Harry Mews

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Henry G. R. (Harry) Mews (December 18, 1897- January 6, 1982) was a long-time mayor of St. John's, Newfoundland and a political leader in the province.

An insurance company manager, 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.[1] He was elected mayor for the first time on November 8, 1949 and stepped down as provincial party leader soon after.[2]

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.[2]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Jack Higgins: Newfoundlander Through and Through, Memorial University archives
  2. ^ a b Baker, Melvin, St. John's Municipal Chairmen and Mayors, 1888-1988, Newfoundland Quarterly, Vol. LXXX1V, No. 1, Summer 1988, pp. 5-11.

[edit] External links

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