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Heritage Ohio’s 2023 Preservation Month Photo Contest: And the winner is…..

The votes have been tallied and it’s time to announce this year’s winner. Congratulations go out to Brian Hiles for his photo of Elder High School in Cincinnati!

Photo of Elder High School

Be sure to catch the winning image on a future issue of Revitalize Ohio. Thank you to everyone who entered the contest and who voted for their favorite image.

Heritage Ohio’s 2023 Preservation Month Photo Contest | The Story of Historic Preservation

Help us celebrate Preservation Month this May by participating in our annual Preservation Month Photo Contest. This year’s theme is “The Story of Historic Preservation” and we’ll be looking for your great images that capture what YOU think celebrates historic preservation. In tandem with your image, we want to hear the great story that goes with it. Whether it’s a story of a formerly endangered building that has been saved, a story of the people who built it, or a story of the people today who love it, we want to know why your subject material is important.

Once you get that perfect image and write the story behind it, submit your entry using our online submission form below (available beginning April 14). Our Preservation Committee and Board of Trustees will choose finalists from all of the entries we receive, and then we’ll open the contest to online voting. As in years past, your online votes will determine the winner! The winning image will be featured on the cover of a future issue of Revitalize Ohio. Good luck!

Dates to remember

Entries accepted: Friday, April 14-Friday, May 12

Online voting of finalists: Friday, May 19-Thursday, May 25

Winner announced: Friday, May 26

Heritage Ohio’s 2022 Preservation Month Photo Contest: and the winner is…

Thank you to everyone who voted this past week for our entries. We’re pleased to announce the winning entry: A Moment Frozen in Time, submitted by Mary Beth Sills.

An intriguing setting combined with great public support for the entry translated into an emphatic contest win. Congratulations to Mary Beth! We’ll be featuring her winning image on a future cover of Revitalize Ohio. Thanks to everyone who voted.

Heritage Ohio’s 2022 Preservation Month Photo Contest: vote for your favorite!

The entries have come in and our finalists have moved on to the online voting round of our Preservation Month Photo Contest. Check out our finalists below and vote for your favorite. Voting closes Monday, May 30, so don’t sleep on casting your vote for your favorite. We’ll announce the winner Tuesday, May 31. Good luck to our finalists, and thanks to everyone who submitted an entry.

Remember, the stakes are high: the winning image will be featured on the cover of an upcoming issue of Revitalize Ohio! Good luck!



Learn more about how each image conveys the spirit of preservation, in the photographer’s own words.

1. For the Love of Liberty: Our Powell Liberty and Delaware County Historical Societies, as well as our Liberty Township Trustees have been instrumental in ensuring the preservation of this, our 1876 farmhouse and home to generations of Bartholomews and Cases. We are so grateful to live in a community that protects its history while embracing its future.

2. Preserving Ohio’s Past for the Future: The white stone exterior of the Ohio Judicial Center captures the pride felt in Ohio’s history. On the front are 14 carved stone panels showing the important industries when the building was completed in 1933. The large art deco statues on either end of the building were proud statement of Ohio’s booming economy. The pride in preserving this historic building is the pride we have in the state of Ohio.

3. Walk Through: Often, I walk through buildings for many reasons including: evaluating conditions, showing property, checking construction progress, etc. When I captured this image, I was really focused on the door frame and how it invited me to walk through. Beyond the door frame, the stairs drew my eyes upward toward a future of possibilities for this space. Then there’s the light. The way in streamed in. It’s like the past was right there and so was the future.

4. Kaleidoscope Carnivore Cafe: The Toledo Zoo’s Carnivore Cafe is one of the most creative adaptive uses in NW Ohio, having been converted from the Carnivora House to the Carnivore Cafe. Now the Toledo Zoo’s most popular eatery, during the famous “Lights Before Christmas” display the cafe literally glows.

5. A Moment Frozen In Time: Taken in Cambridge’s Underground store front this image showcases a prop used during the few tours given to the community to help preserve this rare space.

Heritage Ohio’s 2022 Preservation Month Photo Contest | The Spirit of Historic Preservation

May will be here before we know it, and that brings Preservation Month. And we’re planning to celebrate in style. Already a momentous month for the organization (we’ll be saying good bye to Joyce Barrett, and welcoming Matt Wiederhold as our new executive director) we’re also working on a Preservation Month Webinar Series. Plus, our Preservation Month Photo Contest will launch in late April.

