Historic building are still in use in downtown Brownsville.

The gift shop Hare & Holly is located inside the former Coca-Cola Bottling Co. building.

"People come in here and they tell me stories of what the building use to be,” Hare & Holly owner Ashlee Whittemore said. 

To help preserve the building’s history, Whittemore applied for funding from the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation. 

The city organization, along with the Brownsville Historical Association, is working with the community to save old buildings in the downtown area.

"We want people to repurpose historic buildings for good use and keep them active so they don't fall into disrepair again,” Brownsville Historical Association Executive Director Tara Putegnat said.

The association’s goal is to promote historical preservation and host workshops for people to be able to learn more about what it takes

On Friday, the association will host “Historical Happy Hour: Celebrating Preservation Month” so those attending can learn about projects the historical association has worked on, and how they can restore older buildings. 

It's part of National Preservation Month. 

The city also plans to host upcoming tours of historic buildings.

More information on the Brownsville Historical Association is available online. 

Watch the video above for the full story.