The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

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September 29, 2006

Funds will help restore 'manor'

$345,000 given for Gibson House

By Matt Snyder

JAMESTOWN — The Gibson House, said to be an Underground Railroad waypoint and a visitation site for Mark Twain, got a significant monetary boost Friday when the foundation that preserves the property received a check for $345,000.

Jamestown Future Foundation Inc. is a nonprofit group that formed to preserve the property in response to fears that the Gibson House would be torn down, said foundation secretary Diane Helbig.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development division provided a $300,300 loan and a $44,700 grant to the foundation, and division members who had worked for 2è years to secure the money presented the check on Friday.

The money will pay off a $160,000 mortgage taken out by the Jamestown Future Foundation from First National Bank of Pennsylvania, Ms. Helbig said.

The borrowed money will now extend from a two-year, short-term loan to 40 years, Ms. Helbig said.

“We were paying 9 percent interest with First National and we’ve gone down to” 4å percent, she said. “And that’s a set rate; it’s not going to change for the 40 years.”

Foundation President Doug Shannon said that means lower payments. He could not say what the new payments would be because it depends on how much of the remaining money is released to pay for improvements on the mansion.

Lower payments will mean that the benefits and fundraisers held by the foundation will help with improvements instead of just paying bills, Shannon said.

The money received Friday will also be used to improve electrical, heating, and cooling systems in the main building, he said.

Foundation Vice President and county Commissioner Michele Brooks said the carriage house will get a new slate roof, have its windows replaced, and perhaps get its oak doors fully restored.

The Gibson House was built in 1856 and first owned by Dr. William Gibson, whose friendship with the famed author also gave the house the name Mark Twain Manor, according a flier for the house.

The house is also said to have been a link in the Underground Railroad, an idea sparked after a hidden space was discovered during duct work, Ms. Helbig said.

A restaurant is leased by the foundation, which can help to cover monthly bills, Shannon said. The restaurant owner’s mother, Gloria Robinson, has been known to give guided tours in Civil War attire.

Crown molding and intricately crafted parquet floors are among the architectural attractions that Ms. Robinson pointed out. There is also a library with sofas and a coffee table, and checker boards spaced through the halls.

Other historical attractions include a towering ginko tree brought to the United States by Gibson himself — some say against the wishes of the Chinese government, according to one flier.

Shannon thanked the community for the grass-mowing, plaster-working, and commemorative brick purchases that have helped the foundation over the years.

Mrs. Brooks pointed out that volunteer Boy Scouts hand-scraped and repainted about 1,000 linear feet of fence.

Ms. Helbig said if the carriage house can be renovated, it may be used to expand the library or host community events like concerts or classes.

Groups have tried to sign up to use the house for yoga or guitar classes, Shannon said, “but we don’t have the space for it.” He hopes to change that.

Jeff Robinson, co-owner of the restaurant, said the restaurant may be expanded into a bed and breakfast in the next few years.

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