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.
Medina’s House of Treasures: The Restoration of the McDowell-Phillips House Webinar
Wednesday, May 26th – 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
In 2019, the Medina County Historical Society society held a capital drive to purchase and preserve the iconic McDowell-Phillips house located at 205 S. Prospect street in Medina. This beautiful Queen Anne Shingle-style home was built in 1890 by R.M. McDowell. Located in the Bankers Row historic district the house features 7 fireplaces, and 14 rooms; considered the largest house in Medina.
Join us during Preservation Month to learn about this successful project.
Presenters
Brian Feron – President of the Medina County Historical Society
Born and raised in Medina County, Brian is a graduate of The Ohio State University with a degree in Business Administration. He retired in 2020, after working in senior management positions in customer relations, inside sales and technical support in the steel, toy, plumbing and lighting industries. Brian joined the Medina County Historical Society Board in 1999 and has served several terms as president. Key projects he has worked on recently include a $150,000 capital campaign in 2016 to improve the basement; drainage; foundation; and museum space in the John Smart House, a 1886 Queen Anne Victorian owned by the historical society and used as a public museum.
Matt Wiederhold – Executive Director of Main Street Medina
Matt Wiederhold has been involved in community development and revitalization for 20 years, and is a graduate of the National Main Street Institute. He currently serves as the original and current executive director of Main Street Medina, in Medina Ohio. A 1992 graduate of the University of Toledo with a degree in art history, focused on American art and architecture from 1860-1930.
The Preservation Month Photo Contest – stay tuned for finalists and online voting!
Update 5/17: We’ve received some great entries and we’ll open voting soon. You can choose your favorite!
Preservation Month is just around the corner and we can’t think of a better way to celebrate the spirit of revitalization and preservation in a (hopefully) soon-to-be post-Covid Ohio than to bring back our photo contest. The contest is open and we’re ready to receive entries.
Just complete the form below to submit your entry (one entry per person, please) and put these dates on your calendar:
Entries accepted: April 26-May 14
Finalists announced: May 21
Online voting: May 21-28
Winner announced: May 31
Good luck! You can enter your image below.
Need some inspiration? Check out our 2019 winner Harrison Wicks’ entry below of the historic former Erie Depot in downtown Kent.
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!
2019 Heritage Ohio Preservation Month Photo Contest – Vote For Your Favorite Finalist
Heritage Ohio is pleased to announce the finalists for the 2019 Preservation Month Photo Contest and we need your help selecting the winner!
Take a look at the finalists below and vote for your favorite at the bottom of the page by Wednesday, May 29, 2019. We will be announcing the winner by May 31 as Preservation Month comes to an end.
Finalist: Kent’s Historic Train Depot by Harrison Wicks
Finalist: Great Ballroom by Mark Soergel
Heritage Ohio’s Annual Preservation Month Photo Contest | Urban Renewal
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
2019 Photo Contest Submission Form
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.
12 Fun Historic Preservation Month Ideas for You & Your Family
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Learn more about your home.
The vast majority of homes in America are historic in age, even those ranch and split-level houses you grew up in. Visit your local historical society, library, and public records office to get started. George Washington probably didn’t get a chance to sleep there, but who else had the chance to crash on the couch in 1968?
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Participate in a downtown cleanup day.
Sure, this might stretch the boundaries of the definition of fun, but those old buildings in your downtown need love too. Pick up trash on the sidewalk and street, clean off graffiti, and add a fresh coat of paint to downtown buildings to keep their majestic charm going for another year.
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Take some photos.
Architectural photography can become an addicting hobby. Think we’re joking? There are hundreds of Instagram accounts like Old House Love, dedicated to the beauty of historic buildings. You can also enter Heritage Ohio’s awesome Historic Preservation Month Photo Contest and land your photo on the cover of the next issue of Revitalize Ohio. You’ll be Insta-famous!
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Take a tour.
There are lots of unique historic structures dotting Ohio. Many of them are privately-owned, but some open up to the public throughout the year. Be on the lookout for historic home tours, Main Street tours, and the Ohio History Connection’s Open Doors.
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Participate in an Architectural Scavenger Hunt.
If you want to work for your entertainment, try an architectural scavenger hunt. Many local preservation organizations and historical societies have these for a low cost or for free. Pick one up and start the hunt.
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Nomination your favorite preservationist for an award.
Many Ohioans work diligently to ensure historic preservation is a priority in their community and their hard work should be recognized by everyone. If you know someone who has worked tirelessly for historic preservation, nominate them to be honored at Heritage Ohio’s Annual Awards.
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Do things the right way.
Contrary to the vinyl replacement window sales pitch, you can maintain and repair historic windows, and any other part of your historic home, with a little bit of know-how and elbow grease. From windows to plaster to flooring, workshops like LakewoodAlive’s Knowing Your Home are taking place each and every month in Ohio. Sign up for one today. -
Donate your time.
