Garry & Sheffey was a prominent architectural firm from Bluefield, the largest city in southern West Virginia. The named partners were Martin J. Garry and Robert A. Sheffey, who established their partnership in 1920. The firm was active until 1941, and locally was second only to that of Alex. B. Mahood.
History and legacy The firm was founded sometime in the early 20th century as Pedigo & Garry, by Garry and Mack Henry Pedigo, a contractor. Pedigo & Garry was only the third architectural firm to be established in Bluefield, after the father-and-son office of W. E. & E. L. Shufflebarger and that of T. T. Carter. The partnership was dissolved in 1920, and Garry was briefly on his own before promoting Sheffey.American Architect 23 March 1921: 378. Boston. Garry retired in 1941, and the firm became Robert A. Sheffey, Architect."Robert A. Sheffey, A.I.A., Architect (firm)". . American Institute of Architects, n.d.
Garry & Sheffey and Pedigo & Garry are associated with the design of at least three properties individually placed on the National Register of Historic Places, and their works contribute to at least four more listed historic districts.
List of works Pedigo & Garry, to 1920 1909 - Joseph M. Sanders House, 117 Oakhurst Ave, Bluefield, West VirginiaManufacturers' Record 6 May 1909: 75. Baltimore. 1912 - Huff, Andrews & Thomas Warehouse, Princeton Ave, Bluefield, West VirginiaEngineering News 4 April 1912: 187. New York. Demolished. 1915 - Masonic Building (Former), 109 Wyoming St, Welch, West VirginiaBluefield (WV) Daily Telegraph 14 Dec. 1915: 2. 1915 - Scott Street Baptist Church, 600 Scott St, Bluefield, West VirginiaEngineering Record 20 Nov. 1915: 204. New York. 1917 - McNary & Johnson Building, 119 Wyoming St, Welch, West VirginiaAmerican Contractor 21 April 1917: 74. Chicago. 1919 - Beulah A. M. E. Church (Former), 901 Bland St, Bluefield, West VirginiaAmerican Contractor 5 July 1919: 76. 1919 - First National Bank Building, Center St, Iaeger, West VirginiaAmerican Contractor 12 July 1919: 61. Chicago.
Garry & Sheffey, 1920-1941 1921 - Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2005 Washington St, Bluefield, West VirginiaAmerican Contractor 4 June 1921: 69. Chicago. 1922 - Hotel Carter (Tyson Towers), 80 McDowell St, Welch, West VirginiaAmerican Contractor 1 July 1922: 60. Chicago. 1923 - Bailey Building, 704 Bland St, Bluefield, West VirginiaBluefield (WV) Daily Telegraph 19 May 1925: 2. 1924 - Bluefield Municipal Building (Former), 514 Bland St, Bluefield, West Virginia With Wilbur T. Mills of Columbus, Ohio.Municipal Building NRHP Nomination. 1979. 1925 - Mingo County Memorial Building, Logan St, Williamson, West VirginiaBluefield (WV) Daily Telegraph 25 Jan. 1925: 2. 1926 - Ramsey School, 300 Ramsey St, Bluefield, West VirginiaChambers, S. Allen. Buildings of West Virginia. Oxford University Press, 2004. 1927 - Elks Building, 405 Raleigh St, Bluefield, West VirginiaBluefield (WV) Daily Telegraph 19 Sept. 1926: 2. 1928 - E. W. Horton House, 615 Oakhurst Ave, Bluefield, West Virginia. http://www.bluefieldhistoricalsociety.org/. 2006. 1928 - Mercer County Memorial Building, 1500 W Main St, Princeton, West Virginia 1929 - Bland County Courthouse (Remodeling), 612 Main St, Bland, VirginiaManufacturers' Record 1929: 110. Baltimore. Most visibly, Garry & Sheffey added the building's portico. 1930 - Gordon C. Felts House, 404 N Main St, Galax, VirginiaFelts, Gordon C. House NRHP Nomination. 2000. 1930 - President's House, Bluefield State College, Bluefield, West VirginiaPresident's House, Bluefield State College NRHP Nomination. 1999. 1931 - Big Creek High School, Center St, War, West VirginiaAmerican School and University 1932: 427. Burned in 2015. 1931 - U. S. Post Office, 921 Mercer St, Princeton, West VirginiaBluefield (WV) Daily Telegraph. 20 Sept. 1931: 14. This building is now the Princeton Public Library. 1934 - Bramwell High School (Former), Bluestone Ave, Bramwell, West VirginiaBluefield (WV) Daily Telegraph 4 May 1934: 13. 1935- Sidney J. Kwass House, 730 Parkway Ave, Bluefield, West Virginia A rare local example of Art Deco design. 1936 - Concord Masonic Lodge, Main St, Athens, West VirginiaBluefield (WV) Daily Telegraph 2 June 1936: 8. 1941 - Marsh Library, Concord State Teachers College, Athens, West VirginiaAnnual Report: Audit of the Finances of the State of West Virginia. 1941.
Robert A. Sheffey, from 1941 1949 - Collins High (Middle) School, 601 Jones Ave, Oak Hill, West VirginiaReleigh Register (Beckley, WV) 6 April 1949: 4. 1951 - Science Hall, Concord College, Athens, West Virginia
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