Pie Town Collection

Main Street, Pie Town, New Mexico, 1940. Creator: Russell Lee
Main Street, Pie Town, New Mexico. [Signs: Cafe; General Merchandise; store ]

General Merchandise store, Main Street, Pie Town, New Mexico, 1940. Creator: Russell Lee
General Merchandise store, Main Street, Pie Town, New Mexico. [Signs: Taxidermy; Cafe; General Merchandise; store ]

NEW MEXICO: PIE TOWN, 1940. Homesteader Jack Whinery repairing a fence in Pie Town, New Mexico. Photograh by Russell Lee, September 1940

SQUARE DANCE, 1940. Square dancing at home in Pie Town, New Mexico. Photograph, 1940, by Russell Lee

NEW MEXICO: PIE TOWN, 1940. Mr. Leatherman, homesteader, coming out of his dugout home in Pie Town, New Mexico. Photograph by Russell Lee, October 1940

COMMUNITY DINNER, 1940. A woman using a songbook as a shade at the all-day community sing in Pie Town, New Mexico. Photograph by Russell Lee, 1940

COMMUNITY DINNER, 1940. Men eating dinner at the all-day community sing in Pie Town, New Mexico. Photograph by Russell Lee, 1940

COMMUNITY DINNER, 1940. A couple eating dinner at the all-day community sing in Pie Town, New Mexico. Photograph by Russell Lee, 1940

COMMUNITY DINNER, 1940. Men and women serving themselves dinner at the all-day community sing in Pie Town, New Mexico. Photograph by Russell Lee, 1940

NEW MEXICO: PIE TOWN. A temporary shack in Pie Town, New Mexico. Photograph by Russell Lee, 1940

NEW MEXICO: MEN, 1940. Men outside a church during the community sing in Pie Town, New Mexico. Photograph by Russell Lee, 1940

NEW MEXICO: HOMESTEADER. Mrs. Caudill and her daughter carrying household equipment to their new dugout in Pie Town, New Mexico. Photograph by Russell Lee, 1940

NEW MEXICO: HOMESTEADER. Dragging a log from an old dugout to be used in building a new dugout in Pie Town, New Mexico. Photograph by Russell Lee, 1940

NEW MEXICO: HOMESTEADER. The temporary camp of the Caudill family while they move their dugout in Pie Town, New Mexico. Photograph by Russell Lee, 1940

NEW MEXICO: CHURCH, 1940. The church in Pie Town, New Mexico. Photograph by Russell Lee, 1940

HARVESTING CORN, 1940. Harvesting corn in Pie Town, New Mexico. Photograph by Russell Lee, 1940

DUGOUT AND GARDEN, 1940. Jack Whinerys dugout home and garden in Pie Town, New Mexico. Photograph by Russell Lee, 1940

FARMING, 1940. A homesteader turning up pinto beans in Pie Town, New Mexico. Photograph by Russell Lee, 1940

HOMESTEADER, 1940. Faro Caudill drawing water from his well in Pie Town, New Mexico. Photograph, 1940

FARMING, 1940. Harvesting corn in Pie Town, New Mexico. Photograph by Russell Lee, 1940

HOMESTEADER, 1940. A homesteader shooting hawks that have been carrying away his chickens in Pie Town, New Mexico. Photograph by Russell Lee, 1940

FARMING, 1940. A homesteader tending to bean plants in Pie Town, New Mexico. Photograph by Russell Lee, 1940

FARMING, 1940. A homesteader tending to cauliflower plants in Pie Town, New Mexico. Photograph by Russell Lee, 1940

FARMING, 1940. A homesteader in a field of cabbages in Pie Town, New Mexico. Photograph by Russell Lee, 1940

HOMESTEADER FAMILY, 1940. Homesteader Jack Whinery and his family, Pie Town, New Mexico. Photograph by Russell Lee, 1940

FARMER, 1940. A farmer in Pie Town, New Mexico. Photograph by Russell Lee, 1940

ADOBE HOUSE, 1940. A woman in an adobe house in Pie Town, New Mexico. Photograph by Russell Lee, 1940

ADOBE HOUSE, 1940. A fireplace in an adobe house in Pie Town, New Mexico. Photograph by Russell Lee, 1940

NEW MEXICO: HOUSE, 1940. A log privy on a homesteaders property in Pie Town, New Mexico. Photograph by Russell Lee, 1940

NEW MEXICO: HOUSE, 1940. Jack Whinerys daughter washing her hands in the family s
NEW MEXICO: HOUSE, 1940. Jack Whinerys daughter washing her hands in the familys dugout in Pie Town, New Mexico. Photograph by Russell Lee, 1940

