Colorado Ghost Town Books/Maps
Fierro New Mexico Townsite - Ghost town
Fierro means Iron in Spanish. Perhaps that is what interested the Colorado Fuel and Iron company of Pueblo Colorado to be interested in the area. They mined iron, copper and zinc in the area. Some of the ore had to be shipped to Colorado for refining.
Rumor has it that they had a large log sunk deep into the ground with about eight feet sticking straight up out of the ground. That is what they used as a jail in case someone got a little to drunk or rowdy. Yep, if you were the villain you got tied up to the log until you sobered up or calmed down. Many a guy spent the whole night tied up.
The area was first mined and discovered by a German immigrant in 1841. As many mining towns WWI, the depression and WWII had a tremendous effect on the town. It started its rapid decline in the 1930's. It had a post office in 1899. In it's heyday Fierro boasted a movie theater, a variety store, and a pool hall. The pool room was owned by Sheriff Mack Minton who claimed he knew Billie the Kid. He also resented the fact that people called Billie a hero. In the 1920's a fire destroy much of the town.
If you go here make sure you see St Anthony's church and the cemetery. Every time I walk into one of these cemeteries I see evidence of mine accidents, sickness, young peoples death and war heroes. This one is no different. Even has the "short fuse" death of several miners recorded.
Photos courtesy of Mike Sinnwell June 2009
A viewer write - Sunday July 4th 2010 - Great site. Brings back great memories. I am from the Guadalupe A. Loera family. Born and raised in Fierro, New Mexico. Left to join the U.S. Army. Our family attended mass at the St. Anthony Church. June 13 is the celebration of St Anthony, the celebrations were simple but at the time the greatest. My family were miners and even I worked in one of the mines at 16 years old (underground). That was my summer job since there were no McDonalds at the time. Thank You for the memories.. Arturo G. Loera Las Vegas, Nevada LLoe7@aol.com
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