One School’s Field of Dreams

By Gwen Ito:

The year was 1954. Buffalo Seminary, an all-girls high school located on Bidwell Parkway, had just purchased the John D. Larkin Estate on the corner of Forest Avenue and Lincoln Parkway. Within months, the back yard to the 1915 mansion was transformed into a playing field for competitive sports, including field hockey and soccer. A quote from the school’s publication that year summed up the significance of the acquisition: “This field will be wonderful for the students, especially for those who have had to deal in the past with slopes, ruts and mud holes. At last we will be able to play host to other schools on our grounds.”

Fast-forward to October 12, 2010. On that day a group of adults, teenage girls and young children gathered together on Lincoln Parkway. The happy occasion?  A ribbon cutting to celebrate esthetic and functional improvements to 56-year-old Larkin Field, including a steel fence, a wrought-iron gate and a handicap-accessible ramp.

That afternoon, under a blue autumn sky, Sem’s Head of School Jody Douglass welcomed school officials, friends and some special guests. “This is a great day for our school and for our neighborhood,” Douglass said with a smile. She explained how important it was for the playing field to be visible to the school’s Elmwood Village neighbors and more accessible to visitors attending games. When the original wall was still in place, passersby had no idea what was behind the imposing concrete and thick vines. Replacing the wall with a beautiful fence in 2009 was a significant step toward a more inviting presence. This past summer, a new wrought-iron gate and a stone ramp completed Larkin Field’s 21st-century facelift.

Throughout the refurbishment, Sem officials were sensitive to the concerns of the community, including members of the Buffalo Olmsted Park Conservancy and nearby residents. The design was in fact reviewed by the Conservancy prior to its implementation. And to keep neighbors informed, school officials hand-delivered a letter from Ms. Douglass that explained the purpose of the project. Gerald Kelly, representing Delaware Park South Neighborhood Association, praised Buffalo Seminary for being a responsible neighbor. “We were kept in the loop throughout the process, and we join the school in celebrating this new look for the field.”

A few minutes after Douglass’ opening remarks, the three co-captains of Sem’s varsity soccer team – Taylor Amico, Elizabeth Bassett and Sarah Miller – presented commemorative soccer balls to family members from The Paul J. Koessler Foundation and The Helen Dent Lenahan Foundation. Signed by all the players on the Sem soccer team, the balls were a small token of the school’s appreciation.

Among the day’s guests was Helen Dent Lenahan, president of The Helen Dent Lenahan Foundation and a 1945 graduate of Sem. As an extroverted, athletic high school student, Mrs. Lenahan had earned a number of letters for her gym tunic. It seemed only natural that she would be there with her grandchildren to help unveil her alma mater’s reinvigorated playing field.

When it was finally time to cut the ribbon, the youngest members of both the Koessler and Lenahan families were eager to help. After the last piece of red ribbon fell away, everyone moved to the field for the ceremonial coin toss. By half past four, the guests of honor had joined other soccer fans to cheer from the sidelines. Meanwhile, the Sem players took to the field and met the team from Mount Saint Mary’s Academy.  

In addition to donations from The Paul J. Koessler and Helen Dent Lenahan Foundations, the school received financial support from The Richard W. Rupp Foundation and several individual donors for the Larkin Field renovation. Construction services were provided by Lehigh Construction.

Photography courtesy of Michele Goldfarb.