DAVID ANDREW DORGAN

1893-1984

DAVID ANDREW DORGAN, born September 09, 1893 in Ballybraher, Ballycotton, County Cork, Ireland; died October 04, 1984 in Providence, RI 02905. He married Ellen (Helen) Margaret Doorley November 05, 1919; born October 09, 1897 in Providence, Rhode Island; died November 06, 1992 in North Providence, RI 02911.

David A. Dorgan owned and operated a Texaco station on Academy Avenue in Providence, RI for many years. He also operated Dorgan Printing at 61 Bergen Street in Providence, RI for 40 years. He was very active in Providence Democratic city politics. He was a councilman in the 5th Ward of Providence. He was the Chairman of the City Council, and as such, headed up the Tercentennial celebration of the founding of the city of Providence in 1936. There was a scandal surrounding this celebration which was reiterated in his obituary. Apparently, David and two associates billed the city of Providence $2600 for food and alcohol served at the celebration. According to his obituary, those bills at the Narragansett Hotel became one phase of an investigation into a $44,000 tercentenary deficit. David and his two associates ended up paying the bills themselves.

David was an aviator in World War I.  After the war, he was very involved with the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and the Ryan Post on the corner of Atwells and Academy Avenues in Providence. He was State Commander of the VFW and is partially responsible for bringing the Veterans Hospital to Davis Park in Providence, Rhode Island. A plaque bearing his name hangs on the wall in the lobby of that hospital.

DAVID ANDREW DORGAN AND UNKNOWN AVIATOR, WWI

 
1915 Rhode Island State Census lists David as a factory clerk who was out of work on April 15, 1915. At this time he was living with his father and mother, his brother, William and his sister, Mary at 125 Wayne Street in Providence, RI.

1925 Rhode Island State Census lists David as a Naturalized US citizen.

1925 Providence City Directory lists David as a partner in the Miller and Dorgan Company located at 679 Broadway.

1926 Providence City Directory lists David as living at 61 Bergen Street, Providence, RI.

1928 Providence City Directory lists David as a salesman with an office at 184 Broad Street.

1929 Providence City Directory lists David as the owner of a gas and oil service located at 233 Academy Avenue. He is also listed as a salesman with an office at 184 Broad Street.

1930 Providence City Directory lists David as the owner of a gas and oil service located at 233 Academy Avenue. He is also listed as the Deputy Commander of the VFW with an office at 72 Weybosset Street, Room 303.

The 1930 Census for RI says this about David:

Bergen Street, Providence City, Ward 10, Block 202, Providence Co., Rhode Island, ED # 4-110, page 22A
Dorgan, David, head, owns home worth $3500, age 37, married at age 27, born Irish Free State, parents born Irish Free State, emigrate 1895, occupation, accessory man, Auto Supply.
Helen, wife, age 32, married at age 22, born Rhode Island, parents born Irish Free State.
Doorley, James, father in law, age 22, single, born Irish free state, parents born Irish Free State.

In the Rhode Island Census of 1935 he listed himself as the Secretary of the Public Welfare Department with an office at the State House.