36) Thomas Henry Lewis: Elected mayor for the City of Welland in 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944 & 1945

Vital statistics

Birth: April 11, 1898 at London, England

Death: September 11, 1949 at Welland, Ontario, Canada (age 51)

Burial place: Woodlawn Cemetery (Find a Grave)

Parents: Francis William / Catherine (née Williams)

Spouse: Geneva (née Beamer)

Children: Sheila / Margaret

Occupation: Mason contractor

Religion: Anglican

Political affiliation: Progressive-Conservative

Community affiliations: Orient Lodge / Copestone Lodge / Sons of England / Welland Board of Trade / Canadian Legion / Niagara Parks Board / Niagara Falls Illumination Board /

Profile

Thomas Henry (Harry) Lewis was born on April 11, 1898 in a suburb of London, England to Francis and Catherine Lewis. His parents immigrated the family to Canada and they first lived in Galt, then moved to Hamilton where Thomas (hereafter referred to as Harry as he was best known) received his education. The family then moved to Port Robinson where Harry apprenticed with his father in the plastering trade. This became his career trade, and he began his own stuccoing and plastering business in 1923. He was an executive in his business but he also worked with his help, and set the pace of work. He combined “speed and expert craftsmanship and his work was in such demand that his crews ranged all over Welland county and into distant fields.” At Cornell University and the United Office skyscraper as two farther flung examples, but also Niagara Falls, N.Y., Huntsville, and Port Colborne. One of the last jobs he worked on in Welland was a high-scaffolding project at the Capitol Theatre auditorium at 88 East Main Street. “Display signs weren’t needed to identify a plastering or stuccoing gang under the direction of Harry Lewis. Anyone coming within 100 yards of a job would hear an old refrain or the latest hit being vocalized, with all the stops pulled, by the head of the firm. He loved his work and his songs radiated from the enjoyment he derived from honest toil.”

Harry’s record with the municipality is in many ways unmatched. He first ran for councillor (alderman) in 1933, and was elected seven straight years, his reputation and popularity ever increasing. In 1940 he decided to run for mayor against the popular John R. Joyce and defeated the incumbent, nearly doubling his opponents vote total. He would be elected as mayor for an unprecedented six times in a row from 1940 to 1945, WWII’s end, making him Welland’s WWII mayor, and the result was getting elected to council thirteen straight times. The streak was only broken because he set his sights on Ontario Parliament, which he was elected to as a Progressive-Conservative (though many in Welland said he could have been elected as Welland’s MPP for any party he chose). He was in office from 1945 to 1948 (later, his six straight mayoral elections was beaten only by Allan Ernest Pietz, who won seven straight elections for mayor between 1965 and 1978).

As mentioned, Harry was Welland’s WWII mayor: “It fell his lot to head Welland’s municipal government through the years of the Second World War. That meant all patriotic and home front endeavors required his leadership. He fulfilled all these demands unstintingly and as co-chairman for Welland county in war loan drives he labored unceasingly to help keep the city and the county among the country’s top subscribers.” It was also said that as hostilities in WWII continued “he was an energetic leader in various endeavors, particularly the Victory Loan campaigns, when his unremitting devotion to the cause, his optimism and perseverance were an inspiration to the people. His keen interest in the welfare of men and women in the Armed Forces never flagged – an interest which was carried over to the postwar years.” Here’s text from one of his public speeches about those fallen in war defending Canada, from Civic Decoration Day services at Chippawa Park on June 21, 1942: “These have left us a torch to carry, the torch of freedom and liberty. We must do our best, whether it be on the farm, in the factory or in the forces, or lending the government our money, or making a contribution toward some war service that will help make the lot of the forces a little better.”

In his seven years as alderman, six as mayor, and three as a member of Ontario legislature, his home at 41 Margery Road was described as a crossroads; ie. very busy. “Anyone who came to him with a problem received the maximum in consideration. Harry Lewis never bothered the middlemen in handling problems that were entrusted to him. He invariably sought out the top administrator and as a result obtained swift action.”

To provide a bit more information on his character, not only was he a lover of music, as mentioned above, but he had an innate musical ability and could play the violin or piano expertly within only a couple lessons. When he was young he had formed a team with Tommy Pattenden in a concert and revue vocal duo that was in great demand. It’s also very important to mention his love of sport, which he enjoyed playing but was also an ardent booster of as a civic administrator. Indeed, what may be considered his greatest civic accomplishment was the erection of the $250,000 Welland-Crowland arena (currently known as the LIV Communities Arena). It was an ambitious project, especially as construction work was handicapped by wartime shortages, and endless problems kept presenting themselves, and so it required judicious coordination of public and private funds and effort. As chairman of the organization tasked with building the arena, Harry persevered and kept the objective always before him. There was no one prouder than him when he opened the large, modern arena in the official ceremony on January 26, 1948. The arena has served as Welland’s main hockey rink since 1948, an incredible 78 years where it has enriched the lives of Wellanders, with Harry deserving much of the credit for his efforts and foresight.

His political career could have lasted much longer and he could have accomplished much more, but tragically his health worsened due to diabetes and Banti disease. He died at his home at 41 Margery Road on September 11, 1949, he was only 51 years old. Suffice to say, the shock and grief of the community was immense, and his funeral was packed with mourners and the floral offerings swamped the funeral chapel.

In his memoriam, the current mayor Harry Diffin said that Lewis “was a ‘doer’ and Welland benefitted a great deal from his initiative and high sense of public duty.” An editorial in the paper summed his character up, saying that he had the “staunch British qualities which make for success. He was a hale fellow well met, but beneath his urbanity and friendliness were the solid characteristics which compounded a determination to accomplish what he set his mind to do. Welland may not see his like again… Harry Lewis will be remembered as a man who gave color and accomplishment to a period when Welland was “growing up.” He has helped to make this city more mature than he found it, displaying vision and enthusiasm which should be an inspiration to public men in the community for generations to come.”

Sources

“Devoted Servant Of Public, Harry Lewis Passes Away At 51.” Welland-Port Colborne Evening Tribune, September 12, 1949.
“Many Join In Final Tribute To Harry Lewis.” Welland-Port Colborne Evening Tribune, September 15, 1949.
“Memories Of Fallen Bring Duty To Fore.” Welland-Port Colborne Evening Tribune, June 22, 1942.
“Native of England.” Welland-Port Colborne Evening Tribune, January 2, 1940.
“T. Harry Lewis Gave Unstinted Service To His City.” Welland-Port Colborne Evening Tribune, September 12, 1949.