This year’s theme is “The Spirit of Historic Preservation” and we want to know what that means to you, and how you convey that spirit in your photo entry. It could be an artistic image of your favorite historic Ohio building, a vibrant Main Street in action, or a beautiful home awaiting its rehab hero.

Once you get that perfect image, submit your entry using our online submission form below (available beginning April 25). Our Preservation Committee will choose finalists from all of our entries, and we’ll open the contest to online voting. As in years past, your online votes will determine the winner!

Remember: the winner’s prize includes their winning image featured on the cover of Revitalize Ohio! Good luck!

Dates to remember

Entries accepted: Monday, April 25-Monday, May 16 at noon

Online voting of finalists: Monday, May 23-Monday, May 30

Winner announced: Tuesday, May 31

Preservation Month Photo Contest 2021: And the winner is…

Update 5/31: We’ve tallied the votes and we’re pleased to announce the winner of the 2021 Preservation Month Photo Contest:

Devin Brautigam of Sidney submitted this striking image of the Big Four Bridge,  Sunrise Over Big Four, and the voters have voted. Congratulations, Devin!

We’ll feature Devin’s winning entry on the cover of a future issue of Revitalize Ohio.

Thanks to all of our photographers who submitted their images, our finalists who provided five stunning entries for us to choose from, everyone who voted, and our website chatters who talked up their favorites and supported our photographers.

Photographer’s statement:
Sunrise Over Big Four
The “Big Four Bridge” in Sidney, OH. Many call it the “Gateway into Shelby County”. The bridge was constructed in 1923-1924. Some folks lost their lives during the construction of this, which I believe, adds to the historical nature of the structure.

The bridge has been deteriorating over the last several years. While downtown Sidney has started alot of revitalization, improving it’s courthouse area, I really hope one way or another we can keep this bridge maintained before it’s too late. In the photo you can see the cracks and chucks of concrete that’s either been weathered away or have fallen. The condition of the bridge has been a popular topic among the community, many folks worrying about safety. As a hometown photographer of Sidney, this bridge has not only served a purpose for what it is, but it’s allowed me to really be creative and grow as an artist.

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And the Preservation Month Photo Contest Winner is…

We’re excited to announce the winner of this year’s Preservation Month Photo Contest! Congratulations go to Harrison Wicks for his image titled “Kent’s Historic Train Depot.” Here’s an excerpt from his entry about the building that served as the photographic inspiration for this year’s theme, Urban Renewal:

Kent’s historic Erie Depot boasts a long, storied history of community support since it was built in 1875. Under the direction of Kent’s namesake, Marvin Kent, townspeople showed their support by donating funds to build the train depot for The Atlantic and Great Western Railroad. The depot was left vacant in the late 1960s after a series of economic downturns. With demolition looming, the Kent Historical Society saved the then almost century-old structure. It was around this time in 1974 when the Kent Industrial District in downtown was added to the National Register of Historic Places, including the depot.

A decade later, the Historical Society found an investor who renovated the building, transforming it into the Pufferbelly Ltd. restaurant. After many years of success, the Pufferbelly Ltd. restaurant closed its doors and an opportunity arose for a new concept.

Now, 40 years after that renovation, the Kent Historical Society continues to maintain ownership of the depot and has leased the building to a partnership of local businessmen and investors to bring to life a culinary exploration of northern Italian fine dining.

Here’s Harrison’s image:


Today’s Treno Ristorante serves as a reminder that patience, persistence, creativity, and people who care, are critical ingredients in the recipe for a thriving downtown. Thanks to everyone who submitted an entry, and for our online voters who again crowned this year’s winner. Look for Harrison’s image gracing a future cover of Revitalize Ohio!

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Heritage Ohio’s Annual Preservation Month Photo Contest | Urban Renewal

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Preservation Month is nearly here and 2019 marks the 10th year of our Preservation Month Photo Contest. This year’s theme is Urban Renewal, but with a twist. While Urban Renewal may have once consisted of demoing whole blocks of city buildings, without any care or thought about the people in the buildings, let alone the character of the buildings, Urban Renewal today means the revitalization of cities, its people, and its heritage.

So, here’s your contest assignment: take a picture that captures your community’s best Urban Renewal efforts, whether an event image in a revitalized business district, a historic building once slated for demo that’s been saved and rehabbed, or even the underutilized block of buildings that will, once restored, again contribute to the renewal of the neighborhood.

