John Durrant Larkin, Senior, founder of Larkin Company purchased an entire city block of land known as Rumsey's Wood in 1909. He and his wife Frances named the property "Larkland" and built a compound of beautiful homes there for themselves and each of their four children. A limestone wall surrounding the block was built almost immediately.

The grandest, most lavish home of all, main mansion of Frances and John D. Larkin Senior which overlooked Delaware Park from the corner of Lincoln and Rumsey was unfortunately demolished in 1939. The house built for John Durrant Larkin, Jr. at 65 Lincoln as well as the other children's homes at 160, 176 and 175 Windsor remain.

In 1954 The Buffalo Seminary acquired the mansion, now known as "Larkin House" The house has been used as the headmaster's residence and for social functions.

In 1981 and in 1999, Larkin House was used as the site of the Junior League Decorators' Show Houses.