One of the things I like most about Lakinville is its drive to create a town square that tells a story, both past and present. I find the attention to details fascinating, as they leave no stone unturned when it comes to telling the Larkin story. A simple walk around the grounds often times leads to unexpected delights, some of which incorporate refreshing takes on utilitarian objects. Take this old filling station pump for example. Well, that’s what it looks like from behind, complete with gas nozzle and hose hung up on the side. Only upon viewing from the front do unsuspecting passersby realize that the pump is actually a disguised First Niagara ATM… brilliant!
The pump/ATM was created right here in Buffalo by Hadley Exhibits, located on Elmwood Avenue in-between Amherst Street and Hertel. Hadley has been building these types of custom displays for over half a century out of their 180,000 square foot facility, and their work can be seen locally at corporation headquarters such as New Era and Buffalo Sabres.
In the case of Larkinville, the goal was to create a consistent look with the site’s former use as a filling station, a task that ended up working rather well for First Niagara bank which happens to be headquartered in a nearby building.