Lopez: Mountain Landscape and Local History

Lopez lies in the Endless Mountains, in an area where several mountain ranges meet. It also has specific local stories: an Orthodox church, a bridge with a former name, sawmills, and a long tradition of handmade corn-straw brooms. If you choose a vacation rental based not only on the town’s name but also on the character you want for your trip, Lopez offers several distinct points of interest.

Mountain Region and Choosing a Location

Its location in a mountain region gives your choice of destination a clear scenic focus. The landscape and local history appeal to different interests: you can consider whether the setting in the Endless Mountains or the town’s historical traces is a better fit for your trip.

Church History and Historical Context

St. Vladimir Orthodox Church was founded in 1907 and is located at 127 Main Street in Lopez. The church brought the Orthodox Christian faith to Lopez; services there were held in Church Slavonic. The connection between the Orthodox faith and Church Slavonic shows that the church’s history also has a linguistic dimension. For travelers interested in local culture, this is a specific cultural aspect of Lopez’s history.

The Colley Township House is also located in Lopez. In March 2009, the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission officially designated it a historic resource. Alongside the church’s history, this offers another historical facet of the town, classified differently.

Craftsmanship and Local History

Meckley Brooms has a family tradition of more than 100 years of making handmade corn-straw brooms. This tradition adds a different aspect to local history than the dated events surrounding the bridge and sawmills: it is about a craft and its family history.

Around 1876, a wooden bridge coated with coal tar was built over Lopez Creek. For several years after it was built, the location was known as “Tar Bridge.” In 1886, the Lehigh Valley extended its railroad line from Bernice to Lopez. In May 1887, J. S. Hoffa of Dushore built a sawmill in Lopez; in 1888, Trexler and Turrell built a large sawmill on the outskirts of town. Taken together, a temporary place name, a railroad extension, and two sawmills represent different historical themes.

A World War II Remembrance

A visitor display in Lopez includes a welcome sign, a bench, five bombs spelling “LOPEZ,” an unmanned military drone, and a U.S. flag. It commemorates the community’s military service during World War II. The items on display may change. In this way, the display brings together specific objects and the remembrance of the community’s service.

Choose the Right Focus

If you are considering Lopez as a vacation destination, you can start by asking what you want to focus on during your trip. The mountain setting points to the landscape; for cultural interests, there are the church tradition and the historic designation of the Colley Township House. Craftsmanship and the history of the bridge, railroad, and sawmills offer further perspectives on the town. This makes it possible to choose a vacation rental based on the topic that interests you most during your trip.

Explore More Destinations

Explore more destinations: Eagles Mere, Dushore.

Back to the main travel guide: Sullivan County.