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?
And the winner is…
Our voters have spoken and we thank you for voting. Our 2017 Preservation Month Photo Contest garnered the most votes ever, and we congratulate our winning entry submitted by Judith Khaner. As a past winner, Judith is no stranger to the photo contest and her entry this year once again struck a chord with our voters.
Stay tuned as we’ll feature Judith’s winning entry on the cover of a future issue of Revitalize Ohio.
Thanks again to our voters, and thanks to everyone who submitted an entry this year. We look forward to seeing the great entries you come up with in 2018!
Narrative: Midwest Railway Preservation Society, a non-profit corporation, is restoring and preserving Cleveland’s B&O Railroad Roundhouse, built in the early 1900s. Their restoration work on the railroad turntable, building, vintage locomotives and rail cars continues the important work of educating and entertaining people about railroad history in Ohio. I was fortunate to photograph these laborers during an informative Roundhouse tour.
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:
Old House Fair Q&A
Old House Fair Q&A: Everything you need to know about our second annual Old House Fair.
We’re excited to bring you the second annual Old House Fair, taking place on Saturday, May 7, in historic downtown Medina, Ohio. If you have questions about the Old House Fair then we’re here to provide the answers.
Where is the Old House Fair taking place?
The Old House Fair is happening right downtown, with sessions and events on Medina’s historic Square, and an additional track of sessions at the Medina County District Library. The library address is 210 South Broadway, and it’s located adjacent to the southeast corner of the Square.
What’s happening at the Old House Fair and where can I see the agenda?
Over the course of Saturday, beginning at 9:30 am with opening comments from Bernice Radle, we’ll have information and demonstration sessions, a variety old house vendors under the big tent, and a host of additional activities. You can view the full Old House Fair agenda here.
What else is happening?
We have a special reception for Bernice Radle on Friday, beginning at 6 pm, at Root Candles. Network with your fellow Old House Fairgoers, meet Bernice Radle, and check out Root’s wonderful candle selection. Tickets are just $25 per person, and each attendee receives a complimentary candle, and a 40% discount on any purchases at Root Candles! You can purchase your tickets here.
The Old House Fair Olympics are back and better, beginning at 1 pm. Here’s your chance to test your old house IQ and tool skills in a friendly competition with your fellow fairgoers. To the victors will go the coveted “Golden Hammer!”
New this year, we’ll have the Preservation Month Photo Contest Peoples’ Choice Cash Award. Our 2016 finalist images will be on display Saturday, and we’ll have in-person voting. You can vote by putting a dollar or two toward your favorite image, and the finalist image that receives the most votes (dollars) during voting wins their “votes.”
For the kids coming to the Old House Fair, we’ll have a mini-barn raising happening right on the Square beginning at 10 am. Paul Knoebel, a charter member of Friends of Ohio Barns, will direct the barn raising process. In the process, the children will learn about the traditional craft of timber framing, and how the barn fits together with large posts and beams, securing the frame with just wooden pegs. Children under 13 can attend the Old House Fair free of charge with a parent’s paid ticket to attend.
Finally, the Medina Town Hall & Engine House Museum located at 50 Public Square will be open 11 am-2 pm on Saturday. A great local history museum, stop in to learn more about the story of Medina and what makes this community unique.
How much are tickets and where do I purchase them?
Tickets are just $10 to attend and available for purchase here. Children under 13 can attend for free with a parent’s paid ticket.
Where do I park?
Medina has plenty of free parking around the Square. Check out this map with parking lots noted here.
What about restrooms?
Medina has a public restroom facility, including a family restroom, located on the northwest corner of the Square, which will be accessible during the Old House Fair.
What food options do we have around the Square?
Medina offers a veritable cornucopia of dining options ringing the Square, so grab a bite to eat at noon, and we’ll see you back for the afternoon sessions. Check out dining options here.
We love our sponsors and vendors and hope you do too!
