First of It’s Kind

First Municipally Owned Parking Building in the United States

The Welch Parking Garage is the first Municipally Owned Parking Building in the United States. Dedicated in September 1941 Mayor B.F. Howard, Hobart E. Payne, Clerk, Members of Council L.E. Rogers, H.D. Sly, R.B. Armentrout, John Gullet, W. H. Gannaway.

Albert A. Barley, ATT’Y

Hassel T. Hicks, Architect

Virgil Stowe, Contractor

Strategically located near the southern entrance to downtown, this four-level concrete parking structure helped alleviate Welch’s chronic congestion by providing spaces for 232 cars. Streamline-Moderne-style building was cutting edge when it opened on Sept. 1, 1941. JFK gave a speech in front of it in 1960. Renovated in 2005. You can still park your car in it today.

Address

59 McDowell Street

Welch, WV 24801