Cora Mae Applegate In 1899, Jennifer’s great-grandmother, Cora Mae Applegate bought the hotel, had her children there, and she ran it until 1966. Originally called “The Auditorium House,” the inn was one of many hotels to spring up one year after the town was founded in 1869. Cora Mae was quite a character; once the hotel filled up, she would make room for one more guest by renting out her bedroom... she would then sleep on a cot in the back of the lobby! Her favorite greeting to new arrivals was, “go on up and take any room that is open, we’re just camping out here!” Myrtle Davis, Cora Mae's daughter and Jennifer's ...