There is something to be said about that quiet House tucked away in a corner on the Charles River between Winthrop and Kirkland. With a placid, diamond-shaped courtyard, you might even call Eliot House the hidden gem of Harvard’s housing system. The tight-knit community of ‘Eliotites’ — guided by HoCo, tutors, and House administrators — builds on deep traditions to maintain a flourishing home for its residents.
For the first half-century of its existence, Eliot was known as Harvard’s old-money House, heavily populated by the dignified spawn of the Boston Brahmin class. With House randomization in the 90s and the financial crisis in the aughts, this ‘more-Harvard-than-Harvard-itself’ identity diffused, but it left a legacy… (Legacy in the most Harvard sense of the word, of course, often associated with green images of certain U.S. Presidents.)
Much to the pleasure of current Eliotites, many of the legendary, upper-crust traditions remain. Fête receives most of the attention. Every April, all House residents are lobbied by multiple friends for that golden, plus-one ticket they receive with their dues package. While some jealous non-Eliotites will understandably try to dismiss Fête as some posh occasion from a bygone era, it’s alright to admit you want to go. It’s difficult not to feel this way, after all, given that the event is memorialized by TIME as part of Harvard’s culture.
If you can’t make it to Fête, you needn’t fret. Eliot’s social nature means that something is always happening. The weekly Steins, held in the Inferno Grille, are among the most well-attended of any House on campus. And for good reason: A never-ending stream of Pizza combined with a running Kegerator (for those long lasting kegs), when sprinkled in with tutors who genuinely love their students, is a recipe for good fellowship every Thursday evening. Two suites with built-in bars regularly compete to host socials (other Houses might have only one of these bars — if they’re lucky).
There’s a reason people are always catching a meal in Eliot. The dining hall is stunning. Carefully preserved from its 1931 construction, the hand-carved ceiling flourishes are still visible at every meal. Students congregate at all hours of the day (and the night). Each meal, students are warmly greeted by Grace, the dining hall worker who ensures that your day is going well. The food might have its rough days, but three annual formal dinners (with full table service) will more than compensate!
Furthermore, how many Houses have a movie theatre, a record room, or one of Leonard Bernstein’s pianos? Just one. What about a dash of mystery? The Eliot Library was also the scene where George Washington’s autograph was stolen. (For all you history buffs, the signatures from Adams to Nixon are still proudly on display.)
There’s a reason people win the lottery when they are sorted into Eliot. Like the lottery itself, winning a place in Eliot can change your life forever. Unlike the majority of lottery winners, you can rest assured Eliot won’t be going bankrupt any time soon.
Image Credit: HPR / Ryan Golemme
