Yellow and white balloons adorn the student center, a prefect takes the stage, choruses of an abandoned alma mater ripple out — these are the signs of Ferry Hall Day.
Sept. 22 marks the day the girls’ school, Ferry Hall, merged with the boys’ school, Lake Forest Academy, in 1974. The date is celebrated each year to recognize the school and the women that shaped LFA into what it is today.
Ferry Hall Prefect Sadie Bruns ‘27 worked with Ferry Hall Prefect Advisor Dianys Padró Pagán, former advisor Ruth Keyso and Dean of Students Jennifer Rundles to create a memorable day of celebration and recognition. Bruns received this specific position as a prefect for exemplifying the values of Ferry Hall and a capability of carrying them out today.
“The day is a chance to honor the legacy of Ferry Hall and celebrate its influence on LFA and women’s education in general,” Bruns said. “As a woman, I’m very grateful for the opportunities that Ferry Hall helped push for (women’s education and expanding it).”
One of Bruns’ key responsibilities is presenting about the school. This year, celebration fell on Sept. 21 to allow for time for the presentation. Bruns took the stage for the All-School Meeting to educate the LFA community on Ferry Hall. The meeting included Director of Music Timothy Plambeck leading the school in singing the Ferry Hall alma mater — Bruns’ favorite part of the celebration.
Bruns took the place where all Ferry Hall prefects have stood before and took the annual Ferry Hall Prefect/Head of School photo with Tom Johnson in front of the Ferry Hall sign on campus. This sign is a recreation of the original from Ferry Hall.
A flower bar was set up in Little Theater for female teachers to be recognized with a bouquet.
The day concluded with tea at Wood House, the residence of the Head of School. There, alumnae gathered to reminisce about their days in the girls’ school and share their perspective on Ferry Hall.
“It was really cool to hear about their experiences and how they still get excited about celebrating their time at Ferry Hall,” Bruns said.
The colors of Ferry Hall, yellow and white, were featured in the community throughout the day. Balloons with the school colors marked decorated cake pops and cookies in the student center for Caxys to enjoy; students and faculty were dressed in the colors during the school day; athletes wore special yellow jerseys for their games/matches during the week.
“The jerseys mean women empowerment to me,” volleyball player Hunter Hayes ‘28 said before her game in a yellow jersey. “It shows we should be celebrated and represented in sports.”
Ferry Hall was founded in 1869 under the name “Young Ladies’ Seminary at Ferry Hall” as a department in Lake Forest College. By 1887, it became known as Ferry Hall and by 1925 it legally and financially separated from the college, while still taking residence on its campus. In 2012, the Ferry Hall Dormitory was constructed, becoming the first building on campus to be specifically for girls.
The school was a trailblazer in women’ s education. In its 1869 opening, 66 students were enrolled. Instead of a finishing school, where most women who received schooling went, Ferry Hall provided uncommonly taught subjects for women, including mathematics and science, as well as a liberal arts education.
Ferry Hall is recognized as a key part of LFA later in the year; Move-Up Day and white dresses for graduation were strong traditions for the school and remain traditions for LFA.
Ferry Hall alumnae Maude Glore ‘63, Mary “Cecily” Meer ‘69, Loretta Kaplan ‘73 and Beth Shaw ‘75 returned to campus during the school day.
In the words of the Ferry Hall alma mater, “With love we’ll praise our alma mater / Dear old Ferry Hall.”