Thelma A. Webber was born October 7, 1906, in Knowels, NM, to John William and Nellie Eller Taylor.John William moved to the area from Texas in 1893 when he was sixteen years old to look for work.As a second generation pioneer to the area (Lea County was not formed until 1917), Thelma had a respect for the land, the work, and the people.At the time when Thelma was born very few families had settled in the area but the Enlarged Homestead Act of 1909, granting farmers 320 acres of land, brought many more families to southeastern New Mexico.During this time the cattlemen, sheep herders, and homesteaders were all vying for land, animals, and most importantly water.Through the early years of violence, sickness and death, and other hardships of pioneer life, Thelma persevered and married James Virgil Linam on December 25, 1921.Thelma and Virgil raised both cattle and buffalo and even after Virgil’s death in December 1959 Thelma and her daughters, Bruce Alene and Alta Faye, operated the ranch and kept the buffalo until 1978.Besides ranching, both Thelma and Virgil had a passion for preserving history.For a long time they had kept sentimental items in their attic, barn, and garage, but in November 1959 Virgil began planning for a fireproof building where they could store all their keepsakes.After Virgil’s death, Thelma focused on running the ranch and made no advances on the would-be museum until, by happenstance, she met a man who was willing to do some stonework.In 1962 the building was completed.