Can you identify this door of a Laramie Home?

You could win this hand made Fall Wreath!

Hang this Fall Wreath at YOUR Laramie Home if you win!

Can you identify the address of the home which has the following graceful and elegant entrance? If so, you can enter to win the following handmade fall wreath crafted by me.  I love fall and a hallmark sign of the season is a beautiful wreath as a welcome to visitors of your home.Here is a close-up picture of the wreath…

All you have to do to win is email me at caitlincae@aol.com or call me with your answer and information at (307) 760-9919 by 5:00 pm on October 14, 2009 with the following information:

• Your email address and phone number
• The correct address of the home in the pencil drawing above

The only stipulation of the drawing is that you must live in Laramie, Wyoming.  The winner will have their picture taken at Raving Real Estate with the wreath and posted on this blog with a congratulations!

The winner will be announced on October 15, 2009 and contacted by email and/or phone. The winner will be chosen randomly from the pool of correct answers.

Good luck and happy fall!

Laramie has many historical gems which can give the passerby a momentary feel for early pioneer days in this wild and forlorn place.  The above drawing is such an example.  The Wyoming Historic Preservation Office cites quite eloquently the history of this architectural structure:

“The Bath Row Historic District includes four buildings constructed in 1883. These structures were built by the Bath family, important contributors to Laramie’s early settlement period. Known for their fine stone buildings and business activities, the Baths were involved in merchandising, hotel ownership, early ranching, and the construction and rental of housing for railroad workers. This, in a town with a population of only 2,000 at that time, makes it easy to understand just how much power they wielded. These buildings are excellent examples of a type, period, and method of construction used in Laramie’s early settlement period, which was in large part determined by the Baths who set the standards upon which much of the local building traditions were based. Constructed as rental units for railroad workers, the stone structures are representative of the arrival and continuing influence of the transcontinental railroad in Wyoming. Though nine houses and a barn were initially constructed, only four retain integrity and serve to provide a clear example of Laramie’s early stone buildings. The others along the row demonstrate the personal tastes and trends which later became popular.” Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office-National Register Site

I had the great pleasure of drawing BATH ROW.  So quaint and yet so beautiful!  I found myself wanting to live in this home, once again as a college student walking past this structure numerous times.  I find the buildings constructed from the early founding people of this city so fascinating.  What a hard and yet exciting time!

The Bath Row Building in Laramie, Wyoming

This month’s home is a stunning example of a bungalow or craftsman bungalow architectural style house.  The bungalow seems to be widely misidentified.  Most bungalow’s built in America are not true to their original orgin which was in India.  Initially, these homes were one story homes with surrounding porches with a broad roof, which did not include dormers.  America adapted different characteristics to the style.  The bungalow was a physical manifestation of Americans desire to move away from the intricate, formal and machined style of the Victorian.  By the early 1920’s bungalows were very popular.  Additionally, since the climate is not as hot a second story could easily be added and dormers were constructed to provide light to this second story.  A long porch along the entire front face of the home is more true to the style, but many homes with partial porches are still identified as a bungalow.

The identifying features of the bungalow are as follows:  low-pitched gable roof, wide overhanging eaves, exposed rafters, decorative brackets, porch in line with the main roof over the house, tapered or square columns, hand-crafted stone or woodwork and use of mixed materials. Craftsman Bungalow Architecture

Thank you to to the Woelk’s for allowing me to draw your beautiful home!

Craftsman Bungalow Home in Laramie, Wyoming on Ivinson Street

I went to Wheatland High School (about 80 miles northeast of Laramie) and I played basketball during those years.  I remember thinking Laramie was the end of the earth as we traveled the seemingly treacherous distance between Wheatland and Laramie in the winters for a game.  I see the town differently now.  The place has had a hold on me since I came here for a college education in 2001.  The University adds so much to Laramie.  It is a beautiful campus, relatively small, social and cultural opportunities and entertainment available and many of the professors are phenomenal!

