Mother, son learn an ancestor designed the building that houses their business

Jan Ramey placed a scented sachet on a large, wooden fixture hanging from the ceiling in her store. Her son built it for her.

In fact, he was responsible for much of the handiwork around her.

She said a customer told her the store, with its scented air, wood floors, brick walls and warm lighting, feels like something out of a Hallmark movie -- high praise in Ramey's eyes.

"Wasn't that the dearest?" she said.

Jan Ramey's son, John Ramey, purchased the property at 225 Independence St. with the intention of downsizing her home.

The Candle Cottage is seen Thursday on Independence Street in downtown Cape Girardeau.Laura Simon

But instead, it became a new business venture for both: A storefront for her candle business, The Candle Cottage, and an Airbnb rental lodging.

But the renovated home is a family affair beyond a simple mother-and-son business venture. The house itself was built by Jan Ramey's great-great-grandfather Joseph Lansman.

History

The Rameys didn't buy the house, which was built in the 1870s, knowing it was a family heirloom.

John Ramey saw it as a fixer-upper in a great location. It wasn't until after they bought the home the Rameys learned Lansman most likely built it.

A neighbor, whose own home was built by Lansman, indicated theirs, too, had the telltale signs.

John Ramey pointed to a row of exterior brick sticking out at an angle from the rest of the building.

"He would turn bricks on the top row of houses at a 45-degree angle," he said.

"That's his calling card," Jan Ramey said. "And I think that is so cool."

In the 1830s, Lansman came to the United States from Europe, where this bricklaying technique was popular.

The house also features the arched windows and stone foundation common in Lansman handiwork.

Lansman not only built several small houses throughout Cape Girardeau -- his work can be seen in houses on Spanish and Themis streets -- but in many cases, he used bricks made in his own kiln to do so.

He was also instrumental in the construction of many of Cape Girardeau's best-known structures, such as Old St. Vincent's Church on Spanish Street and the Common Pleas Courthouse.

Much of what is likely Lansman's original work remains in the house today, alongside his great-great-great grandson's handiwork updating the structure.

Renovations

Jan Ramey said her son took seven months away from his work in Nashville, Tennessee, to renovate the small cottage.

"It was horrible," she said of the house's condition before it was renovated. "It had dark, dark carpeting and the rooms all chopped up."

The floors needed to be replaced completely, and the windows needed to be repaired, she said.

John Ramey brought in antique wood from Kentucky to replace the unsalvageable floors.

The eight-foot drop ceilings were removed, revealing the home's original beams, which Ramey backdropped with a copper ceiling.

The home still maintains its original brick, and Ramey acidized the interior to restore the brick's original color and texture.

He has work yet to do on the cottage.

Landscaping is a priority, as well as rebuilding the stonework in front of the house.

Jan Ramey said there are plans to build two more rental rooms in an L-shape toward the back of the building to create a courtyard.

Ventures

The small building is separated by an alcove into two spaces.

To the left is a lodging space made available for rent through Airbnb.com, complete with bedroom, full kitchen, full bath and a laundry room.

John Ramey began renting the room in September, he said, with much success.

On the other side is Jan Ramey's Candle Cottage.

Candlemaking wasn't originally her interest.

It was a hobby of her late husband, John, who was looking for activities other than fishing and golf to keep him busy.

He began making candles, which she sold -- first at Southeast Hospital, where she worked, and later throughout the area.

"One day he came to me and said, 'Janny, I wanted a hobby, not a job,' so I got down there and helped him, and it was fun," she said.

Jan Ramey's creations, Butterfly Candles, line the shelves throughout her store.

The scented soy candles and inserts, fragrant sachets and gift baskets she makes share the shelves with decorative candle warmers, Amish soaps and handmade wreaths.

Ramey said she focuses on soy products "because it helps our American farmer and keeps jobs in America."

The soy, she said, also burns cleanly and evenly compared to tallow.

"You won't find black soot on the soy candles," she said.

The Candle Cottage opened in early September, and Ramey said she's had a great reception thus far.

The downtown Cape Girardeau marketplace has been very welcoming, she said.

"Everybody helps each other," she said.

Ramey looks forward to watching her business and her son's grow.

Her dedication to her work is evident as she talks about growing attached to some of her handiwork -- particularly the wax-covered teddy bears meant for children's rooms.

The previous night, she said, she stayed up until 2 a.m. putting together the scented sachets.

They're one of her more popular items, and they tend to sell out quickly, but she said she enjoys the work, and it keeps her young.

So while other people her age may find comfort in staying home in retirement, "You know what, girl," she said, "I'm just not a stay-at-home person."

bbrown@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3630

Pertinent address:

225 Independence Street, Cape Girardeau, MO