Joseph H. Gainer
Joseph Henry Gainer was an American politician who served as the 26th mayor of Providence, Rhode Island. He served seven terms, from 1913 until 1927.
Personal life
Joseph Henry Gainer was born January 18, 1878, in Providence. His parents, John and Margaret, were born in Ireland and settled in Providence's North End, where they operated a grocery store. Gainer's father died when he was four, and three of his four brothers died in infancy.Gainer graduated from LaSalle Academy in 1896. He received his bachelor's degree from the College of the Holy Cross in 1899. He went on to earn a law degree from the The [Catholic University of America|Catholic University of America] in 1902, and passed the Rhode Island bar examination the same year.
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.
Gainer married Christina McPherson of Quincy, Massachusetts, on April 22, 1915. They had two daughters, Christine and Margaret, and a son, Joseph. They lived on the East Side of Providence at 55 Grotto Avenue for 30 years.
Gainer was a Roman Catholic, and member of St. Sebastian's Parish.
Political career
Gainer was elected to the Providence School Committee in 1902. Two years later, he was elected councilman, then in 1908 he became alderman. In 1912, he lost the mayor's race against Republican incumbent Henry Fletcher by only 95 votes. Running again in 1913, Gainer this time defeated Fletcher by 400 votes. At age 34, Gainer was the youngest person elected mayor in Providence history at the time.In 1916, Gainer was a delegate to the 1916 Democratic National Convention. By 1918, Gainer was so broadly popular with both Republicans and Democrats that he ran for the mayor's office unopposed. He was said to be one of the most popular public officials who ever held office in the state.
Gainer ran a Progressivism in [the United States|progressive] administration during World War I. Some notable events during this time:
- A new city water supply project was developed, at $15 million cost
- The Scituate Reservoir was completed
- Expansion of the port was completed
- Providence City Hall was remodeled and beautified
- Formerly barren Exchange Place was redesigned
- The school system was modernized, and several schools were built including Commercial High School
- City playgrounds were expanded
- The unusually cold winter of 1917-1918 caused the Providence Harbor to freeze, along with water pipes across the city. A resulting coal shortage caused residents to be without heat; Gainer arranged an emergency coal delivery system.