by: Manley J. Anderson

Two members of the Jamestown musical group 10,000 Maniacs have become downtown property owners.

Bassist Steve Gustafson and keyboardist Dennis Drew have acquired the former W-B Swanson Pharmacy building at 108-1 10 E. Third St. for an undisclosed price.

Assessor John H. Barber said the brick four-story building with basement was built in 1890 and contains 2,100 square feet of floor space on each story.

The purchase was made by Gustafson and Drew as partners in Maniacs Communications, with Drew noting "It's strictly for our own projects."

Gustafson said present plans call for multi-use as an office for the musical group and possible rehearsal space. He said an apartment on the second floor is occupied and it is hoped to use the two upper floors for offices.

"It's a really neat building inside. We're excited about it," Gustafson said. "We just want to be downtown so much. I loved it as a kid and I still do."

He said plans call for renovating the more than century-old building. Gustafson said this is expected to begin with a facade renovation through a city-assisted program. He said only the first two, floors presently are available for use but plans call for eventual use of the entire structure.

"We've been looking at downtown buildings for about a year," the musician said, "and feel this presents an opportunity as a result of its location."

He said Maniacs Communications was one of five applicants about three years ago for a Federal Communications Commission license to operate a 25,000 watt frequency modulation commercial radio station locally.

Gustafson said the federal agency has made no decision on the license award and it could be given to a single applicant or divided among them.

"We're going to invest in Jamestown," he said. "We've got a lot of ideas. We feel the best investment we could make is in ourselves and the community."

Gustafson said his family's ancestors came to Jamestown in 1870 and his father moved the family back here in 1964 after retiring from a military career.