Henry Fletcher (mayor)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Henry Fletcher | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 25th Mayor of Providence, Rhode Island | |
| In office January 1909 – January 1913 | |
| Preceded by | Patrick J. McCarthy |
| Succeeded by | Joseph H. Gainer |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 17, 1859 |
| Died | August 26, 1953 (aged 94) Barrington, Rhode Island, U.S. |
| Resting place | Swan Point Cemetery |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Hattie E. Bennett |
| Education | Scholfield's Commercial College |
| Occupation | Jeweler |
Henry Fletcher (January 17, 1859 – August 26, 1953) was the 25th mayor of Providence, Rhode Island.
Henry Fletcher was born in Birmingham, England, on January 17, 1859.[1] His family moved to New Jersey, United States, when Henry was a small boy.[1] By 1873, the family moved to Providence Rhode Island, where Henry attended public schools.[1] He studied at Scholfield's Commercial College,[1] a business school in Providence.
Henry Fletcher married Hattie E. Bennett in 1883.[1] She died in 1935.[1] Three sons outlived him: Henry B. Fletcher Sr; R. Leslie Fletcher, president of the Providence Gas Company; and Paul W. Fletcher. A fourth son, Col. Edward G. Fletcher, died shortly after World War II.[1]
Career
In 1881, Fletcher entered the jewelry industry, which was a large and important industry in Providence at the time. He partnered with Edward G. Burrows Jr. to form Fletcher Burrows and Co. Burrows died in 1893.[1] Fletcher was director of the Jewelers' Board of Trade.[2]
In 1898, Fletcher was elected as a Republican councilman from the Eighth Ward, then from 1901 to 1906 he represented the Seventh Ward.[1] He was president of the Board of Aldermen in 1908.[2]
In 1908, Fletcher defeated Democratic incumbent Patrick J. McCarthy to win the mayor's office.[1] He was re-elected in 1909, beating State Senator James H. Thurston. In 1910 he defeated Joseph E. Cole, and in 1911 he beat Joseph H. Gainer.[1] Fletcher ran again in 1912 and 1916, losing both times.[1] Subsequently, Fletcher retired from elective politics but remained active in the Republican Party.[1]
As mayor, Fletcher:
- Backed the construction of the Scituate Reservoir[1][2]
- Developed the Port of Providence[1]
- Acquired land for the municipal pier[1][2]
- Deepened Providence's harbor[1][2]
- Supported efforts to attract the business of the Fabre Line, a steamship company which brought thousands of European immigrants to Providence.[3]
- In 1911, in response to rising traffic fatality rates, Fletcher introduced new laws meant to deal with the chaos on Providence city streets. This was at a time when the automobile was new, and traffic was a vexing problem.[4]
In 1921 Fletcher sold his jewelry business and retired.[1] He maintained residences in Florida and New Hampshire as well as a summer home in Conimicut for many years.[1]
Fletcher was a 32nd degree mason.[1] He belonged to several organizations, including: the Providence Town Criers, the Providence Central Club, and the Providence Chamber of Commerce.[1] He was director of the Atlantic National Bank.[2]