The Old House Fair wouldn’t be possible without the support of our major Old House Fair sponsors, Benjamin Moore Paints and The Painted House & More, and the City of Medina, and our local partners Main Street Medina. And thanks to our vendors: Community Action Wayne/Medina, Medina Community Design Committee, Progress Through Preservation, Total Home Inspection Services, Ursuline College Historic Preservation Program, and Young Ohio Preservationists.
We hope we’ve answered your questions, but feel free to use the Comments below to ask your question and we’ll get you an answer. See you at the Old House Fair!
Join us for a pre-Old House Fair reception with Bernice on Friday, May 6!
This year we’re kicking off the Old House Fair festivities with a special reception with Bernice Radle on Friday evening, May 6, at Root Candles, beginning at 6:00pm. Tickets to attend are only $25 per person, and can be purchased here.
Our Preservation Month Photo Contest is open for entries!
Preservation Month is just around the corner…well, OK, still a few weeks off, but, our 7th Annual Preservation Month Photo Contest is now open for entries! We’re looking for great subject matter capturing the spirit of preservation & revitalization in our communities.
And while we’re hoping to capture the spirit of preservation & revitalization, this year we’re also co-opting the #iwanttoberecycled campaign (you can check out the campaign here). So, submit a picture of a great historic building in your community waiting to be recycled, or a photo of a building that has been recycled for a new use and given a new life. We preservationists know that the value of recycling isn’t limited to that plastic shampoo bottle or empty soda can, so let’s broaden the conversation.
When you get that perfect shot, submit it to us. We have a limit of one entry per person, so you have to send us your very best! You can enter here (we have the form at the bottom of the page) or post your entry on our Facebook wall using the hashtag #heritageohiophotocontest. You can also enter through Instagram, again using the hashtag #heritageohiophotocontest. Add the #iwanttoberecycled hashtag, too, and help broaden the conversation about the things we use that deserve to be recycled.
We’ll accept entries through Friday, April 29. Online voting for your favorite finalist begins Saturday, May 7, and closes at 5 PM on Friday, May 13. Our photo contest winner, bringing preservation fame and a featured spot on the cover of Revitalize Ohio, will be announced Monday, May 16.
New this year, when we name our finalists on Saturday, we’ll have in-person voting for a Peoples’ Choice Cash Award at the Old House Fair. The finalist image that receives the most votes (dollars) during voting at the Old House Fair gets to keep their “votes.” So, if you’re at the Old House Fair, check out the finalists and put a buck or two toward your favorite.
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.
Our 2015 winner, Judith Khaner, captured the architectural beauty of The Arcade in Cleveland
Good luck!
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Putting the call out for Old House Fair vendors and sponsors
We’re excited about our upcoming second annual Old House Fair in Medina’s historic downtown on Saturday, May 7. We’ll have sessions geared toward owners of older buildings, and we’ll be bringing back the Old House Fair Olympics, giving attendees the opportunity to test their old house skills in a competitive (but friendly!) setting.
Bernice Radle will be our special guest. She recently starred in the latest season of American Rehab, airing on DIY Network, and brings an amazing energy and enthusiasm for preservation. We’re happy to have her join us!
Sponsorship and vendor opportunities are available. We hope you plan to join us! You can learn more about sponsorship and vendor participation below.
Click here to learn more about the Old House Fair.
Click here for information about Title Sponsorship.
Click here for information about the full range of sponsor/vendor opportunities.
Preservation Month Photo Contest | And the winner is…
Thank you to everyone who voted this year, and congratulations to Judith Khaner, this year’s winner!
Judith’s winning image features the interior of the Arcade, a Cleveland landmark revitalized for shops and hotel use in the early 2000s. As this year’s winner, Judith’s image will be featured on a future issue of Revitalize Ohio.
Whether entering our contest or voting for a winning entry, we hope you’ll join us next year for Preservation Month for our 2016 Photo Contest.
Here’s Judith’s winning entry:
Our Preservation Month Photo Contest is open!
Our annual Preservation Month Photo Contest has opened, and we’ve extended the entry deadline to May 29! You can learn more about the contest here.
For inspiration, check out one of our finalist images from 2013, photographed by Antony Seppi. As the metal covering of this downtown Hamilton building is removed, the architectural richness of the facade begins to shine through.
