PREFACE

This book is written to preserve in memory many things that concern the family of Joseph William Alexander Stewart and his wife, Mary Ann McGinn. It is called The Stewarts of Dwight for two reasons, the one being that the summer home at Dwight - Alderside - has become the natural center of family life for the members who are scattered far and wide. The other reason is that a large part of what follows concerns directly the family life at Alderside as it was known and enjoyed for many, many summer seasons. The living members of the family have nothing in common so much as that. The last great family reunion at Dwight brought fifty-two together out of a possible seventy-five.

It should be noted that the story part of the book fittingly ends with the death of J. W. A. Stewart, for Alderside was his house - mostly his creation. It is the only house he ever owned and always, while he lived, he was master of it. When he was gone its possession fell to two of his sons, and while it is occupied for part of the season, at least, almost every summer by members of the family, no one occupying it any longer can claim to be head of the family.

While the chapters of the book cannot claim a precise and necessary continuity or necessary relationship, nevertheless, the book grew up in a natural sort of way. In the beginning all that was intended was a record of amusing or interesting stories that one or another or all of the family recalled from Dwight summer experiences. But as these stories - gathered in the chapter entitled "Dwight Lore"- were all related to Dwight, it seemed fitting to say something about the community itself. Hence the chapter entitled "Dwight." Further, the question arises, what was the family experience from which these stories are culled? The answer is found in the chapter called "Alderside Summers". The family, however, spread out as different members married, and in the end Alderside did not stand alone, in fact there came to be nine cottages at Dwight built by Stewarts, so there is a chapter that is called "The Cottages". If one asks why the Stewarts ever went to Dwight the reason appears in the beautiful little white church, brought into being by the missionary efforts of our grandfather, the Reverend Alexander Stewart. He brought his son to participate in the dedication in 1887, and.ever since, the church has been a center of family interest. So there must be a chapter on "The Church". All that remains to be told is summed up in a final chapter entitled "Family Material". Here one may find who these Stewarts are, where they came from, some things about the individual members that should not be forgotten, and something of their connections.

The whole undertaking has had in view the edification and delectation of the author, and the entertainment and instruction of those who may read what is contained herein - especially the oncoming generation which arrived too late to participate in most of what is here described.

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