Garry & Sheffey

Garry & Sheffey

Company type	Private
Industry	Architecture
Founded	1920
Founder	Martin J. Garry, Robert A. Sheffey
Defunct	1941
Fate	Martin J. Garry retired; firm continued as Robert A. Sheffey, Architect
Headquarters	Bluefield , United States
Area served	Southern West Virginia

Garry & Sheffey stood as a prominent architectural enterprise headquartered in Bluefield, the principal city in southern West Virginia. Established in 1920 by Martin J. Garry alongside Robert A. Sheffey, the firm remained active until 1941 and was considered second in local stature only to Alex. B. Mahood.

History and legacy

The firm initially began as Pedigo & Garry, a collaboration between Garry and builder Mack Henry Pedigo, marking Bluefield's third architectural practice following W. E. & E. L. Shufflebarger and T. T. Carter. This partnership dissolved in 1920, after which Garry briefly practiced independently before forming a partnership with Sheffey. Upon Garry’s retirement in 1941, the business continued under the name Robert A. Sheffey, Architect.

Both Garry & Sheffey and Pedigo & Garry were responsible for designing at least three structures individually recognized on the National Register of Historic Places and also contributed designs to four historic districts.

Pedigo & Garry, until 1920

• 1909 - Joseph M. Sanders House, 117 Oakhurst Ave, Bluefield, West Virginia
• 1912 - Huff, Andrews & Thomas Warehouse, Princeton Ave, Bluefield, West Virginia (no longer standing)
• 1915 - Former Masonic Building, 109 Wyoming St, located in the Welch, West Virginia
• 1915 - Scott Street Baptist Church, 600 Scott St, Bluefield, West Virginia
• 1917 - McNary & Johnson Building, 119 Wyoming St, Welch, West Virginia
• 1919 - Former Beulah A. M. E. Church, 901 Bland St, Bluefield, West Virginia
• 1919 - First National Bank Building on Center St, Iaeger, West Virginia

Garry & Sheffey, 1920-1941

• 1921 - Westminster Presbyterian Church at 2005 Washington St, Bluefield, West Virginia
• 1922 - Hotel Carter (also known as Tyson Towers), located at 80 McDowell St, Welch, West Virginia
• 1923 - Bailey Building at 704 Bland St, Bluefield, West Virginia
• 1924 - Former Bluefield Municipal Building at 514 Bland St, Bluefield, West Virginia
  • Designed in partnership with Wilbur T. Mills from Columbus, Ohio
• 1925 - Mingo County Memorial Building on Logan St, Williamson, West Virginia
• 1926 - Ramsey School situated at 300 Ramsey St, Bluefield, West Virginia
• 1927 - Elks Building at 405 Raleigh St, Bluefield, West Virginia
• 1928 - E. W. Horton House located at 615 Oakhurst Ave, Bluefield, West Virginia
• 1928 - Mercer County Memorial Building at 1500 W Main St, Princeton, West Virginia
• 1929 - Remodeling of Bland County Courthouse at 612 Main St, Bland, Virginia
  • Featured the addition of a distinguished portico
• 1930 - Gordon C. Felts House at 404 N Main St in Galax, Virginia
• 1930 - President's House on the campus of Bluefield State College in Bluefield, West Virginia
• 1931 - Big Creek High School on Center St in War, West Virginia
  • Destroyed by fire in 2015
• 1931 - U.S. Post Office located at 921 Mercer St in Princeton, West Virginia
  • Currently functions as the Princeton Public Library
• 1934 - Former Bramwell High School on Bluestone Ave in Bramwell, West Virginia
• 1935 - Sidney J. Kwass House at 730 Parkway Ave in Bluefield, West Virginia
  • Recognized locally as a prime example of Art Deco design
• 1936 - Concord Masonic Lodge on Main St in Athens, West Virginia
• 1941 - Marsh Library at Concord State Teachers College (now Concord University) in Athens, West Virginia

Robert A. Sheffey, from 1941

• 1949 - Collins High (Middle) School, located at 601 Jones Avenue, Oak Hill, West Virginia
• 1951 - Science Hall at Concord College, situated in Athens, West Virginia