Ranching has long been a way of life in these hills, where steep terrain and scarce water have favored cattle grazing over cultivation of water-intensive crops. The region once formed part of the vast Mexican Rancho Canada del Hambre y las Bolsas, where Spanish longhorns grazed far and wide. In 1867, Crockett pioneer Thomas Edwards settled the area, and his six children helped produce milk, chickens, and eggs for a growing community. The surviving buildings were built by dairyman Thomas Murphy in the early 1900s. The Milk House was used for separation of milk, butter, and cream, and its concrete ceiling and walls kept dairy products cool. The horse and hay barn, with gabled roof and board/batten siding, is one of the last of its era.