Addie (Adeline - meaning 'noble') MacKinnon Dickinson was an extraordinary person; second of '9' children; 6 girls and 3 boys.  Addie was born in Bridgewater, Maine, USA on September 6, 1890.  Her parents were Amos Norman Dickinson, born February 27, 1855 in Windsor, NB, Canada; a farmer, and Sarah MacKinnon, born November 29, 1864, in Stanley, NB, Canada; a home-maker and school teacher, married on December 18, 1886.  Her parents moved from New Brunswick, Canada to Bridgewater, Maine, USA in 1887. 

Addie graduated from High School (according to her daughter Doris).  A family story written about Norman and Sarah's family life mentions that ".... Addie left school in grade 4 in order to stay at home to help support her family ...."* and other families, possibly for a short period of time.  She must have returned to her schooling at some later point, because ............    

There is no doubt that Addie was adept with numbers and had a strong business sense.  This was likly obtained through her schooling and then placed into practice following the sale of the family farm in 1910 when Norman, Sarah and the remaining family moved to Houlton .  "There they leased 'The Cottage Hotel'.... .   About two years later they opened another boarding house in Island Falls ........ .  The hotel in Island Falls was not a success and was closed after a year, ...."* .  (under development). 

It is not clear what role that Addie played in the management of her parent's businesses, but it is most clear that she ultimately owned her own boarding house (see above photos; where she lived), a house and barn on Summer Street, Houlton where her parents Norman and Sarah lived, a house (called the 'little house') on Green Street, Houlton which she rented out and eventually lived in when she retired and a restaurant across the street from the boarding house.

She married Charles (Chas) Elton Alward, from Bridgewater, Maine on November 2, 1912 in .........., Maine.  While together they had '2' children, Muriel Grace Alward, born on October 10, 1915 and Doris Maxine Alward, born on November 30, 1921 in Houlton, Maine.  It is believed that Addie and Chas divorced while the '2' girls were very young.  Chas went on to marry again, while Addie continued to raise the girls on her own.  She, a single mother, raised the '2' girls while running her '2' successful businesses.  

Her two daughters, Muriel Grace and Doris Maxine, each went on to marry; Muriel married shortly after her high school graduation while Doris went on to complete a '2' year business program in Boston, Mass, then married.  Muriel had '2' children, Barbara Jean Daigle, born December 17, 1932 and Vilda Muriel Daigle, born June 8, 1937.  Doris had '2' children, Susan Parker Russell, born May 13, 1944 and Jane Muriel Russell, born October 27, 1947.(under development)

Addie died on January 11, 1955 in South Weymouth, Massachusetts.  She was buried in Bridgewater, Maine.

*... taken from the beautiful story 'LOVE FROM PHOEBE GRACE'

Children: Muriel Grace and Doris Maxine

Grand-Children: Barbara Jean Daigle, Vilda Muriel Daigle, Susan Parker Russell and Jane Muriel Russell

Great Grand-Children: Carla, Rodney, Lynn, Karen, Donna, Susan, Debbie, Jeff, Stephen, (under development) 

Great Great Grand-Children: (under developement)

Charles (Chas) Elton Alward was born in Havelock, Kings County, New Brunswick, Canada on April 28, 1888 and was the son of Mariner J. Alward and Ruby (Hicks) Alward of Kings County, New Brunswick, Canada. 

He was a Conductor on the New Hampshire/New York Railroad.

He died in New York, February 6, 1943. 

(see the below link to ...... ancestors.familysearch.org)