History paid forward

“Almost 25 years ago we were called together as a family by our mother and father … to discuss the future of our beloved home,” Mary Helen Ratje, daughter of Mary Daniels Taylor and J. Paul Taylor, said at a Nov. 7 reception in Mesilla. The family “decided to pay it forward and see how it could be shared with our beloved Mesilla community and our state,” Ratje said.

A quarter-century later, with six of the seven children in attendance and the memories of their parents filling the space, The Taylor-Mesilla Historic Site, now part of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, officially opened its doors to the public. The grand opening was Saturday, Nov. 8, as long lines of visitors participated in guided tours of the home the Taylor family shared for more than 60 years.

“We had wonderful parents who understood what giving back was and they instilled in us a sense of responsibility to share that with others,” Ratje said.

The site, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, includes the Taylor home and two historic storefronts. The Reynolds Store next door houses the Taylor-Mesilla visitors center. The Barela Store, on the other side of the home, is now a gift shop operated by the nonprofit Friends of the Taylor-Mesilla Historic Site.  

“The grand opening of the Taylor-Mesilla Site was simply stunning and flawless in the planning details,” said Friends President Heather Pollard. “The Taylor family has given Mesilla and the Borderlands a tremendous gift of historic preservation of their family home. The Barela Store Gift Shop promises to support the site with an amazing array of marvelous merchandise. NMDCA staff, both here and in Santa Fe, should be very proud of the efforts they have made to complete this site, and our legislators need to take a bow.”

All of the Taylor children were part of that discussion a quarter-century ago about donating the home, and six of the seven – Mary Helen, Robert, Dolores, Mike, Pat and Rosie – were part of the grand opening. Their late brother, John, was “here in spirit with his wife and family representing him,” Ratje said. Mary Daniels Taylor died in 2007. J. Paul Taylor continued to live in the family home until his death, at age 102, in 2023.

“The opening of the Taylor Historic Site marks a new chapter for Mesilla, one that strengthens community pride, expands cultural tourism, and ensures that the legacy of the families who built Mesilla continues to inspire future generations,” said Mesilla mayor Russell Hernandez, part of a multi-generational Mesilla family. “This historic property will serve as a window into the town’s past—honoring the stories, architecture, and traditions that shaped our community. Through partnerships with NMDCA, local historians, and dedicated residents, the site will become a living space for education, preservation, and shared history.”

The site is open 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday. For more information, call 575-202-1638. Tickets for guided and self-guided tours of the Taylor home will soon be on sale at the Reynolds Store Visitors Center.  

The gift shop is open 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday. For more information about the gift shop, email friends.taylormesilla@gmail.com.