Once you get that perfect image, submit your entry using our online submission form below, or post to Facebook or Instagram using the hashtag #HOUrbanRenewal. Our Preservation Committee will choose finalists, and we’ll open the contest to online voting. As in years past, your online votes will determine the winner!

Here’s your chance at photographic fame and a spot on the cover of Revitalize Ohio! Good luck!

Dates to remember

  • Entries accepted through Friday, May 10
  • Online voting of finalists Monday, May 20-Wednesday, May 29
  • Winner announced Friday, May 31
Our 2018 PMPC winner, Ashley Combs, won with more than 4.000 votes, submitting this compelling image of a historic safe inside the Goetz Tower in downtown Middletown.

2019 Photo Contest Submission Form

Revitalize Ohio Spring 2019

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And the winner is…

Congratulations to Ashley Combs of Middletown for winning our Preservation Month Photo Contest! Ashley’s winning entry will be featured on a future cover of Revitalize Ohio, plus we’ll honor her winning image at our Annual Conference this October in Cleveland. Thank you to everyone who entered a photo this year, and to everyone who voted!
Rustic Treasure (Bank Vault inside the Historic Goetz Tower)
The Goetz Tower is a seven-story Art Deco building that was constructed in 1930 and is located in the heart of Downtown Middletown, Ohio. This is a beautiful historic building that offers unique architectural features everywhere you turn inside and outside. Over the years the Goetz has survived decades of changes that have occurred in our City. We look forward to the future and bringing this space back to life to be enjoyed by all.
Middletown is currently in the process of revitalizing its downtown and has been very successful in bringing new businesses and people over the last two years. Once renovated this building will become another destination location for visitors as well as provide a home for new residents. Every downtown that has come back from neglect and abandonment has done so with a residential component downtown. The Goetz Tower is a crucial component in the revitalization of Downtown Middletown.
The City of Middletown believes that this building has the potential to be converted into a destination location for premier space for offices, retail, and restaurants as well as offer luxury apartments for those wanting to get away from the suburban lifestyle and reconnect with their community in a place like our up and coming downtown.
GoetzTower_Middletown_Ohio.jpg&form-id=29&field-id=13&hash=998e4452d448cf4c5293d078caaab173be5adc1b6d829470ea3fac28fde0fd55

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Preservation Month 2018 Photo Contest open for entries!

Happy Preservation Month! We’re celebrating Preservation Month with our 9th Annual Preservation Month Photo Contest, now open for entries! Our theme for 2018 is “This building isn’t empty…it’s full of opportunity” so we’re looking for entries showing great potential for reuse for our historic buildings.
When you get that perfect shot, submit it to us via our online submission form here. We’re allowing one entry per person, so you have to choose your favorite and get it to us! You can also post your entry on our Facebook wall using the hashtag #heritageohiophotocontest. You can also enter through Instagram, again using the hashtag #heritageohiophotocontest. Once our Preservation Committee chooses finalists, we’ll open the contest to online voting. Your vote will help us choose the winner!
Once again, this year’s winner will have their image featured on the cover of Revitalize Ohio. Happy (early) Preservation Month and may the best photo win!
Dates to remember:
Entries accepted: Monday, April 16-Monday, May 14
Finalists announced: Friday, May 18
Online voting for finalists: Monday, May 21-Tuesday May 29
Winner announced: Wednesday, May 30
Some guidelines to remember: be creative and original with your photo composition…we love photo entries depicting historic buildings in use (or, for this year, historic buildings waiting to be in use); make sure your image highlights Ohio subject matter; and finally, use your best judgment as to whether or not you should get permission from the building owner before photographing your subject matter.

Maybe a photo of last year's winning entry from Judith Khaner will help encourage your own ideas for a winning entry this year?

Maybe a photo of last year’s winning entry from Judith Khaner will help encourage your own ideas for a winning entry this year?

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And the Preservation Month Photo Contest Winner is…

Update 5/16: With a total of 1,057 votes, by far our most votes ever, congratulations go to Carl E Feather, the winner of the 2016 Preservation Month Photo Contest! Carl’s entry, Night Train Approaching Ashtabula, garnered 464 votes. We’ll be seeing his winning image on a future cover of Revitalize Ohio. Congratulations also to Judith Khaner who won our Peoples’ Choice Award at the Old House Fair in Medina last weekend.
Thanks to everyone who submitted an entry for our 2016 Photo Contest, and to everyone who voted!
Carl E Feather, with his “Night Train Approaching Ashtabula” entry:

 

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