Historic Lopez Adobe Reopened

For years, friends had been telling Octavio Palacios that the old Lopez Adobe was haunted.

Emptied of its contents and shuttered after the 1994 Northridge earthquake, it isn’t hard to see why the 13-year-old believed them.

That was until Thursday night, however, when Octavio got his first look inside the historic home with its treasure of antique furniture and artifacts and decided that the stories were all a lot of bunk.

“It’s dope!” Octavio said, after a thorough tour of the two-story adobe. High praise indeed, by teenage standards.

“This is the oldest thing we have in San Fernando. It tells us a lot about our history,” Octavio said.

In a long-awaited ceremony, San Fernando officials reopened the 115-year-old home Thursday with a celebration that included seasonal songs, Mexican dances, traditional holiday foods and the lighting of the town Christmas tree.

The adobe was built in 1882-83 for Valley pioneers Geronimo and Catalina Lopez, who operated the Valley’s first post office and English-language school. The adobe home was the site of publication of the Valley’s first newspaper, the San Fernando Times.

Prolonged wrangling with the Federal Emergency Management Agency over repair estimates delayed the renovation, which was finally completed in June.

Since then, members of the San Fernando Historical Commission have been hustling to get the adobe back in shape.

Two commissioners, Carolyn Riggs and Ida Mayer, received special awards from the City Council for their adobe restoration efforts.

“After the earthquake, they practically lived here,” said Councilwoman Joanne Baltierrez. “They fought tooth and nail to make sure it would be restored for the community.”

Patricia Castaneda of Sylmar, who attended the reopening with her three children, was glad they had.

“It’s important for the kids to see it so they can know how things used to be.”