Most preservation organizations are lean operations. They need your support and knowhow. Volunteering can take many forms and let them know what you are interested in and how you would like to help. They will certainly appreciate it.
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Listen to a Preservation Month Webinar.
Throughout the month of May, Heritage Ohio hosts a preservation-related webinars each Wednesday afternoon. Sign up for one today.
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Plan a trip.
Ohio has many historic communities, both large and small, including 23 Ohio Main Street communities. They are one of a kind and full of interesting shops and restaurants in historic buildings. Need some help with your road trip? We’ve put together lists our favorite cinemas, theatres, breweries, hotels, and most important, ice creams.
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Stand up for historic preservation.
When was the last time you chained yourself to a building or laid down in front of a bulldozer? Sound a little risky? Well, that’s your opinion, but there are a lot of things you can do to become an advocate for historic preservation in your community before you take the drastic steps. Support your local Main Street and preservation organization, speak with your elected officials, and let others know why historic preservation is an important part of your community.
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Become a member.
The support from preservationists like you gets things done in Ohio. Heritage Ohio is the state’s official historic preservation and downtown revitalization organization. We want to save the places that matter to you, but we need your help to do it. Being a member is much more than a financial investment in Ohio’s preservation movement, it means you are standing up for what you believe in with all other Ohioans who want to make a difference. Become a member today!
Preservation Month Webinars 1: Legal Preservation Overview
Our first webinar in our Preservation Month series focuses on legal basics.
May 2, 2018, 1pm – Legal Preservation Overview
The strongest defense commissions and review boards have against accusations of arbitrary and capricious decisions is to consistently follow established review procedures. This webinar will cover the legal basis for commission operations. We’ll cover an overview of procedural due process, takings, appeals, property rights, and economic hardship. Participants will learn about common preservation legal issues and acquire tools to improve decision-making and build a defensible record.
Participants will:
1) Distinguish between how the law enables and how the law constrains
2) Be familiar with common preservation legal issues
3) Acquire tools to improve decision-making
4) Acquire tools to build a defensible record
About our speaker, William Cook: As an attorney at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Will has helped challenge federal agency approval of the world’s largest wind farm in the middle of Nantucket Sound, a traditional cultural property, as well as argued successfully for the reinstatement of Mount Taylor’s recognition as a 400,000-acre traditional cultural property in New Mexico. In addition to teaching preservation law at Columbia University, Will lectures regularly to national audiences on issues related to property, land use, and heritage conservation, and is the author of Preserving Native American Places: A Guide to Federal Laws and Policies that Help Protect Cultural Resources and Sacred Sites.
AIA and AICP credits pending. You can register here.
Preservation Month Webinars 5: Public Support & Community Outreach
Our fifth webinar in our Preservation Month Series focuses on Public Support & Community Outreach
May 30, 2018, 1pm – Public Support & Community Outreach
Historic preservation commissions tend to get bogged down in the day-to-day administration of their local ordinances and forget that one of the major responsibilities is to be effective spokespeople for historic preservation in the community. This webinar will help attendees communicate effectively with a wide range of audiences, build support for designations, defend sometimes unpopular decisions, and deal with reluctant elected officials. We’ll also offer creative suggestions for promoting historic preservation in the community.
Participants will learn skills to:
1) Communicate effectively with various audiences, such as elected officials, property owners, tenants, business interests, etc
2) Speak knowledgeably about their own preservation program, including the application review process, ordinance review standards, and benefits and responsibilities of designation
3) Identify and capitalize on opportunities to promote historic preservation in their community
About our speaker, Wade Broadhead: Wade Broadhead is currently the Planning Director of Florence, Colorado, working on development and preservation issues. He was most recently a land use planner and staff to the City of Pueblo’s Historic Preservation Commission where he worked from 2005-2014. Prior to his career in planning and preservation Wade worked as an archaeologist and GIS supervisor conducting consulting work across the southwestern United States. In Pueblo, Wade helped spearhead an engaging neighborhood-based historic context approach which surveyed most historic neighborhoods as well as its Post-War resources. He volunteered to serve as a grant reviewer for the State Historical Fund from 2010-2011; he was an Endangered Places Reviewer from 2009-2011; and, he presented papers at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, NAPC Forum, APA, and Saving Places Conferences over the past two years. Wade has a passion for Mid-Century Modern Architecture and social history as well as citizen engagement. He especially enjoys revitalization efforts in Right Sizing Cities and working with minority populations and low income neighborhoods to make preservation relevant. Wade is currently establishing a commission and applying for CLG status in Florence Colorado, population, 3800. Wade has four small budding preservationists under the age of 13.
AIA and AICP credits pending. You can register here.