The Old Stone Ranch built by Captain Newton C. Given in 1856, was still on the outside border of civilization when the Barber Watkins Reynolds family moved into it in 1866. The photos included are a tribute to Watkins Reynolds Matthews whose family has remained the owners ever since. Watt Matthews was a steward of the land, and a leader in the preservation of the history, the structures and the legend of the opening of Western Texas. The comments accompanying the photos come from his mother's amazing book, "Interwoven" that recounts her life in early Texas and the founding of Lambshead. Sallie Reynolds Matthews was born in 1861 and came to the 'frontier' at age five, Watt Matthews was born at Lambshead in 1899, it was a rare privelage to have known him.

Wallace H. Craig
Midland, Texas



 
Memorial Marker Stone Ranch  Memorial Marker
Stone Ranch
Placed by the heirs of the founding families of Lambshead. The marker honors Watt Matthews and others for their vision in preserving the history of Lambshead and in restoring many of the original structures. Many of the early homes are complete with furniture of the period and family keepsakes and mementos.
   
 Stone Ranch Buildings
Built 1856		 Stone Ranch
"The main building consisted of only two rooms with a fireplace in each room, and a wide hall between with heavy double doors of oak opening on both north and south. The hall was made into a bedroom by closing one side. One room had a plank floor; the other room and the hall were flagged with stone. On the north side was a detached building with two rooms, one with a fireplace."

Sallie Matthews Reynolds, 1866
   
Corral at the Stone Ranch

 The Stone Ranch Corral
Built Ca. 1856
"The place where we went (Stone Ranch) had been built by Capt. Newton C. Given who was with the Army and had been stationed at Camp Cooper. He established this place in 1856 while the fort was being constructed. The shingles, sashes, doors and such for this ranch house as well as for the fort were hauled from San Antonio, a distance of more that 300 miles."

From "Interwoven"
   
Barber Watkins Reynolds House
Built 1876
 Barber Watkins Reynolds house
 "He was having a comfortable stone house built in a bend of the river, where it curved around at the foot of a rugged bluff on the north making a very attractive seting for a home. The house was small without a suspicion of any architectural design, built in an "L" plan with living room, a combined kitchen and dining room, and a small bedroom on the lower floor. There were three bedrooms upstairs, the stairway going up in the kitchen, and there were three fireplaces and one closet. We came out before it was finished and lived in a tent until the house was ready"
Sallie Reynolds Matthews
More Views of Lambshead  Go To History of Lambshead
   
"The life of these early settlers was a nomadic sort, for in those days no one owned any land. The county was a virgin wilderness with plenty of lush grass, and the rancher moved his herd at will when he felt the need for fresh pasture."
Sally Matthews Reynolds, "Interwoven"