PALESTINE — The Palestine Chamber of Commerce has selected winners for its inaugural Presenting Palestine Magazine Photo Contest — with three photos that capture the “Beauty of Palestine.”

“Many beautiful photos were submitted for the Chamber’s photo contest and after much deliberation, the winners were selected,”   Chamber Executive Director Meghan Hill said. “Thirty-two entries capturing the ‘Beauty of Palestine’ were submitted. A panel of local judges selected the top three photos, which were judged on the basis of creativity, photographic quality and effectiveness in conveying the beauty and/or unique character of Palestine and Anderson County.”

First place was awarded to Palestine resident Jack Coleman for his picture of the Anderson County Courthouse’s interior spiral staircase and rotunda. Second place was awarded to Henry Scoggin of Elkhart for his Fourth of July fireworks photo. Third place went to Stuart Whitaker of Palestine for his picture of the Bicentennial Bandstand in Reagan Park.

The top three photographs from the contest will be featured in the Presenting Palestine Magazine released on Oct. 4 at the annual Chamber banquet.

Winning honorable mention were Helen Harding, Brandon Johnson, Jeff Myers, George Anderson, Bradi Jo Brownlow, Jimmie Reese and Linda Walton.

“The Chamber would like to thank all those who submitted their photos into this year’s photo contest,” Hill said. “We enjoyed seeing all your beautiful pictures and look forward to doing this contest again next year.”

• First place, “Steps of Justice” by Jack Coleman — The interior spiral staircase is the highlight architectural feature of the Anderson County Courthouse. The sophisticated design using natural stone, wrought iron, and hardwood banisters draws the viewer’s eye to the art glass skylight inner rotunda domed ceiling. The uniqueness of the design, skillful construction, and painstaking preservation efforts make it not only a community treasure but a treasure in which every Texan should find pride.  

The Beaux-Arts style Anderson County Courthouse is built atop the highest hill in Palestine. Austin architects Charles Henry Page and Louis Charles Page designed the structure. It was built in 1913 and 1914 and dedicated on Dec. 20, 1914 at a cost of approximately $250,000. The courthouse uses a Beaux-Arts bi-axial arrangement with a rotunda crowned by an inner art glass dome with an outer dome surmounted by Lady Justice. The building is three stories with a raised basement.

• Second place, Fourth of July Fireworks by Henry Scoggin — Fireworks explode over the Palestine skyline during the finale of the annual Fourth of July Fireworks Show, put on by the City of Palestine at Story Intermediate School, and set to music by KYYK 98.3 FM. The Fourth of July is a time when we look back with affection upon our heritage and look forward with anticipation toward our future.  

This photograph was taken July 4 of this  year from the Union Pacific Railroad Parking lot at Sycamore, Spring and Magnolia streets.

• Third place, Bicentennial Bandstand in Reagan Park by Stuart Whitaker — In Palestine, our nation’s Bicentennial celebration started with a project that symbolized America’s heritage and exemplified our faith in the future. The Palestine Area Chamber of Commerce worked with local artist Ancel Nunn and local architect Ted Maffitt. They felt that Palestine should have some visual identification with its past, such as a bandstand in Reagan Park.

When the idea of a community bandstand was made public, the community response was immediate. Pledges of financial support and offers of construction materials deluged the bandstand committee. Even the students of Palestine High School raised enough money to pay the final bill of $650. Thus the nation’s third centennial began with a commitment from its youngest generation.

The bandstand design utilizes eight supports of antique brick spaced with lattice-work, a redwood deck 29 feet in diameter, a railing supported by turned wood newels, turned wood columns supporting a cedar shake roof, with more turned wood newels and gingerbread scroll work under the eaves. The floor, octagonal in shape, is several feet above the sloping ground level. Access is by a railed stairway and the entire structure is surrounded by a cement walk edged with shrubbery. Every donor’s name was included on scrolls mounted under the eaves of the bandstand. Palestine dedicated its Bicentennial Bandstand July 4, 1975.