Essex Tech Brings Larkin Gala Back On Smith Hall Lawn For 2021

DANVERS, MA — Ten months after the 2020 Essex Tech Larking Homecoming Gala was held virtually because of the coronavirus crisis, the 2021 version is set to go forward in person on Oct. 16 on the front lawn of Smith Hall.

The gala to support the Catherine Larkin Memorial Cottage project begins at 6 p.m.

The gala will take place under a tent, and will feature music, hors d'oeuvres, a live and a silent auction, and a farm-to-table meal prepared by Essex Tech culinary students. The event will also include a cash beer and wine bar.

Essex Tech has set a fundraising goal of about $2.5 million for the project. The 2020 Larkin Gala, held remotely because of the pandemic, raised about $16,200.

Tickets for this year's event are available here.

The 70-year-old cottage once served as the home of the homemaking program at Essex Tech. It is named after Lt. Catherine Larkin, a former homemaking student and World War II nurse who died in a plane crash in 1945.

The new building will be on Route 62 across from the farm stand and will include an agricultural museum, learning center and community function space. The space will feature historic artifacts from the school's history and a functioning kitchen to support events.

"Rebuilding the Larkin Cottage is going to provide an invaluable, hands-on learning opportunity for our students, while also creating a new space for our classes to meet, showcase the historic past of our school and host community and private events," Essex Tech Superintendent Heidi Riccio said. "We're thrilled to rebuild the cottage, and I encourage our alumni, local businesses and organizations and the greater Essex Tech community to join us again at the Annual Larkin Homecoming Gala to support this project."

Essex Tech students from various disciplines, including construction craft laborers, carpentry,
masonry, electrical, plumbing and agriculture, have been working to rebuild the cottage, using any historically significant or otherwise useful materials from the original cottage in the process.

During the last year, the Local 22 Laborers' Union completed the foundation in collaboration with Essex Tech's construction craft laborer and masonry students in partnership with S&F Concrete. The school worked with ADD Griffin, Boston architectural firm designLAB and Richard Griffin from Derby Square Architects.

The Larkin Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented at the gala. The award honors those who have demonstrated a commitment to and achievement within the local vocational and or agricultural industries.

Award nominations are welcomed here through Oct. 1.

Did you find this article useful? Invite a friend to subscribe to Patch.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)