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If you’re familiar with Kitsap County, you may be able to look at the photo above and recognize the Kingston ferry dock. But this photo, taken in 1965 and courtesy of the Kingston Historical Society, also points to Kingston’s maritime roots. Our town has a rich history and a strong community. In fact, Kingston was part of the early days of the Mosquito Fleet, and settlers were known for their love of clams. Additionally, the port district recently celebrated 100 years of car ferry service to Edmonds. Downtown Kingston was first developed in the 1890s and continues to be a hub of wonderful eateries and small, locally-owned shops. A key connection between Kingston’s past and present is the Kingston Historical Society.
Ed Goodwin, one of our Windermere Kingston Brokers, is the current president of the Kingston Historical Society (KHS). We sat down with him to discuss the KHS. Ed has been involved for about seven years. “Soon after joining Windermere in early 2017, I attended the Discover Kingston event at the Village Green in Kingston, where I met De Mackinnon and Kathy Sole from the KHS. Having an interest in history, wanting to know more about the area, meeting new people, and looking to get involved in the community led me to attend a meeting and subsequently join the group.”
Mission & Vision
The Society’s mission is “To record, preserve, interpret, and display the history of Kingston, Washington.” History tells a story of the past, and through it, we can learn about the people and the decisions they made that shaped the world we live in today. By using that knowledge, we can make informed decisions that will improve our world tomorrow.
From Vintage Photos to a Published Book
In 2019, the Kingston Historical Society published Kingston (Images of America) through Arcadia Publishing. Ed was part of the book committee. He says, “It was an interesting experience for sure, something that I never thought I’d be involved with, but you never know what’s going to happen when you say yes.” The book has all kinds of fascinating information and vintage photographs. You can find copies of it at our lovely Saltwater Bookshop right here in Kingston.
Kingston Historical Society in the Community
The KHS has actively shared its stories with the community through displays at the Village Green, participating in local events, and getting the local youth involved. For example, Kingston History In Color was an event coordinated through Kingston High School. Art students were given copies of the book Kingston (Images of America), which includes all black and white photographs. Each participating student rendered a color version of an image in the book and included an artist statement. The results were fantastic. An artists’ reception showcased their work, it was judged, and awards were given.
Additionally, in March 2024, Kingston High School, in partnership with the Kingston Historical Society, held an exhibit on Kingston’s Japanese settlers during a multicultural event.
An established non-profit organization, the KHS was recently recognized as an anchor organization of the “Maritime Washington National Heritage Area.” Anchor organizations work to preserve the history and stories of our vast shoreline marine areas in Washington state.
Current Projects
The KHS plans to create a QR code walking tour. QR codes will identify local points of interest and link to the KHS website, where visitors can read expanded descriptions.
Ed also shared some exciting information: “The big news is that we are working on a new book!” Society members De MacKinnon and Jenny Loftus have spearheaded this effort and have done an incredible amount of research thus far. They are compiling data for “All in One Place: 100 Families from Kingston’s First 75 Years.” As part of this endeavor, back in February 2024, the Society hosted a hometown reunion at the Village Green. Approximately 80 people came together, met with others who grew up here, and shared their stories. It was a great success. The expected launch date of the new book is the summer of 2025.
Our Office’s Involvement
In 2023, we partnered with the Historical Society for a Community Service Day project at the Kingston Cemetery. The group that oversees the cemetery is another small volunteer group. They really appreciated the efforts of our Windermere staff and Brokers, who cut and cleared a ton of overgrowth.
Get Involved
A small group of enthusiastic volunteers runs the Kingston Historical Society. They rely on community support through memberships, monetary donations, historical memorabilia, grants, fundraising events, and revenue from book sales. They meet on the third Monday of the month at the Village Green in Kingston from 11:15 AM to 12:30 PM. All are welcome to attend. If you have any questions about the Kingston Historical Society, visit their website at kingstonhistory.org or email kingstonwahistory@gmail.com.
For more information about Kingston and Kitsap County as a whole, check out our digital Guide to Kitsap.
