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Generous Vassar alumnae donations to the house have resulted in its nickname “The House of a Thousand Gifts.”
H. Seagrave / The Miscellany News
published on 02/04/05
Alumnae House reopens after extensive renovation
Hayley Tsukayama 
Staff Writer
The Vassar Alumnae House is once again open for business after extensive renovations to its 80 year-old structure. The house was presented to the College by 19th century graduates “the Ferry sisters” Blanche Ferry Hooker ’94 and Queene Ferry Coonley ’96, sisters of Dexter M. Ferry Jr., for whom Breuer’s Ferry House is named.
According to the Vassar Alumnae/i Quarterly of Fall 2003, the house is often referred to affectionately as “The House of a Thousand Gifts,” in reference to the many alumnae who gave their time and money for the original construction and subsequent renovations.
The Alumnae House is a place where visiting former Vassar students can stay when they return for special events or for personal visits. It also contains a restaurant open to guests and students.
The Alumnae House has undergone several restoration and renovation projects in the past few years, but shut down for major modifications in the fall of 2003. The project was originally projected to reopen in time for its 80th year anniversary, but its completion was delayed in the winter of 2004, due to the last minute installation of air conditioning.
According to the February 2004 issue of the alumnae/i publication, Leadership Network, in the spirit of the Alumnae House, Mary Lee Lowe Dayton ‘46 donated “the largest single commitment” made to the renovation. In that same publication, Dayton told the AAVC that she was a resident of the Alumnae House during her studies at Vassar.
During World War II, many students accelerated their studies, and so the Alumnae House was used as extra housing. Dayton “just hated the idea that all of this work was being done without that important part [air conditioning].
Also new at the Alumnae House is a catering service, Main Course. The Pub, the Alumnae House’s restaurant, features a new menu which is available online at aavc.vassar.edu/house.
The Alumnae House is now taking reservations for rooms. A single private room is $90; a double room is $101. In the “Ladies’ Wing,” single rooms are $56.25. Small, dorm-style rooms are also available for $40 or $56.25. Much of the Alumnae House books quickly for commencement in May.
Reservations can be made by contacting the House at (845)437-7100.
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Alumnae/i posters are strongly encouraged to include their class year with their name. The maximum length for comments is approximately 100 words; longer responses should be submitted as letters to the editor to misc@vassar.edu. More information about our letters policy can be found on our Policies page.
