#1 Properties Fall Newsletter

at home with FALL 2022

The Capitol Avenue Bronze Project is bringing history to life throughout the streets of downtown Cheyenne. Family stories and legacies are being preserved and woven into beautiful bronze statues that glimmer in the sunlight.

There's Only One #1

“ Photos by AK PhotoStudio

In the Cheyenne region, #1 Properties is the finest example of a locally owned and operated business there is. Not only are they the best, they give back to the community through many different sponsorships. Guess that builds good karma, that makes them #1 in this region, way to go #1 Properties! –T/SG

the heART

STORIES

The Capitol Avenue Bronze Project is preserving the heart of Cheyenne for generations to come through visual art.

Each statue not only tells a story about what it is like to live in Wyoming, but also shows the vast diversity of how its people embrace life.

The Capitol Avenue Bronze Project is fully underway and picking up steam, after first being conceptualized twelve years ago by Harvey Deselms, owner of Deselms Fine Art and Custom Framing. The first bronze statue for this project was installed by the 2010 Leadership Cheyenne class at the Cheyenne Depot Plaza, and in the following year a couple other bronze statues were donated and installed downtown. The project had lost some of its momentum until last September when a small group of donors (Nathaniel Trelease, Caren Murray, Susan Samuelson, Dixi Roberts, and Jeff Wallace) along with Deselms presented the project to Mayor Patrick Collins, who loved the idea. The Capitol Avenue Bronze Project committee was born out of a common love for Cheyenne, and a new breath of life was instilled into the bronze project.

To date 24 bronze statues have been installed along Capitol Avenue and down 17th Street. With 30 (and counting) more commitments for additional beautiful works of art to adorn the streets, they are looking to expand the project onto Carey Avenue. Fifteen different artists have taken part in bringing these works of art to life.

Photos by AK PhotoStudio

Some of the artists are from right here in Cheyenne, while others live throughout the state of Wyoming. Artists from Nebraska, Colorado, Utah and Missouri have also contributed to this historic project.

“In my wildest dreams, I never thought the project would have grown to this size,” Deselms said. “I thought we’d get a couple installed and that would be a great legacy.

But it’s just exploded in popularity over the last year.”

All of the bronze statues are funded by private donors, not public funds. The cost of the statues varies. One of the more recent pieces had a cost around $40,000 to make and install. The overall cost of the project has been about $1.5 million so far, with mostly individuals and families of Cheyenne making the donations.

“By being involved in this legacy project, they can not only leave their mark, but also support the city in its beautification goals,” said Deselms.

From people, to wildlife, to scenes from everyday life, each bronze has its own unique story to tell, and a deep meaning for the families that have donated these statues for the enjoyment of generations to come.

Here are a few examples of these amazing stories.

In January 1920 the USPS used airmail pilots to start delivering mail from coast-to-coast in the US. These brave pilots had no navigational devices and had to use railroad tracks, which they referred to as “the iron compass”, as their guides as they flew from city to city. From 1920 until 1927 James Murray was an airmail pilot and was inducted into the Wyoming Aviation Hall of Fame. Ed Murray Sr. (James’ brother) also was an airmail pilot in an open cockpit plane. He later got married and founded Ed Murray and Sons. To honor these airmail pilots, Ed (grandson of Ed Murray Sr.) and Caren Murray dedicated this bronze statue entitle “Aviator” by George Lundeen located on the corner of Capitol Ave. and 22nd St.

“Norma’s Calf” is a delightful story about an artist named Rich Haines who wanted to sculpt a calf and needed real life inspiration. He found his way to the Deselms’ ranch where he met Norma Deselms. She proceeded to show Mr. Haines her favorite calf, and from that encounter “Norma’s Calf” was born. The Deselms children (Howard, Bob, Shirley, Joe & Harvey) wanted to honor their parents by commissioning the statue of the calf from Mr. Haines, which sits on the corner of Capitol Ave. and 17th Street.

A stunning angel statue entitled “In Good Hands” created

by Robin Laws sits on the corner of Capitol Ave. and 21st St. in front of St. Mary’s Cathedral as a tribute to Nathaniel Trelease’s mother. Mr. Trelease, who serves on The Capitol Avenue Bronze Project committee, loves art and statues and wanted a way to give back to the community. The bronze statue project was a perfect way for him to do this along with giving his family a way to honor his mother. A time capsule preserved in the base of the sculpture contains a rosary for his mother.

HERO...

Every great project always has an unsung hero, and when it comes to The Capitol Avenue Bronze Project that hero is Don Jones. Mr. Jones is a fifth-generation mason, who started doing mason work when he was in 6th grade for $1.00/hour.

Now retired from Harold F. Johnson Masonry, Don donates his time to create the pedestals and cap stones for each bronze statue. He also makes sure that each and every one is properly installed.

HAPPENING

OCTOBER 1st- 2nd

THE LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS

Historic Atlas Theatre - by the Cheyenne Little Theatre Payers

st 1 CELEBRATE AUTUMN CRAFT & NON-PROFIT FAIR

Archer Event Center, 9am - 4pm

nd 2 A SISSY IN WYOMING-PLAY The Lincoln Cheyenne, 2:30pm

th 8 CHEYENNE FARMERS MARKET

Frontier Park, 7:00am-1:00pm

th 14 DANCING WITH THE STARS BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF CHEYENNE FUNDRAISER

Little America, 6:00pm - 10:00pm

st 21 BOOKLOVERS BASH

Little America, 5:30pm-10:00pm

th th 28 -30 CHEYENNE FALL HOME SHOW 2022

Laramie County Fairgrounds, 10:00am-5:00pm

NOVEMBER rd 3 RODNEY CARRINGTON

Cheyenne Civic Center, 7:00pm

th 4 THE COMMODORES

Cheyenne Civic Center, 7:30pm

th 10 DOWN THE BARREL OF

HISTORY W/ EVAN GREEN Wyoming State Museum, 7:00pm

6106 YELLOWSTONE ROAD | CHEYENNE, WY 82009

NEW NEIGHBORS

Market Snapshot

Billy Jack's Pizza Pub is locally owned with its newest location in the Cheyenne Airport at 4020 Airport Parkway, West Suite 1. Redefining Fast Casual Dining! Billy Jack’s is a family-friendly restaurant and pub that offers everything from pizza and beer to salads and wine. Our fourteen beers on tap will satisfy any type of drinker. Fastest pizza in town – only 5 minutes from order to table! There is also a Billy Jack's Delivery Hub located at 920 1/2 South Greeley HWY. Cheyenne, Wy.

New coNstructioN iN cheyeNNe has beeN such aN excitiNg segmeNt of the market. we are thrilled to represeNt such amaziNg home buildiNers aNd subdivisioNs .

YEAR-OVER-YEAR NEW CONSTRUCTION CLOSINGS LOOK FANTASTIC: JAN. 1, 2021 - SEPT. 1, 2021 192 CLOSINGS

JAN. 1, 2022 - SEPT. 1, 2022 194 CLOSINGS

NEW HOMES SOLD IN SUBDIVISIONS: YTD MLS Pending new ConStruCtion:

36

SAddLe ridge

37

ACtive new ConStruCtion:

121

SweetgrASS

20

YeLLowStone eStAteS

18

HArMonY vALLeY

17

wALden

14

wHitneY rAnCH

10

JordAn PASture

9

LittLe Bear

5

AverAge CLoSed new ConStruCtion: $551,540 HigH CLoSing new HoMe:

$1,186,000

Information provided by Cheyenne MLS.

cheyennehomes.com

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