Harry Mews
Encyclopedia
Henry George Reginald Mews (December 18, 1897- January 6, 1982) was the eighth mayor of St. John's, Newfoundland
and a political leader in the province.
He was born in St. John's, the son of Arthur Mews, a civil servant, and Mabel Woods, the daughter of Henry J. B. Woods
, who served in the provincial cabinet and was postmaster general from 1902 to 1914. Mews was educated at the Methodist College in St. John's and served as a lieutenant with the Newfoundland Regiment during World War I
. After his return, he worked with the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
in Ontario
. Mews contracted tuberculosis
and was treated in New York
state. He returned to St. John's in 1927.
An insurance company manager with the North American Life Assurance Company, Mews was first elected to St. John's city council in 1943 and was mayor from 1949 to 1965. He served as leader of the Progressive Conservative Party
when the colony joined Canadian Confederation
in 1949 and led the party in the 1949 provincial election
in May losing to Joey Smallwood
's Liberals
and failing to win a seat in the Newfoundland House of Assembly. He was elected mayor for the first time on November 8, 1949 and stepped down as provincial party leader soon after.
During Mews' tenure as mayor, the city undertook a slum-clearance program in its downtown and built public housing in various parts of the city. He also oversaw the creation of a large suburban development in the northeast of St. John's. In 1957, council created the St. John's Transportation Commission taking over the city's privately-owned bus system. During his term as mayor, the city had accumulated a substantial fund which was used for the construction of a new city hall in 1969.
Mews was married twice: to Vera Olga Sparling in 1926 and to Mary Summer in 1958.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
and a political leader in the province.
He was born in St. John's, the son of Arthur Mews, a civil servant, and Mabel Woods, the daughter of Henry J. B. Woods
Henry J. B. Woods
Henry John Bacon Woods was a merchant and political figure in Newfoundland. He represented Bay de Verde from 1889 to 1894, from 1895 to 1897 and from 1900 to 1902....
, who served in the provincial cabinet and was postmaster general from 1902 to 1914. Mews was educated at the Methodist College in St. John's and served as a lieutenant with the Newfoundland Regiment during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. After his return, he worked with the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company was founded in 1898 by Frank Seiberling. Goodyear manufactures tires for automobiles, commercial trucks, light trucks, SUVs, race cars, airplanes, farm equipment and heavy earth-mover machinery....
in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. Mews contracted tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
and was treated in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
state. He returned to St. John's in 1927.
An insurance company manager with the North American Life Assurance Company, Mews was first elected to St. John's city council in 1943 and was mayor from 1949 to 1965. He served as leader of the Progressive Conservative Party
Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador
For pre-1949 Conservative parties see Conservative parties in Newfoundland The Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador is a centre-right provincial political party in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Originally founded in 1949 the party has formed the Government of...
when the colony joined Canadian Confederation
Canadian Confederation
Canadian Confederation was the process by which the federal Dominion of Canada was formed on July 1, 1867. On that day, three British colonies were formed into four Canadian provinces...
in 1949 and led the party in the 1949 provincial election
Newfoundland general election, 1949
The 30th Newfoundland general election was held on 27 May 1949 to elect members of the 29th General Assembly of Newfoundland. It was the first general election held since Newfoundland joined Canadian confederation on 31 March 1949 and the first Newfoundland-wide election of any kind since the...
in May losing to Joey Smallwood
Joey Smallwood
Joseph Roberts "Joey" Smallwood, PC, CC was the main force that brought Newfoundland into the Canadian confederation, and became the first Premier of Newfoundland . As premier, he vigorously promoted economic development, championed the welfare state, and emphasized modernization of education and...
's Liberals
Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador
The Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador is a political party in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada and the provincial wing of the Liberal Party of Canada. It is the Official Opposition and currently holds six seats in the provincial legislature.-Origins:The party originated in...
and failing to win a seat in the Newfoundland House of Assembly. He was elected mayor for the first time on November 8, 1949 and stepped down as provincial party leader soon after.
During Mews' tenure as mayor, the city undertook a slum-clearance program in its downtown and built public housing in various parts of the city. He also oversaw the creation of a large suburban development in the northeast of St. John's. In 1957, council created the St. John's Transportation Commission taking over the city's privately-owned bus system. During his term as mayor, the city had accumulated a substantial fund which was used for the construction of a new city hall in 1969.
Mews was married twice: to Vera Olga Sparling in 1926 and to Mary Summer in 1958.
External links
- Baker, Melvin, St. John's Municipal Chairmen and Mayors, 1888-1988, Newfoundland Quarterly, Vol. LXXX1V, No. 1, Summer 1988, pp. 5–11.