Jamestown, PA 16134
11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. tour
12:15 - 12:45 p.m. lunch
12:45 - 2 p.m. tour
Every Saturday at 9:30, 10:30, 11:30 am, 12:30, and 1:30 pm.
Built about 1855, the Gibson House was the home of Dr. William Gibson and his wife, Susan. Dr. Gibson settled in Jamestown in 1836 and established a flourishing medical practice. Besides serving as the town's physician, Dr. Gibson was involved in several business ventures and social activities that benefited the community.
Dr. Gibson was an active participant in forming the railroad industry in Jamestown. He supported the Pittsburgh and Erie Railroad, completed as far as Jamestown in 1859. In 1862, Dr. Gibson became president of the Franklin and Jamestown Railroad. He also started several minor commercial ventures.
Dr. Gibson was one of the men who incorporated the Jamestown Seminary, a boarding school that drew students from the surrounding areas and several states. In 1874, Dr. Gibson became president of the Jamestown Banking Company. An opera house was built on the second floor of Dr. Gibson's office building across the street from his home. Here, the community enjoyed the performances of traveling shows and local talent.
In 1867, Dr. and Mrs. Gibson traveled abroad on the famed Quaker City Excursion, which Mark Twain wrote about in his book Innocents Abroad. The two men formed a friendship on the voyage and served as an unofficial committee that sent greetings to Alexander I of Russia. Many people in the Jamestown area report stories that Samuel Clemens visited with the Gibsons on several occasions.
Still, it seems their friendship was hurt after the publication of Innocents Abroad. Clemens contended based on the doctor's character in his book on Dr. Gibson. Dr. Gibson also supported the missions of the United Presbyterian Church. He donated two large buildings to the church, and the income was to distribute copies of the scripture in the Middle East.
Gibson House is one of the most impressive buildings in Jamestown, and the residents of the area see it as a reminder of the community's history. Jamestown was once a flourishing transportation center, but the decline of the railroads has resulted in a decrease in the community.
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