ADOBE HOUSE, 1940. A homesteader and his wife in their adobe house in Pie Town, New Mexico. Photograph by Russell Lee, 1940

HOMESTEADERS, 1940. A group of women with a goat in Pie Town, New Mexico. Photograph by Russell Lee, 1940

HOMESTEADERS, 1940. Homesteaders in Pie Town, New Mexico. Photograph by Russell Lee, 1940

NEW MEXICO: HOME, 1940. Mrs. Caudill and her daughter in their dugout in Pie Town, New Mexico. Photograph by Russell Lee, 1940

NEW MEXICO: DUGOUT, 1940. John Adams stacking up pinon poles taken from the dugout being torn down in Pie Town, New Mexico. Photograph by Russell Lee, 1940

FEEDING CHICKENS, 1940. A boy feeding chickens in Pie Town, New Mexico. Photograph by Russell Lee, 1940

WASHING MACHINE, 1940. Mrs. Hutton using an electric washing machine in Pie Town, New Mexico. Photograph by Russell Lee, 1940

HOMESTEADER, 1940. Mr. Leatherman driving two burros and a cart in Pie Town, New Mexico. Photograph by Russell Lee, 1940

GARDENING, 1940. Mrs. Caudill pouring water into holes before planting cabbage in Pie Town, New Mexico. Photograph by Russell Lee, 1940

MUSICIANS, 1940. A farmer and his brother playing music at home in Pie Town, New Mexico. Photograph by Russell Lee, 1940

MUSIC LESSONS, 1940. A homesteaders wife teaching music lessons in her home in Pie Town, New Mexico. Photograph by Russell Lee, 1940

NEW MEXICO: MEN, 1940. George Hutton, a farmer from Maud, Oklahoma, playing his homemade violin in Pie Town, New Mexico. Photograph by Russell Lee, 1940

NEW MEXICO: MEN, 1940. Homesteaders talking in Pie Town, New Mexico. Photograph by Russell Lee, 1940

NEW MEXICO: FARMER, 1940. Jack Whinery grinding pinto beans into chicken feed in Pie Town, New Mexico. Photograph by Russell Lee, 1940

WELL WITCHING, 1940. A cowboy searching for water with a forked stick (dowsing or " water witching" ) in Pie Town, New Mexico. Photograph by Russell Lee, 1940

PUMPING WATER, 1940. A woman pumping water in Pie Town, New Mexico. Photograph by Russell Lee, 1940

NEW MEXICO: CHILDREN, 1940. Children playing with goats in Pie Town, New Mexico. Photograph by Russell Lee, 1940

NEW MEXICO: WOMEN, 1940. A homesteader serving chicken and dressing at a community dinner in Pie Town, New Mexico. Photograph by Russell Lee, 1940

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"Pie Town: A Glimpse into 1940s New Mexico" Step back in time to Main Street, Pie Town, New Mexico in the year 1940. Through the lens of photographer Russell Lee, we are transported to a small town filled with charm and community spirit. The General Merchandise store stands proudly on Main Street, its shelves stocked with essentials for the tight-knit population. Homesteader Jack Whinery can be seen diligently repairing a fence nearby, showcasing the hard work and determination that defined this era. But it wasn't all work and no play in Pie Town. Square dancing was a beloved pastime for residents who found joy in simple pleasures. The photograph captures an intimate gathering at home where locals twirled and laughed together. Mr. Leatherman emerges from his dugout - a testament to the resourcefulness of these pioneers as they carved out their lives amidst rugged landscapes. Meanwhile, during an all-day community dinner, one woman cleverly uses her songbook as shade against the scorching sun while men eagerly enjoy their meal. In another snapshot from this vibrant event, couples share moments over dinner while others serve themselves food from communal dishes. This display of unity highlights how everyone came together to support each other through good times and bad. Pie Town's temporary shacks were humble abodes that sheltered families striving for better lives. These structures symbolize resilience and hope amid challenging circumstances faced by many during this period. As day turns into evening, men gather outside a church during another community sing - voices raised in harmony under starry skies. These gatherings served not only as opportunities for spiritual connection but also as occasions for neighbors to bond over shared experiences. Pie Town may have been small in size but it was big on heart; a place where hard work met celebration and where people relied on each other like family. Thanks to Russell Lee's photographs capturing these precious moments frozen in time, we can still feel the warmth and spirit of this remarkable community.