The Pie Town Fair BBQ of 1940

Boshizzle · 02-17-2013, 10:34 PM

For the brethren who like to know and remember where we came from, here are some pics of a Barbecue held in Pie Town, New Mexico in 1940 that I ran across made available by the Library of Congress.

Pie Town, peacefully resting in Catron County, New Mexico was apparently founded as follows: Sometime in the early 1920's, Mr. Clyde Norman, a tall Texan and World War 1 veteran who "liked to bake", "broke down" on the side of the road and began making dried apple pies at his upstart business on a piece of ground that lay along a little rocky ridge and the "Coast to Coast Highway" later to become U.S. 60. The word got around that the best pies anywhere were to be found at "Pie Town" hence the name Pie Town.

In 1940, near the end of the Great Depression and just before the dawn of the United States' entry into World War II, a photographer named Russell Lee, an itinerant, government photographer employed by funds from Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal, captured stirring photographs of the people of Pie Town.

Hoss · 02-17-2013, 10:43 PM

WAY COOL!!!!

milehigh · 02-17-2013, 10:46 PM

Keep 'em comin.
I really like your roots info

Paul

HookedOnQ · 02-17-2013, 10:54 PM

Very cool !! I was doing a search earler today on the history of va bbq and ran across some of your old post.. U have deff dug up some interesting information on the history of bbq. Looking forward to seeing more

tish · 02-17-2013, 11:01 PM

Thanks so much for posting this, Joe. I love looking at these old photographs, and trying to imagine what the people and their lives were like. Sounds like Pie Town was quite a place. The stuff from which Americana is made.

Outnumbered · 02-17-2013, 11:03 PM

That is awesome stuff.

Here's a link. http://www.pietown.com/

landarc · 02-18-2013, 12:47 AM

Great find Bo, those images look like they could be from today. Some nice photos

gtr · 02-18-2013, 01:00 AM

Great stuff Bo - I love your posts!

Really cool pix - I could put a hurtin on that dessert table!

Loving the cars in the background as well.

Oldbob · 02-18-2013, 04:41 AM

Fantastic Stuff ...Thanks for Posting !!

MisterChrister · 02-18-2013, 05:48 AM

Thanks Bo, these are great!

JohnHB · 02-18-2013, 06:11 AM

Thank You. We would forget our roots without people like you.
John

Gilstarr · 02-18-2013, 06:55 AM

Fantastic!! ...Thanks for Posting !!

code3rrt · 02-18-2013, 07:54 AM

Love the great historical pieces you come up with Bo. To bad we don't see more gatherings like that these days, the world would be a better place.

Keep'em coming and thanks!

KC

HeSmellsLikeSmoke · 02-18-2013, 10:02 AM

Fun read for me. I grew up in the Texas panhandle about 20 miles from where US 60 runs through. I was born in 1941 and you are considering 1940 to be way back to our roots. And thirdly, I had no idea the world in color back then - all my baby pictures were black and white.

Anyone else notice that the BBQ crowd was much thinner back then?

Crazy Harry · 02-18-2013, 10:50 AM

very nice, some of those pics could be from today

02-17-2013, 10:34 PM	#1
Boshizzle somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 01-26-10 Location: Virginia	The Pie Town Fair BBQ of 1940 For the brethren who like to know and remember where we came from, here are some pics of a Barbecue held in Pie Town, New Mexico in 1940 that I ran across made available by the Library of Congress. Pie Town, peacefully resting in Catron County, New Mexico was apparently founded as follows: Sometime in the early 1920's, Mr. Clyde Norman, a tall Texan and World War 1 veteran who "liked to bake", "broke down" on the side of the road and began making dried apple pies at his upstart business on a piece of ground that lay along a little rocky ridge and the "Coast to Coast Highway" later to become U.S. 60. The word got around that the best pies anywhere were to be found at "Pie Town" hence the name Pie Town. In 1940, near the end of the Great Depression and just before the dawn of the United States' entry into World War II, a photographer named Russell Lee, an itinerant, government photographer employed by funds from Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal, captured stirring photographs of the people of Pie Town. __________________ Operation BBQ Relief Founding Member - I am Obsessive Compulsive about BBQ. Google it.

02-17-2013, 10:46 PM	#3
milehigh is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 10-23-07 Location: Butte MT	Keep 'em comin. I really like your roots info Paul __________________ There is a huge difference between the guy who knows it all and the one who wants to know it all.

02-17-2013, 11:01 PM	#5
tish Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 11-13-11 Location: york, pa	Thanks so much for posting this, Joe. I love looking at these old photographs, and trying to imagine what the people and their lives were like. Sounds like Pie Town was quite a place. The stuff from which Americana is made. __________________ When all else fails, just ask yourself ?Quid faceret Gore et Landarc??* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a little pyro at heart! Who's got the hot dogs? Bubba Keg, Weber Genesis E-310 NG Mini WSM, Shhh!!! Michael's surprise Cornflower Blue Thermapen Might not be the fastest, but it sure is the prettiest! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Proud recipient of a certifiably uncertified limited edition MOINK ball certificate!!

