Merle Forest Doughty Sr. was an ice cream manufacturer, part of the Doughty Ice Cream Company of Providence, Rhode Island. Merle Sr. learned the trade from his father, Frank Nathan Doughty, an early ice cream maker in Providence. Merle Sr. apprenticed under his father in Providence until about 1921 when he opened his own ice cream plant at 24 Mechanic Street, Pawcatuck, Connecticut where he went into partnership with his future brother-in-law, George Thomas, creating the Doughty and Thomas Ice Cream Company. Merle met his future wife, Elsie Edna Thomas, in the neighboring town of Westerly, Rhode Island while scouting for a location to open his branch of the Doughty Ice Cream Company. Merle and Elsie were married in Fall River, Massachusetts and had five children, raising four sons to become responsible and productive adults. Unfortunately, their only daughter, Elsie May, lived only 14 months. After George Thomas left the firm, Merle Sr. relocated the ice cream plant to 6 Loudon Avenue in Pawcatuck. The Doughty Ice Cream Company in Pawcatuck went out of business about 1935 during the Great Depression. None of their sons continued in the ice cream making business.
Merle Forest Doughty Sr. was an ice cream manufacturer, part of the Doughty Ice Cream Company of Providence, Rhode Island. Merle Sr. learned the trade from his father, Frank Nathan Doughty, an early ice cream maker in Providence. Merle Sr. apprenticed under his father in Providence until about 1921 when he opened his own ice cream plant at 24 Mechanic Street, Pawcatuck, Connecticut where he went into partnership with his future brother-in-law, George Thomas, creating the Doughty and Thomas Ice Cream Company. Merle met his future wife, Elsie Edna Thomas, in the neighboring town of Westerly, Rhode Island while scouting for a location to open his branch of the Doughty Ice Cream Company. Merle and Elsie were married in Fall River, Massachusetts and had five children, raising four sons to become responsible and productive adults. Unfortunately, their only daughter, Elsie May, lived only 14 months. After George Thomas left the firm, Merle Sr. relocated the ice cream plant to 6 Loudon Avenue in Pawcatuck. The Doughty Ice Cream Company in Pawcatuck went out of business about 1935 during the Great Depression. None of their sons continued in the ice cream making business.
Family Members
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William Frank "Uncle Billy" Doughty
1877–1963
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Carrie Frances Doughty Baird
1879–1917
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Floyd Smith Doughty Sr
1880–1935
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Susie May Doughty Oehman
1883–1974
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Ethel Emma Doughty Brockhouse
1884–1948
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Mildred Freedom Doughty Welch
1889–1994
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Ada Foss Doughty Emery
1891–1986
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Royal Freemont Dewey Doughty
1898–1957
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