In 1916, she met Dr. Samuel P. Fetter of Portsmouth, Ohio, while he was recovering from an illness in Palm Beach, Florida.

[2] Although Mayo wanted to build a new house, she could not due to rations set in place during World War I.

To avoid being arrested for building a new home, she received permission to remodel the existing house.

Using the wealth amassed from the Mayo Companies, she rebuilt the entire building, transforming it into a 17,000 sq ft (1,579 m2) Beaux-Arts mansion.

[3] Much of the interior, including the tile and marble was taken from her and her first husband's other home, also known as Mayo Mansion, in Paintsville, Kentucky.