Fierro, New Mexico Was A Mining Town I visited Fierro, New Mexico in the fall of 2006. These images went missing for about ten years and then I found them again. "Fierro" means "iron" in Spanish and the town of Fierro is located a few miles north east of Silver City. Fierro was founded in 1841 by a German immigrant. It was a mining town that went belly up during the great depression. Those who were not killed in mining accidents moved away when the economy tanked, creating a ghost town and leaving behind a church with a lonely caretaker. St. Anthony's Catholic Church St. Anthony's Catholic Church was built by the miners of Fierro in 1916. I don't know who would be attending church there nowadays, but I guess there's at least one person. While poking around the outside of the church I was approached by a woman who asked if I wanted to see the inside. Her name was Juana and I said, "yes, please!" Juana let me in and preceded to regale me with with her personal testimony of the power of the Christ. Keep in mind that this was a long time ago so I may have forgotten some of the finer points but I remember her saying, "It's in the blood, the power is in the blood", over and over again. Juana let me wander all through the church and shoot whatever photos I wanted. After a while she said, "I'm going home, bring the keys back to my house when you're done." So I did. Juana's House It was close to Halloween and Juana had ghosts hanging from trees in her yard. I didn't take any photos inside her house because that seemed rude. I can tell you though, that the inside of her house was decorated like the gift shop of a southwestern ghost town. Every possible surface, both horizontal and vertical, was covered in do-dads, artifacts, photographs, and religious paraphernalia. Juana cooked tortillas from scratch and fried eggs over easy. All of it was delicious. She told a terrible story of how all the men in her family had been killed in the mine. Her father, her brothers, her husband, her son... all killed in mining accidents. She told me about making burritos as a child and selling them to "white people like you". Juana was the caretaker of the church and the only resident I remember encountering in Fierro. She was gracious and friendly but I wonder sometimes if she was real.
5 Comments
4/6/2021 10:01:13 pm
I grew up in Fierro I personally knew Juana. And everyone else in the Metropolitan town of Fierro lol. Thank you for mentioning the church san Antonio which I regularly attended as a child.
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Anna M
7/31/2021 01:54:51 pm
My grandmother was born in Fierro in the early 1900’s Her father was a Dominguez and her mom was a Catano . Her father died in the mines when she was about 4 years old. I want to visit some day.
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Christina Luera
9/27/2021 08:21:16 pm
My grandmother Julia Torres was born here in 1928
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Dale Gonzales
10/1/2021 12:10:43 pm
When I lived in Grant County, I often walked around Fierro. It was so eerily silent. It felt like ghosts were hovering around me, wanting me to leave. All "ghost towns" & abandoned places can be "creepy", especially if one is open to these "vibrations." Fierro is the type of place especially given to "ghosts" because it is empty - there was nothing there but feelings of great sadness...
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Amy Johnson
3/30/2022 10:05:29 am
Thank you for the brief insights into this small town. I ended up here due to searching for info about a jeweler named Juan Gallegos. However, there are many, many men named Juan Gallegos. I did find one after a quick Google search, and in his obituary, it said he was born in Fierro, NM. I'd never heard of Fierro until today. Anyhoo, I am glad I stumbled upon your blog with photos. Thanks. Love the bit about Juana, and the responses of those with connections to Fierro.
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AuthorI am DeAnna Vincent, fine art and portrait photographer in Los Lunas, New Mexico. These are the photos from my everyday adventures. Categories
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