Joseph H. Gainer
Joseph H. Gainer | |
|---|---|
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| 26th Mayor of Providence, Rhode Island | |
| In office January 1913 – January 1927 | |
| Preceded by | Henry Fletcher |
| Succeeded by | James E. Dunne |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 18, 1878 Providence, Rhode Island, U.S. |
| Died | December 12, 1945 (aged 67) |
| Resting place | St. Francis Cemetery, Pawtucket |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | College of the Holy Cross (BA) Catholic University of America (LLB) |
| Signature |  |
Joseph Henry Gainer (January 18, 1878 – December 15, 1945)[1] was an American politician who served as the 26th mayor of Providence, Rhode Island. He served seven terms, from 1913 until 1927.
Personal life
[edit]Joseph Henry Gainer was born January 18, 1878, in Providence. His parents, John and Margaret (Keogh), were born in Ireland and settled in Providence's North End, where they operated a grocery store.[2] Gainer's father died when he was four, and three of his four brothers died in infancy.[2]
Gainer graduated from LaSalle Academy in 1896.[2][3] He received his bachelor's degree from the College of the Holy Cross in 1899.[2][3][4] He went on to earn a law degree from the Catholic University of America in 1902,[2] and passed the Rhode Island bar examination the same year.[3]
Gainer practiced law in Providence, at one time partnering with future congressman George F. O'Shaunessy and Edward G. Carr under the name O'Shaunessy, Gainer, and Carr.[3]
Gainer married Christina McPherson of Quincy, Massachusetts, on April 22, 1915.[2] They had two daughters, Christine and Margaret, and a son, Joseph.[5] They lived on the East Side of Providence at 55 Grotto Avenue for 30 years.[2][6]
Gainer was a Roman Catholic, and member of St. Sebastian's Parish.[7]
Political career
[edit]Gainer was elected to the Providence School Committee in 1902.[2] Two years later, he was elected councilman, then in 1908 he became alderman.[2] In 1912, he lost the mayor's race against Republican incumbent Henry Fletcher by only 95 votes.[2] Running again in 1913, Gainer this time defeated Fletcher by 400 votes.[2] At age 34, Gainer was the youngest person elected mayor in Providence history at the time.[2][3]
In 1916, Gainer was a delegate to the 1916 Democratic National Convention.[8] By 1918, Gainer was so broadly popular with both Republicans and Democrats that he ran for the mayor's office unopposed.[2][3] He was said to be one of the most popular public officials who ever held office in the state.[3]
Gainer ran a progressive administration during World War I. Some notable events during this time:
- A new city water supply project was developed, at $15 million cost[3]
- The Scituate Reservoir (begun under Fletcher) was completed[2]
- Expansion of the port was completed[2]
- Providence City Hall was remodeled and beautified[2][7]
- Formerly barren Exchange Place was redesigned[2]
- The school system was modernized,[9] and several schools were built including Commercial High School (now Central)[2]
- City playgrounds were expanded[2]
- The unusually cold winter of 1917-1918 caused the Providence Harbor to freeze, along with water pipes across the city.[9] A resulting coal shortage caused residents to be without heat; Gainer arranged an emergency coal delivery system.[3][9]
In 1924, Gainer fought Governor William S. Flynn for nomination to the U.S. Senate.[5] Flynn defeated Gainer, and city Democrats persuaded Gainer to run for re-election as mayor, winning a seventh term.[5] Two years later, in 1926, Gainer ran against incumbent Aram Pothier for Governor. Although Gainer carried Providence, his popularity was not enough to win the state; he lost the election by over 16,000 votes.[2] After losing this election, Gainer returned to his law practice,[2] having served a total of seven terms of office.[5]
Death and burial
[edit]Gainer was ill for several months before he died December 15, 1945, with his family by his side at his home.[5] He is buried at St. Francis Cemetery in Pawtucket.[2] He was inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame in 2014.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ "Rhode Island Deaths and Burials, 1802-1950". FamilySearch. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Conley, Patrick T. "Rhode Island Hall of Fame Honorees: Six Legal Luminaries" (PDF). Rhode Island Bar Journal. 63 (May/June 2015). Rhode Island Bar Association: 27–30. ISSN 1079-9230. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Bicknell, Thomas (1920). The history of the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. New York: The American Historical Society. pp. 348–349. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
- ^ Holy Cross College Bulletin. Worcester, Mass: College of the Holy Cross. 1906. p. 60. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
- ^ a b c d e "Joseph H. Gainer, Mayor 7 terms, Dies at age of 67". Providence, RI: The Providence Journal. 16 December 1645. p. 1.
- ^ PPS Records for 55 Grotto Avenue (PDF). Providence Preservation Society. Retrieved 17 Jan 2016.
- ^ a b c "Inductee details: Mayor Joseph Henry Gainer". Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
- ^ "Rhode Island Delegation to the 1916 Democratic National Convention". The Political graveyard. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
- ^ a b c "Mayors of the City of Providence". The City of Providence website. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 17 Jan 2016.
External links
[edit]- Joseph Gainer at Providence City website
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- 1878 births
- 1945 deaths
- 20th-century mayors of places in Rhode Island
- 20th-century Roman Catholics
- American people of Irish descent
- American Roman Catholics
- Catholics from Rhode Island
- Catholic University of America alumni
- College of the Holy Cross alumni
- La Salle Academy alumni
- Mayors of Providence, Rhode Island
- Rhode Island Democrats
- Rhode Island lawyers