In 1911–1913 the school was incorporated and acquired several acres of farmland near Gerry's Landing, a property dedicated as the "Nichols Athletic Field," a name by which it is still known. In 1924 the school acquired the contiguous three acres with a gift from Mrs. Kuno Francke in memory of her son Hugo, after whom the field is still named. Francke Field was expanded to its present dimensions through an exchange of property with the Shady Hill School, which by this time had moved to its current location directly next to B&N's two athletic fields.