At first glance, you wouldn't notice anything special about the building. Thirty feet tall, made entirely of wood -- a simple structure.
But what makes it special are its deep roots in history.
"This is actually a dream come true," said Douglas Oakes with Friends of the Elmira Civil War Prison Camp.
The Friends of the Elmira Civil War Prison Camp have re-constructed a Civil War-era building which is more than 150 years old. On Friday, they revealed their progress to the public.
"Wow. OK, I mean, 20, 25 years hoping this day would come, [it] was quite an exciting point for me," said Friends of the Elmira Civil War Prison Camp Vice President John Trice.
The building was re-constructed using all of the parts from the original structure. It was used in the Civil War prison camp in Elmira, but historians aren't exactly sure what it was.
They've theorized that it may have been a commissary building, a pharmacy or a death house.
"We're going to be working this winter trying to find photographs and further historical research, and hopefully identify exactly what it was," said Trice.
The organization raised $60,000 to build it. People in the community say it was worth every cent.
"I think this is fantastic. We need to really relish and preserve the past. It's an integral part of our history," said Big Flats resident Bill Batrowny.
They've come a long way, but the building isn't complete just yet. Their goal is to be done before the winter.
And the building is just one part of a bigger renovation effort. They'll be transforming their property into a Civil War village, which will include a new museum, tours and re-enactments.
"We're trying to preserve that history as much as we can, and be able to show the public what it was like living back in the Civil War, some of the hardships that both sides had to endure," said Trice.
If you'd like to learn more about the renovation efforts, you can visit this link.