Shary, John, Building
Also known as: Mission City Hall
Why it's listed
Completed in 1939 at 900 Doherty in Mission, Texas, this two-story brick office building was built as headquarters for citrus grower and land developer John Shary. San Antonio architect Harvey P. Smith, known for restoring Spanish missions, designed it in a Spanish Colonial Revival style with Mediterranean details, including a broken scroll pediment over the entry and a tile roof. Local contractor J.E. Walsh built it for about $40,000. Shary's irrigation, land, citrus processing and mortgage companies, along with the Texas Citrus Fruit Growers Exchange, worked from its offices. Shary is often called the Father of the Texas Citrus Industry, and the building is the best surviving representation of his enterprises in Mission. A 1996 survey found it to be the only historic office building among 128 commercial buildings in the city. The Shary estate sold it to the city in 1960, and it has served as City Hall since. A one-story addition from 1979 sits set back at the rear.
Significance in brief: The building was the headquarters of John Shary's many citrus, irrigation and land businesses, and Shary is regarded as the father of the Texas citrus industry. It is significant locally under Criteria A and B for agriculture and commerce. It is also significant under Criterion C as an uncommon, architect-designed 1930s office building with Spanish Colonial Revival and Mediterranean influences.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 02000907, listed August 30, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 900 Doherty, Mission |
|---|---|
| County | Hidalgo County |
| Listed | August 30, 2002 |
| Reference number | 02000907 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1939-1952 |
| Architect / builder | Smith, Harvey P. (Architect); J.E. Walsh (Builder) |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Mission/Spanish Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently in use as Mission City Hall; the city bought it in 1960 and added a one-story annex in 1979. The building retains a high degree of integrity. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 26.21498, -98.32401 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 02000907.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107318930
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.