Vote For Your Favorite 825 Photo Contest Finalist

Choice 1

Submitted by Brian Apgar: Frank Apgar excavates a pond in Randolph, N.J., circa 1953. The photograph captures an early example of heavy equipment work in Morris County.

Choice 2

Submitted by Joe Barlotta III.: A CAT 950 is pictured on a gas installation project in Roxbury, N.J., in 1983. The work was performed by Joe Barlotta Sr., BAR SAN Contractors.

Choice 3

Submitted by Frank Dinget: A helicopter transports Operating Engineers to the Salem Nuclear Power Plant construction site during the early stages of the project in the late 1960s and early 1970s, before permanent road access was completed. Project performed by Bechtel Construction. 

Choice 4

Submitted by Taylor Lee Groves: Construction of the Walt Whitman Bridge in 1960. The photographs were taken by Donald Groves Sr., a Local 825 crane operator, during work on the project.

Choice 5

Submitted by Alan Hurff: This photograph shows my grandfather excavating for Hurff Lake in the 1960s.

Choice 6

Submitted by John LoCrasto: John La Rocca Contractor lifts the Peter Stuyvesant statue in Jersey City in 1966. The statue survived a fire that destroyed Public School No. 11 and was later returned when the new school was constructed. Pictured is my father working on the project.

Choice 7

Submitted by William Mitschele: William Mitschele operates equipment on the New Jersey Turnpike in Newark in 1969. The project was performed by contractor Robert Bossert.

Choice 8

Submitted by Tim Muller: Tim Muller working as an off-road tireman for Contractor Tire Sales in 1984. The work took place at various job sites throughout Sullivan and Ulster counties.

Choice 9

Submitted by Michael Steelman: This photograph of Joe Steelman was taken in Ocean City, N.J., in 1955 and captures a moment from the early years of heavy construction work in the region.

Choice 10

Submitted by Ed Gasior Sr: A Bucyrus-Erie 4100 is shown with Jimmy Lind standing atop the machine, Stash Napierski at the controls and Frank Gasior Jr. serving as ironworker.

Choice 11

Submitted by Kevin Young: Charles K. Young operating equipment on the Kearny Dredge Project in the early 1980s.

Choice 12

Submitted by Anthony Tomae Jr: A. Tomae & Sons Construction's 1958 B81 Mack Thermodyne is pictured in front of Binder Machinery while picking up a new Bucyrus-Erie 30-B shovel.

Photo contest finalist selection process

Finalists were selected by an independent panel of photography and history professionals who are not members of IUOE Local 825.

To ensure that as many members as possible were represented among the finalists, only one photo per entrant was eligible for selection. 

Finalists were evaluated based on three criteria:

  • Overall photo quality
    • Historical significance of the image
    • Quality and completeness of the description and information provided with the submission

The panel reviewed all eligible submissions and selected the finalists based on these criteria.