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Buhl Farm described as ‘living legacy’ in Shenango Valley
By LINDA M. LINONIS
HERMITAGE, Pa.
In 1915, Frank H. and Julia F. Buhl gave the “living legacy” of Buhl Farm to Shenango Valley residents.
The farm was a gift from the philanthropic couple to the Shenango Valley, where he was a millionaire steel industralist in the early 1900s.
The “park,” as it often is called, boasts bucolic beauty. People walk there, some with their dogs; others ride bicycles, swim, picnic, fly kites, go sledding, play tennis, attend concerts, fish and kayak. These are the activities that have made and continue to make enduring memories for area families and visitors.
The park is celebrating its 100th year with new events and adding a centennial spin to annual activities. Recently, Tom and Mitzi Kuster, co-chairmen of the Centennial Committee; Julie Norris, activities director; and Mary Lynn Reid, director of development, discussed the park.
“There isn’t a week that goes by without someone telling me that they had to stop by the park because it is near and dear to them,” Reid said. There are so many stories, she said. People who have moved away and return for various occasions make a point of coming to the park, where they might have learned to swim or play tennis or even had their first kiss.
“People are appreciative and understand what is here,” Reid said.
Norris, who said she lived nearby growing up, agreed. “Friends and I learned to play tennis and swim here,” she said. “It’s part of childhood memories.”
Mitzi Kuster added, “I grew up nearby, and it’s where we spent our time.” Now a park trustee, she is following in the footsteps of her father and grandmother, who also served in that capacity. “I have family ties to the park,” she said.
Those kinds of comments surely would have made the Buhls happy to know their vision of the park became a reality in the lives of so many. On the park website, a quote from Frank H. Buhl reads, “The Farm is to be used as a playground and a place of cultural enhancement for the public in general and especially the residents of the community.”
Tom Kuster noted Frank Buhl disliked the term park because he associated it with an amusement park and fees. He said the Buhls left an endowment of $680,000 to maintain the farm. In the early 1900s, that was a huge amount of money. It has grown to nearly $9 million; state law restricts how much can be withdrawn annually.
The farm’s annual budget is nearly $1 million; there is usually a $400,000 deficit. Kuster said private donations, fundraisers and grants make up the difference. The budget covers staff, maintenance, security and programs. A 15-member board oversees the operation; members are from Mercer County.
The Kusters said that the centennial celebration will remind residents of the amazing gift from the Buhls. Norris said that among special events will be a Tea at Julia’s on May 3 at the casino. “Julia liked to entertain at tea,” Norris said, and this event will pay tribute to that. A local storyteller will portray Julia Buhl.
An Armed Forces Day on May 16 will feature military re-enactments from the French-Indian War, Revolutionary War and Civil War. A record hop July 11 will bring back memories for many of casino dances decades ago, a summer mainstay for Shenango Valley teens.
Lake Julia, dredged in recent years, now provides a healthier habitat for fish, turtles and ducks. It is open to kayakers. The rose garden provides a setting for weddings and photographs.
Buhl Day, which is marked on Labor Day at the farm, observed its 35th anniversary in 2014. The community picnic with food, entertainment and sports activities, draws thousands.