02-17-2013, 11:03 PM	#6
Outnumbered is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 09-18-11 Location: Smithville, Missouri, United States	That is awesome stuff. Here's a link. http://www.pietown.com/ __________________ Greg Vincent When I die, my goal is to have a visible smoke ring when the coroner cuts me open for the autopsy.

02-18-2013, 12:47 AM	#7
landarc somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 06-26-09 Location: sAn leAnDRo, CA	Great find Bo, those images look like they could be from today. Some nice photos __________________ [COLOR=DarkGreen][COLOR=DarkRed][SIZE=1]me: I don't drink anymore Yelonutz: me either, but, then again, I don't drink any less [/SIZE][/COLOR][/COLOR][SIZE=1][COLOR=DarkRed] [COLOR=Pink]SSS[/COLOR] [/COLOR][/SIZE]

02-17-2013, 10:43 PM	#2
Hoss Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 12-31-09 Location: Hernando,MS	WAY COOL!!!!

02-17-2013, 10:54 PM	#4
HookedOnQ is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 12-31-12 Location: chesterfield, va	Very cool !! I was doing a search earler today on the history of va bbq and ran across some of your old post.. U have deff dug up some interesting information on the history of bbq. Looking forward to seeing more

02-18-2013, 01:00 AM	#8
gtr somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 10-16-10 Location: Culver City, CA	Great stuff Bo - I love your posts! Really cool pix - I could put a hurtin on that dessert table! Loving the cars in the background as well. __________________ 50" Klose BYC, Spitjack XB85, 22.5 WSM, Backwoods Chubby, UDS, WRK, 26" & 22.5" Weber Kettles, Jumbo Joe, WGA, WSJ/MUDS, Kanka Grill, a piece of expanded metal I throw over the fire pit sometimes, Stealthy Black & Vol Orange Thermapens Displaced East Tennesseean Proud recipient of a Tick Former outlaw MOINK baller, now IMBAS Certified, but still lookin' over my shoulder. "Relax, it's only BBQ." - Bigmista, 2013 "Don't worry about playing a lot of notes. Just find one pretty one." - Miles Davis Avatar by my son! WTFWGALD?

02-18-2013, 04:41 AM	#9
Oldbob is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 08-24-06 Location: Kokomo,Indiana	Fantastic Stuff ...Thanks for Posting !! __________________ Chargriller Akorn Drum Smoker " Old Smokey " Work in Progress Kingsford Premium Charcoal Grill Weber Gasser Genesis Silver A Pit Barrel Cooker Maverick ET-732 VietNam Veteran US Navy May you Sleep in Peace always...and Please....Thank a Veteran for That Privilege!!

02-18-2013, 05:48 AM	#10
MisterChrister Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 04-28-12 Location: Wis-con-sin	Thanks Bo, these are great! __________________ Kettleheads Anonymous Charter Member

02-18-2013, 06:11 AM	#11
JohnHB is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 12-14-12 Location: Sydney NSW	Thank You. We would forget our roots without people like you. John __________________ John When you stop horsing around it is time to fire up the BBQ & Smoker

02-18-2013, 06:55 AM	#12
Gilstarr Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 09-10-09 Location: Hanover Va	Fantastic!! ...Thanks for Posting !!

02-18-2013, 07:54 AM	#13
code3rrt Babbling Farker Join Date: 08-09-12 Location: Spokane Valley, Washington	Love the great historical pieces you come up with Bo. To bad we don't see more gatherings like that these days, the world would be a better place. Keep'em coming and thanks! KC __________________ KC Weber Performer with rotisserie ring, 22.5OTS, Maverick 732, Weber Smokey Joe,PBC Smokenator/Hoovergrill, variety of microbrews, Gin and tonic, variety of lighters.:blah:

02-18-2013, 10:02 AM	#14
HeSmellsLikeSmoke somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 04-02-07 Location: Warren, Vermont	Fun read for me. I grew up in the Texas panhandle about 20 miles from where US 60 runs through. I was born in 1941 and you are considering 1940 to be way back to our roots. And thirdly, I had no idea the world in color back then - all my baby pictures were black and white. Anyone else notice that the BBQ crowd was much thinner back then? __________________ Jim - Another transplanted Texan Former KCBS CBJ Large and Medium Big Green Eggs , Black 18.5" WSM, Blue Weber Performer - Stainless, Green Weber OTG Kettle , Brinkmann SnP Pro, and a Stainless UDS. One retired Portable Kitchen grill. Red Thermapen, Maverick ET-732, EdgePro Apex Sharpener. Avatar is the original 1951 Weber Kettle

02-18-2013, 10:50 AM	#15
Crazy Harry is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 07-08-09 Location: Deer Park, Wa	very nice, some of those pics could be from today __________________ No trees were harmed in presenting this post; however, a great number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced. [URL]http://www.teddybearcreations-wa.com[/URL] Note to mods: is the back link ok? When all else fails ......