Shary Building
Mission, Hidalgo County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Designed by San Antonio architect Harvey P. Smith, this two-story edifice was constructed of brick with white stone trimming and erected on the site of Mission founder John Conway's business offices. Intended to house the multi-firm organization of John H. Shary, known as "The Father of the Texas Citrus Industry," the structure was completed in 150 days by June 1939 and originally cost $40,000. A distinctive Spanish Colonial Revival design, the building contains many features of the Mexican Colonial style, such as its exposed tile roof with clipped eaves, similar to thatched roofs of Mexican domestic architecture. The concrete tiers of its first-story windows evoke the wrought iron brackets of Mexican balconies of the 19th century. Wrapped in native brick painted white, the building would insulate itself in Mission's humid climate until the late 1940s, when central air became practical. The 1979 addition of a "City Hall Room" was a one-story wing set back from the main elevation to blend with the original "L" shape. Dedicated to the community in 1939, the building became the offices of the City of Mission upon its sale by Shary's daughter and her husband, former Texas Governor Allan Shivers, in 1960. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1997
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Designed by San Antonio architect Harvey P. Smith and completed in just 150 days in 1939, this two-story building was raised on the site of Mission founder John Conway's offices to house the enterprises of John H. Shary, the "Father of the Texas Citrus Industry." Its Spanish Colonial Revival design borrows from Mexican domestic architecture, from the clipped-eave tile roof to window tiers evoking wrought-iron balconies. Sold in 1960 by Shary's daughter and her husband, former Governor Allan Shivers, it became Mission's city hall.
Why it matters
The building honors the man who built the Rio Grande Valley's citrus economy and stands as a graceful expression of the region's Mexican-influenced architectural heritage.
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Related people
- · Harvey P. Smith
- · John H. Shary
- · John Conway
- · Allan Shivers
Themes & tags
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