In January 1965, Polk County's Judge Matthews appointed a small group called the Polk County Historical Survey Committee. This group felt that the development of a museum would be the best way to begin to preserve the County's history. They were given a small area in the County Courthouse basement where a large glass case for displays was donated by J. W. Cochran. Enthusiasm spread throughout the county and gifts and loans began to pour in. The First National Bank offered their conference room as a larger space and a secure place for collections and exhibits. Hundreds of pieces of old deeds, letters, documents and some diaries were contributed.

In this same year, Gertrude Blodgett Murphy, a great supporter of the Museum, died and in September, her generous bequest of $100,000 for a facility to house a library and a Museum was made known to the public.

Aline Rothe, a teacher, historian and native of Polk County wrote a book, Kalita's People and donated all proceeds to the building fund. Because of this and other generous gifts and donations, a building was purchased at 601 W. Church to serve as a library and museum.

It is interesting to note that when the new museum opened, Woody Amos, avid collector and new-comer to Polk County, loaned the Museum some authenticated pieces such as a candlebra set which was used in the White House during the Presidency of John Quincy Adams and a hand-painted medallion worn by Ms. Adams. These items would have been the envy of any museum in America.

The next 30 years passed all too quickly and the museum had grown well beyond its space. In 1996, Sechrest Bergman Webster donated her home at 514 W. Mill Street, Livingston, Texas to become the home of the Polk County Memorial Museum. The home was built in 1960 from brick from the Ursuline Academy in Galveston. The gardens were designed by landscape architect Pat Fleming. The grounds connect to the Heritage Park land previously given by Mrs. Webster to the Polk County Heritage Society.

Sechrest Bergman Webster