Tono, Washington

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Tono, Washington was a small mining town owned by the Washington Union Coal Company to mine coal for Union Pacific Steam locomotives. Situated About 20 miles south of Olympia, Washington, 5 miles south of Tenino, 2 miles east of Bucoda, the town was Built around 1899 and lasted until 1932 when the Bucoda mining company bought the Property, closed the company owned general store, forcing the post office to close and dooming the town. According to legend, the Bucoda Mining Company discovered that the town sat on more coal than most of the surrounding area which motivated them to "close" the town and Mine the area. All that remains of the town is a single house and a crossroads sign. It is said that the town was named by a Japanese railroad worker[1], possibly named after Tōno, Iwate.