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Alphonse Prefontaine was born in Quebec in c1854. He arrived in British Columbia in about 1890 and homesteaded on Nicomen Island. Originally he was a travelling merchant, moving around the area selling goods from a covered wagon. On May 1st 1909 he opened a store in Langley Prairie, and it is considered to be the first store in the area. Alphonse originally lived in the store. From May 1911 until 1914 he was the post master of the Langley Prairie Post Office. He also had one of the first telephones in the area, his number being "19". In 1912 Prefontaine entered into partnership with Frank W. Roberts before leaving the business in 1914. Afterwards he became a farmer and then in 1931 he became a charter member of the Langley Board of Trade. He died in 1944. During his life he was married with two sons.