The Where I Live series aims to showcase our diverse city and region by spotlighting its many vibrant neighborhoods. Each week a local resident invites us over and lets us in on what makes their neighborhood special. Have we been to your neighborhood yet? Get in touch to share your story. If your story is selected and published, you will receive a $250 stipend.
My name is Elva Lopez and this is my story. I have been married to Antonio Lopez for 44 years and I am the mother of three children — George, Lisa and Michelle. We were living in housing projects but they were full of gangs, violence and drugs.
My husband was a self-employed plumber and welder, and he remodeled houses. He would buy his supplies at Morris Lumber Company. Antonio helped everyone and anyone. He worked for those who had money to pay and those who didn’t. God gave him a big heart.
One day he started work on a house that was for sale, and the owner ended up selling him the house. The bad part about it was that it was condemned and we couldn’t live in it. The city did not tear it down because it is a historical house. Antonio went to work for 12 to 15 hours everyday then afterward, he would go and fix the house with materials he came across or found.
One day he finally finished remodeling the house. The city inspected it and it passed! I turned on the services we moved out of the projects into our first home.
We enrolled Michelle into J.T. Brackenridge Elementary and Lisa into Tafolla Middle School. I was so pleased with this neighborhood.
Davila Pharmacy and Gonzaba Medical Group were on the same block. A molino, a bakery, and a restaurant were right in front of our church, Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. After mass we always bought Barbacoa, tortillas and chicharrones — and don’t forget the chile!
Every week I saw people from everywhere come together for Sunday Mass. Our church was founded in 1911 and built in 1926. It’s known as The Heart of the Westside. My husband Antonio enrolled my daughters into the Matachines group and Sunday church classes.
Did you know that in December they have the “Walking of The Cross” where the Matachines dance in honor of the church? More than 200 participants join and walk for about four to six hours. It is so beautiful.
The church holds other events throughout the week. They also feed the homeless and have a food pantry to provide food to the community.
At one time my husband was sick and needed heart surgery. They honored him with a stained glass window with his name, Antonio Lopez. My husband had his open heart surgery and was able to see the glass window with his name.
The Plaza Guadalupe is in our neighborhood and is known for hosting holiday festivals and large events. Ballet Folklórico, Spanish flamenco dance, mariachi and Tejano/Conjunto music theatrical productions held at the plaza are organized by The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center.
My favorite time in the fall when the El Dieciséis de Septiembre Parade organized by the Avenida Guadalupe Association is held. People from everywhere come bringing their chairs to get their spots to eat and watch the parade and have a blast!
This is my neighborhood and this is where I live. I couldn’t pick anywhere else to call my community and my home.
