“What do they do inside that big White House on Liberty Street in Jamestown, PA?”
That is the question every waitress would hear if they worked at one of the restaurants across the street from the Gibson House Manor. And the answer, for 30 years (since 1995), is “very little.” It was mostly abandoned for seven years or under construction and undergoing repairs or occupied by a temporary tenant or used by volunteers for meetings and maybe for a few hours every one to three months for a fundraiser.
Until January of 2023.
Just 25 months ago a new corporation formed to operate the Gibson House Manor as a Museum, Cafe and Gift Shop. Thanks to generous contributions and pledges from more than 60 families, foundations, and corporations (the plaque will be erected in 2026), the Gibson House Manor opened to Underground Railroad Tours, Candlelight Ghost tours and Victorian Christmas tours including delicious food and guided tours by trained docents under the Friends of the Manor Charitable Trust. Our supporters and donors include some of the largest corporations, foundations, institutions and government agencies in Mercer and Crawford counties. In 2024 we gave tours and meals to more than 3500 visitors.
1. In March of 2025, thanks to our Capital Campaign donors directives, we are happy to announce that we will be open every day (Monday-Sunday) for individual and group tours from 11 am to 2 pm beginning Friday March 14th. We also are hosting more than 50 additional public and private events. See our March, April, May Calendar of events here. Our daily tours continue to be for the Underground Railroad series including the Quilt Code tour and we get a visit from Mr. Mark Twain occasionally! All tours include a delicious lunch in our café. In October we have our Candlelight Ghost Tours (yes, we do….her name is Victoria). On Thanksgiving Saturday, we kick off our Victorian Christmas Around the World tours and they run until Little Christmas Weekend the first weekend in January. Again, because of food availability, always make reservations before you arrive. And finally, we have our Gift Shop/Christmas Shop opening with handmade crafts, gifts, pottery, quilts, fabric crafts, souvenirs and collectibles and antiques. Hours are 11 am to 2 pm.
2. International Dinner Series…one authentic dinner per month with recipes traditional to that country and a guest chef overseeing the cooking with connections to that country (Ireland on Saturday, March 15; France on Saturday, April 12th; Germany on Saturday, May 17th) from 4:30 to 7:30 pm. An evening of great food, great music, great historical presentation of the country (on PowerPoint) and a chance to share your heritage and traditions as well. Note we are in search of a three- or four-piece fiddling group (my favorite Irish friend just reminded me last night that it is not a violin!) to help with Ireland night. Please contact our Reservation line if you are interested in performing. We are paying our musicians. Also note we may be close to running out of space for our Ireland night so contact us if you plan to attend.
3. British High Tea Series…there are very few places in Western Pennsylvania where you can have tea on fine china like they serve in England in a house that dates back to 1856 and with a traditional afternoon tea menu (pretty cold sandwiches, scones, clotted cream and jams, tea cakes and a wide assortment of teas including British black tea always—thank you Helen and Marguerite!) as well as heartier fare like hot roast beef and hot Turkey with gravy since a British high tea is also a working man’s dinner in England. Plus champagne beverages from Gatehouse Winery. Our first monthly tea is on Friday, March 28th from 1:30 to 4:30 pm. Reservations are required.
4. Ladies Luncheon Speaker Series…come listen to topics ranging from health and wellness to personal development in a safe and beautiful setting with a delicious lunch and a guest speaker (thanks to Zoom, our first speaker, Alexandra Stoddard is a lifestyle author from New York City and Stonington CT). Free copies of her book “Living a Beautiful Life” to the first 30 women who sign up. First session is Friday April 11th from 1-3 pm. Reservations are needed. We hope to get your feedback on topics for future sessions since the Luncheon Series will be monthly in 2025.
5. Summer Camp Series on Wednesdays from 10-2 pm in the Carriage House and Lodge. Learn about nature, history, public speaking, writing, performing about the 1800’s and the Underground Railroad. First summer camp session is Wednesday, June 11th from 10 am to 2 pm in the Carriage House and the Main House Lodge. Registration by the week is needed. Summer camp is 10 sessions in June, July and August. Ages 10 to 18 accepted. Camp counselors needed. Please call our Reservation line to schedule an interview or to make reservations for your child/children.
For a detailed list of all our daily events in March, April and May, please download our three month Event Calendar here.
Hope to see more of you in 2025!!
A.
PS We always talk about our Reservation Line, but it is backed by a real person. Her name is Kathy Kost and she has been answering your questions, booking your catering events and taking your reservations for the last year. You can reach her by calling or texting the Manor main phone number at 724.456.4983.