THE LAY HOTEL
By Shirley Grammer

"On August 19, 1899, Judge F. M. Lay purchased Lot #2 in downtown La Vernia in the Wolf Addition. . .For many years he was proprietor of the Lay Hotel in La Vernia and was well known to traveling men who visited the territory. The hotel not only offered room and board to travelers but had a display room where "drummers" (salespeople) could show their wares to local merchants.  Judge Francis Marion Lay (also referred to as Squire Lay) was Justice of the Peace for almost 40 years and his courtroom (also referred to as the "La Vernia Courthouse") was adjacent to the hotel. . ."