ELKLAND – A historic, but once dilapidated building on Main Street here is getting new life.

“My sole purpose in buying that building and fixing it up is to get it back to a respectable status so it’s no longer an eyesore,” said Tony Daley, a lifelong Elkland resident and retired police officer.

Daley is renovating the building between Buchanan Brothers Pharmacy and Karschner & Sons Insurance on Main Street. He recently completed two apartments upstairs – a one-bedroom and a two-bedroom – and is now working on the downstairs interior and exterior façade. While he has a vision for the look and feel of the space, Daley isn’t sure yet what the building will house.

“I have my own ideas, but I’ve had several other people approach me with their own ideas of what to bring in,” he said. “I’m open to anything that will bring some business and credibility to Elkland. I want someone who will take care of the place.”

Daley said some of those ideas have included a brewery, a wine shop, a craft store, private meeting spaces or an event venue, among others. He said he’d like to see a business there that would fit the downstairs’ rustic theme.

Even though the upstairs apartments are complete, Daley said he’s not sure if they’ll be rented as private living spaces or be part of whatever business moves in downstairs. The space won’t be ready to rent until sometime next year, after the front sidewalk is fixed and a patio is added between the buildings.

Daley said the building has sat idle for several years, slowly falling behind in upkeep.

“It had pretty much always been a bar and hotel, starting back in the 1930s or ‘40s,” he said. “The Penn Elk was notorious for its steaks. But it was driven by the tanneries, so when the tannery here died, the Penn Elk died.”

According to local historian Joyce Tice’s website, the building was erected in 1932 by Nick Georgeston of Port Allegany as Elkland’s first soda fountain and sandwich shop, called the Georgeston Bros. After a few years, Georgeston added a hotel upstairs and changed the business’ name to the Penn Elk. Georgeston sold the business to a former employee, Peter Lascaris of Syracuse, in 1944.

Daley said after the Penn Elk closed, the building was bought 15 or 20 years ago and transformed back into a bar, but that didn’t last long. It sat empty until Daley bought it a couple years ago and started renovating this year.

He said while it took a lot to get the interior in working order and the apartments livable, he’s happy to be giving something back to Elkland.

“This historical building used to be an important part of the town and its name was pretty prestigious at one time,” he said. “Now it’s finding its way back to life.”