I love Laramie’s proximity to the mountains.  A mere 30 minutes and you can enjoy recreational activities in the Snowy Mountain Range.  Still closer is Vedauwoo!  What a beautiful place!  I love the small town and western atmosphere of Laramie.  Downtown is one of my favorite places in Laramie.  Laramie has such a rich history, which I just love!  I love Laramie for the quiet neighborhood we live in.  You can leave your car unlocked, a bike on the front steps and feel safe.  Our neighbors care to watch out for each other and care about their properties.  I love that there are many options for early childhood education. My oldest daughter goes to the local Montessori Children’s House and it is just amazing!

Brendan, my girls and myself are building a life here.  We are excited about what the future holds, and I look forward to meeting more wonderful residents of the City of Laramie and enjoying life in this place.

The Mission Statement of Raving Real Estate:  “To provide our clients and customers with excellent service, and offer innovative new tools for Buyers and Sellers to find each other- and ultimately make them RAVING FANS.”

My husband started out as an Associate Broker with Century 21 Associated Brokers in Laramie (there is a program at the University of Wyoming that allows one to bipass the required 2 years as a salesperson).  He is committed to education and diligently sought out certain certifications that would make him competitive in his area of expertise.  One of the main certifications he attained was the Certified Residential Specialist (CRS).  While at one of the classes he started thinking about “what if?”  We all knew he would want to go out on his own someday, and if this was to be the case, what would be the angle?  It is amazing how much thinking happens in the wee hours of the night discussing various topics with your loved one.  One of his grand ideas was that of Raving Real Estate.

A huge concept behind CRS is becoming so good at relationships you build a referral network that whenever the subject of real estate comes up your name is the first to be mentioned, and “raved” about!  The definition of rave is as follows:  To write or speak with extravagant enthusiasm (thefreedictionary.com).  That is our goal.  Our ultimate duty as a Realtor is to put the interests of our principles above even our own, within the constraints of the law and ethics.  We want our customers and clients to experience that kind of dedication and care.

I remember laying in bed listening and encouraging his thought process.  He came up with the idea of the spinning “V.”  I thought it was brilliant!  So, here is a picture of our marvelous sign!  What a logo?!  The spinning “V,” among others make people sit up and take notice.  Many know and recognize who we are because of these little details.

The Spinning V Logo of Raving Real Estate, Laramie Wyoming

Introducing my sketches for Raving Real Estate!  I love to draw.  I love architecture and the stories of the people who inhabit these homes both past and present.  What better way to combine these interests?!  This is the third drawing I have done of houses around Laramie.  This is the home of Dr. Harold and Dr. Annie Bergman located on 8th Street.  When I was attending the University of Wyoming, I used to admire this house as I walked to and from school.  When we later moved to a home on the same block I found out it was the home of my Environmental Natural Resource Studies professor, Dr. Harold Bergman.  What a lovely family!  They have a beautiful and bright daughter who Amelia, my first daughter enjoyed playing with on occasion.

It is a stunningly beautiful example of a Tudor style house.  The curved gable and high pitch roof give it away easily.  The house was built in 1936 by the family who owned the local brick yard in West Laramie at the time.  Many of the homes in the area were built by this family.  I will have to track down the name of the family.  I do know however, the owner had 4 sons (all brick layers by trade) and a daughter.  This particular house was built for the daughter and her husband.  I could not depict quite definitively the very interesting misshapen nature of the bricks used in the decorative wall in front and used in the bottom four feet of the home.  This brick is called slag:  brick that did not procure hot enough or burned too hot and became twisted and melted together as a result.  It makes for quite an appealing building material!  (Information attained from Dr. Bergman.  Thank you for the knowledge you have of your home!)

If you happen to be interested in learning more about how to recognize Tudor Style Architecture here is a great link!

A sketch will appear every month for Raving Real Estate’s one page advertisement in the local Home Guide of listings for sale.  If you are interested in having a sketch done of your home.  Please feel free to contact me!  I hope in the future to compile information on all the homes I sketch and publish them in a book.