Ferry Hall Athletics and Field Day

Making It Home
Ferry Hall Athletics and Field Day

Tennis, 1892. Courtesy Lake Forest Academy Archives.

Field Hockey, 1940s.

Field Hockey, 1940s.

Field Day, May 15, 1915. Courtesy Lake Forest Academy Archives.

Field Day, May 15, 1915. Courtesy Lake Forest Academy Archives.

Field Day 1936.

Field Day 1936.

Monty winner 1967, article in school newspaper. Courtesy Lake Forest Academy Archives.

Monty winner 1967, article in school newspaper. Courtesy Lake Forest Academy Archives.

By Rita MacAyeal, Director of the Library and ArchivistPhysical fitness was a part of Ferry Hall life from the very beginning; students participated in indoor gymnastics and were encouraged to engage in outdoor activities such as walking, horseback riding, ice skating, tennis, and croquet. In 1896 an athletic association was formed at Ferry Hall, resulting in highly competitive basketball games between the students of Ferry Hall and Lake Forest College.
In 1912, the school added a swimming pool designed by B.H. Jillson (architect of Swift & Co.) and two years later held the first swim meet in the school’s history. In 1937 the school added new tennis courts and a new hockey field, and in the 1940s the school joined the newly created Girl’s Athletic Association.During the postwar era, in keeping with the close relationship between Ferry Hall and Lake Forest Academy, Ferry Hall cheerleaders began cheering at Academy games. In Spring 1962 the first volleyball team was formed without any teams to play, but in 1966 it became an interscholastic sport. In 1967 lacrosse became a new FH sport and that same year FH hosted its first invitational field hockey tournament with eight other prep schools.
The first field day occurred in May 1903 with classes competing in events such as races, high jump, and shot put. As the annual tradition developed it included exhibitions and special events—even a class parade.
The annual class competitions continued until 1938 when a new system was implemented; the student body was divided into two teams (yellow and white) which competed in sports throughout the year and on Field Day. The events included fun activities such as three-legged races and wheelbarrow races.
The winning team has its name inscribed on a trophy cup and won “Montie the Mascot” (a stuffed toy bear) for the next year. The Yellow and White team competitions and annual Field Day tradition continued until the merger of FH with LFA in 1974.