The first two rooms of this building were constructed sometime between 1878 and 1886. William Rosenthal & Company acquired the building about 1888 as a residence for their employee Charles Beljean and his wife. Beljean, a native of Switzerland, managed the former Tunstall Store for the firm. Several rooms were added to the Watson House between 1888 and 1903 when Dr. Thomas W. Watson, a native of Nova Scotia, and his wife, Virginia, purchased the property. They lived in the east rooms and installed a drug store in the west room. The Watsons moved to Carrizozo in 1914 and sold this house to Dr. John R. Neal and his wife Pearl in 1920. Dr. Watson’s neighbor and friend, Dr. Earl Woods, kept the drug store open for Dr. Neal and himself until 1922.