) (Ellie Becker Collection, DC Hist Cent)
900-912 1/2 25th St House facades and gardens (prior to 2005) (Ellie Becker Collection, DC Hist Cent)