OLEAN, N.Y. - Olean High School seniors were scraping walls and sweeping floors inside the historic Manufacturers Hanover building on Sunday in an effort to restore the building so the class of 2017 can hold their senior prom there in the spring.
"It's different. It's not what everybody else would think to do," said Abby Schwartz, OHS Senior and co-class president. "All of us like to take on a challenge. We don't like things to be easy and I think this building is definitely challenging. And it's gorgeous."
Her co-class president, Maegan Windus, agreed.
"We envision it to sparkle," said Windus. "We've put our time and effort into the prom and, that night, it's going to pay off."
Students started the work in August and have spent their Saturday mornings restoring one of the city's oldest landmarks.
"[We want to] make the community excited and bring life back into it," said Windus. "And also, at the same time, have that to remember of our last year of high school."
The project is part of a larger-scale renovation of the entire building, as students partnered with members of Revitalizing Olean.
"We love our community and we want to see it bustling and growing again," said Kathy Paciorkowski, Revitalizing Olean administrator. "I am so proud of these kids. They are really putting forth a huge effort to make their day successful."
The building once served as the First National Bank has sat vacant for more than 20 years. The city purchased the property in 2010 and is looking for a developer to design a possible boutique-hotel and luxury apartments.
"[We're looking for] developers that would know the value of an historic building like this, be able to take advantage of the historic tax credits that are available both nationally and local, or state," said George.
Following the prom, students plan to keep the decorations up during a party for area senior citizens the next day.
"It's going to be a night we're going to remember for the rest of our lives," said Windus.
Prom night is set for May 20.