The Voglie free house Photo taken July 2009

Cory Eckert, CEO of LAUPEN HOMES LLC, is often asked what inspired the name of his construction business. Laupen, a small town in Switzerland, happens to be where his ancestors emigrated from in the late 1800’s. Not much was known about the family’s past until Cory’s grandparents toured Europe and visited this quaint village. They inquired if there were any town’s people by the name of Vogeli, a name uncovered through extensive genealogical research. They were directed to shoe storeowner, Heir Vogeli. After some animated discussion, they discovered they had a common ancestor…Cory’s great-grandfather!
According to the shoe merchant, the Vogeli family was one of seven families that had settled the town of Laupen. The town’s logo is a linden tree with seven leaves on it, each representing one of the founding families. This, incidentally, is the inspiration behind the leaf in Cory’s Laupen Homes logo.
The original Vogeli house, built in 1325, is still standing and occupied. In centuries past, it had been used as a “free house,” a home where one could find sanctuary if accused of a crime. Within the walls of the free house, there would be no harassment by law officials or towns people.
Since that first visit by his grandparents, several of Cory’s extended family members have made the journey to Laupen, Switzerland. They’ve enjoyed the beautiful scenic vistas, time spent with the welcoming Vogeli family, and the opportunity to revisit the old family home – a safe sanctuary, made by skillful artisans, that has withstood the test of time (684 years) while buffeted by the extreme conditions of an alpine locale.
The Laupen house represents ideals that Cory infuses within all his building projects: A safe environment that is sturdily built, beautifully crafted, and guaranteed to last a lifetime.