First, an apology for printing the wrong name in the August article. Bob Lair was Kingston’s inventor and gas station owner. Bert Lahr was the Cowardly Lion in the Wizard of Oz.

This month we are celebrating two businesses that occupied the same site in downtown Kingston for long periods of time.

The black and white snapshot is of Alfie Williams. It was taken in July 1968. She is standing in front of her beauty shop, now the Coffee Exchange. She began working for an earlier shop owner and then purchased the shop and building when the former owner moved to a new uptown location.

Alfie owned and operated the shop for more than 30 years. She died shortly after her 94th birthday in June of this year. At her memorial service held on July 31, several Kingstonites related fond memories of their visits to Alfie in her shop; at the Williams family farm on Port Gamble Road, and her last home in the Times Square Apartments.

The Coffee Exchange has been open and operating here for more than 20 years. They roast their own premium coffee on site and sell to many regulars every day. They also sell fresh baked goods every day and iced treats especially in the summer.

This column is brought to you by the Kingston Historical Society. Historical photo submissions are gladly accepted.

The society meets at 10 a.m. at the Kingston Community Center of the fourth Wednesday of the month.

Its members enjoy sharing their memories and pictures of the past.

You can reach us at PO Box 333, Kingston, WA 98346. Harriet Muhrlein, President (360) 297-2448.

— Harriet Muhrlein