Curious about our photo contest winner?
We’ve announced the winner in our Preservation Month 2014 Photo Contest. You can find out who snapped the winning picture here.
Announcing the Winner of Heritage Ohio’s Preservation Month 2013 Photo Contest!
We’re pleased to announce the three finalists of our Preservation Month Photo Contest and need your help picking the winner!
To vote, click on each photo below to view it, select your favorite, and click vote.
Voting will continue through Friday, June 30. We’ll announce the winner of the 2013 Preservation Month Photo Contest on Monday, July 1.
With Ohio photographic fame and a Revitalize Ohio cover image on the line, the stakes are high! Good luck to our finalists!
Update June 28: Voting has almost closed. If you haven’t voted yet, make sure you vote for your favorite! We’ll announce the winner here on Monday!
Update July 1: Congratulations to Kirstin Krumsee, the winner of Heritage Ohio’s Preservation Month 2013 Photo Contest! The interior of the Victoria Opera House struck a nerve with our voters. Touted as the last remaining opera house in Fairfield County, the Victoria has very concerned citizens on its side, as it faces an uncertain future.
The Victoria Opera House, our winning entry
Thanks to everyone who voted for our three finalists. We’ll feature Kirstin’s winning image on a future cover of Revitalize Ohio.
Preservation Month…See! Save! Celebrate!
It’s May, so you know what that means: Preservation Month!
This year, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has chosen the theme “See! Save! Celebrate!” to help spur the creative juices when it comes to highlighting preservation in your community. Here are three ways you can recognize Preservation Month in your community using the Trust’s theme.
See! Architectural Scavenger Hunt
What better way to get your residents to take a fresh look at your historic resources than by holding an architectural scavenger hunt? Long-time residents may see your historic neighborhoods in a new light, and new residents may be interested in a fun activity such as this to learn more about a community’s special buildings.
The idea is to identify unique architectural features that make your historic buildings special (elaborate window designs, stained glass transoms, intricate cornices) and then to publish a guide of the features. Contestants then investigate the neighborhood to match the feature to the building and its location, and enter a drawing for a prize. The prize doesn’t have to be especially elaborate. A popular item I’ve seen is gift certificates to community businesses for the winner.
Save! Hold a special lecture on the importance of historic preservation
Whether you’re focused on the benefits of preserving historic wooden windows, or the architectural history of your community, preservation at its heart is about preserving the special, unique qualities of our built environment. Your historic buildings and neighborhoods are absolutely unique to your community, and your residents will care so much more about your historic stock when they learn what it is about a building’s architecture and history that makes it unique.
In Main Street we’re always selling the importance of using existing assets as the foundation of building a great revitalization program, so let people know about your historic assets. What exactly provides the character that makes your town unlike any other? An old building that’s just known as an old building is too easy to forget and neglect, but a building with stories and architectural character can become a landmark and a source of preservation pride.
Celebrate! Recognize your community’s preservation accomplishments with an awards ceremony
Recognize recent building rehabs, tireless volunteers, and leadership organizations with a special ceremony, giving your recipients a chance to take a victory lap in front of their peers and neighbors. Preservation Awards hardly ever include a cash prize, but that’s ok because public recognition is a powerful way to say “thank you” to someone who is raising the profile of preservation in your community.
To add some weight to the awards process, look at partnering with another entity. For example, the Michigan SHPO partners with the governor’s office to present the “Governor’s Awards for Historic Preservation.” The ceremony is held at the state capitol and you can bet recipients feel honored to be recognized in such an important setting.
Heritage Ohio is celebrating May as Preservation Month in a couple different ways. We’re holding our annual photography contest (and we’ve extended the deadline for entries to May 24), and we will honor the best accomplishments in preservation & revitalization at our Annual Awards Luncheon on May 23, during our annual conference. We hope you’ll submit a photo, join us in Columbus at our Annual Awards Luncheon, or participate in a local Preservation Month activity as we all work to raise the profile of preservation in Ohio.