Lincoln County, New Mexico, in the late 19th century was a place where money and power went hand in hand, and those who held them ruled with an iron fist.

At the heart of this system was “The House,” a monopoly run by James Dolan and Lawrence Murphy. Their business, LG Murphy & Co., controlled everything from cattle sales to dry goods, banking, and even law enforcement.

If you wanted to do business in Lincoln County, you had to go through The House—or face the consequences.