Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astonish the rest.

-- Mark Twain

A group of Jamestown residents hope to take such notions from the famed American author and turn it into reality.

Two months ago seven local residents formed the Jamestown Future Foundation Inc., a non-profit group, and bought the Mark Twain Manor for $160,000 from Dr. John Steele. Their goal is to transform the historic four-bedroom house into a bed and breakfast and change its nearby carriage house into a library and cultural center.

Members of the foundation began chewing on the idea last October.

"We want to get utilization out of the buildings by anybody and everybody in town,'' said Michele Brooks, vice president of the foundation.

After forming their non-profit organization under the umbrella of the Shenango Valley Foundation, the group obtained a mortgage from First National Bank of Pennsylvania to buy the buildings.

Built in 1856 and sitting vacant for eight years, the house needs repairs here and there while the carriage house requires extensive renovations. With an estimated project cost of $500,000, the group immediately wants to begin restoration work and fund-raising efforts. It's all part of a labor of love, said Doug Shannon, the foundation's president.

"This is in the center of our town, and we wanted to preserve the center of town,'' Shannon said.

Also known as the Gibson House, the home gets its names from the friendship forged between its original owner, Dr. William Gibson, and Twain, who met on the voyage of the Quaker City steamship. Twain makes reference to "The doctor'' in his novel "Innocents Abroad."

Other claims to fame for the home include it may have been part of the 19th century Underground Railroad during the Civil War because it has a hidden room. Also, a ghost of a woman and possibly a young child are believed to haunt its halls.

Placed on the National Register of Historical Places in the late 1970s, the home will be restored by the group as much as possible to its former elegance, Shannon said.

Over the years a number of businesses ranging from restaurants to taverns have failed at the home.

"No one could afford to keep a business running here,'' Shannon said.

With intricate oak trim woodwork throughout and 12-foot ceilings, the home was a showpiece of its time. While changes were made over the years to add modern conveniences such as electricity, central heating and a huge kitchen, much of the home still maintains its pre-Civil War era flavor.

Foundation members said they may look to lease out the home to someone interested in running a bed and breakfast at the location. A restaurant may also be featured in the home's basement, where previous cafes and bars were located. Proceeds would be used for upkeep and to run the library and cultural center at the carriage house. The library would aid local schools and the community by providing additional resources and technology, while the cultural center will offer art, music, literature and a meeting place.

"The main thing we want to focus on is community involvement,'' said Guy Brooks, a foundation member and Michele's husband.

Hoping to tap into the tourism market, the home and carriage house could be a beacon for future endeavors in Jamestown and Greenville, he said.

"The thought is Jamestown can be a growing area for tourism,'' Brooks said. "It can open the door for other types of businesses.''

With enough money in its coffers to pay the monthly mortgage bill through summer, the group must raise additional money to keep the project alive, Shannon said.

Bricks selling for $50 with inscriptions will be sold and a benefit barbecue under tents will be held at the home's parking lot May 25. A grant from the Pennsylvania Historical Museum Commission will also be sought.

First on the agenda is to turn the home into a bed and breakfast within a year and by the summer of 2003 to have the library and cultural center operating.

"Everyone in town is excited,'' Shannon said.

Contributions can be made to The Jamestown Future Foundation Inc. at: 210 Liberty St., Box 158, Jamestown 16134. The phone is: (724) 932-5455.