Quincy: The House and Host of Champions

Hot breakfast, penguins, and even Olympic history. Quincy House has it all.

Established in 1959 and located on Plympton Street, Quincy House became the first house built after Harvard’s seven original river houses. Since then, Quincy has evolved with editions such as Stone Hall in 2013. Soon enough, Quincy’s house became a hotspot for social gatherings, taking on the title of “The People’s House.”

Officially known as Josiah Quincy III House, Quincy House was named in honor of Josiah Quincy III, who notably served in the U.S. House of Representatives, as the mayor of Boston, and as the President of Harvard University from 1829 to 1845. The house still keeps the spirit alive by celebrating Josiah Quincy III’s birthday with community events.

Quincy House is known for many iconic traits. From the Qube to Quinski, the home has made itself known on campus. But its lesser-known history surrounding the Olympics makes Quincy House all the more intriguing.

O-Plympic Village:

In 1984, Quincy House became a home for more than just Penguins. From July 14 to Aug. 3 of that summer, more than 100 athletes from the Olympic soccer teams of Cameroon, Canada, Iraq, and Czechoslovakia took up residence at 58 Plympton Street.

Cambridge, along with Annapolis, the Rose Bowl, and Stanford, was a host site of the first round of the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympic Games.

Cambridge-based teams competed in the iconic Harvard Stadium, which was selected for its width and seating capacity. Other fields in the Boston area had artificial turf, weren’t wide enough for soccer regulations, or were hosting baseball games at the same time as the Olympic Games.

Notably, France and Qatar, both based in Maryland, made the trip up to Cambridge to compete in the soccer games in Harvard Stadium as well. The French team ultimately ended up winning the gold medal.

Quincy was chosen to be the residential base of the teams because of its proximity to the athletic complex and because it boasts its own kitchen. These facilities allowed the athletes to have tight security and personalized meals prepared by private chefs and Food Services.

In an interview with the Crimson in 1984, then Quincy House Master David A. Aloian ​​’49 was reportedly anxious about hosting the guests. He is quoted in an article saying that he would not tolerate ‘flying objects’ in Quincy’s courtyard and would enforce that strictly. He was also concerned that it might be difficult for the kitchen to accommodate so many different international cuisines.

Olympic planners and Harvard administrators coordinating the event were also very focused on ensuring that security was tight, as the world had been rattled by the horrific terrorist attack at the 1972 Munich Olympics.

Despite such worries, the Olympics went swimmingly. Then-Vice President George H. W. Bush was tasked with opening the Summer Games festivities at Harvard Stadium, serving as the American representative.

Penguins Get the Gold:

Living up to the name of the People’s House, Quincy boasts many notable alumni ranging from royalty and political figures to creative artists. In terms of housing Olympic athletes, there is no exception. Two-time Olympian and former Quincy resident Emerance Maschmeyer ’16, who studied sociology and economics, was the goaltender and captain of the Crimson’s women’s ice hockey team. To this day, she is still the goaltender with the program’s most saves, having tallied 2,538 during her collegiate career. Maschmeyer, who hails from Bruderheim, Alberta, won a gold medal for Team Canada at the 2022 Beijing Olympics and silver at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games.

During her time at Harvard, Maschmeyer left her mark on the Crimson’s ice hockey program, boasting 59 wins and holding ground at the National Championship in 2015. Upon graduating, she began her professional career in the Canadian Women’s Hockey League. Now, the Canadian professional standout, averaging 2.18 GAA, serves as the primary goaltender for the PWHL’s Vancouver Goldeneyes.

Quincy is a hub for accomplishment and achievement, not exclusive to academics. Its spaces provide opportunities to foster social, academic, and athletic growth, with its lively dining hall and bustling gym, just to name a couple.

— Staff writer Bianca M. Egan can be reached at [email protected]

— Staff writer Tiffany Oh can be reached at [email protected]

— Staff writer Kaylyn Kim can be reached at [email protected].