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Where's Tono? Traditional Cache

Hidden : 3/10/2005
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
1 out of 5

Size: Size:   regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

The cache is located only 15ft from the road. Cedar Post.

Replaced the Log book and container 6/15/2014 new log book.

Take the backroad off of State Route 507 from Bucoda to Centralia and you will pass the remains of the coal mining town of Tono, so named for the tons of coal mined. Today, all that remains is one house and a cross roads sign "Tono". In the distance, you will see towering smoke stacks of the Centralia Steam Plant.

A 'Ghost Town' needs a ghost, right? While driving to the cache site, make sure you look for the ghostly skulls!

Some history that might interest you....

In the early 1900's, Washington Union Coal Company, owned by the Union Pacific Railroad Company, mined coal for railroad locomotives at Tono. The town residents worked at the mine and bought their groceries at the company store. The mining company owned all the homes, the school, the hospital, etc. The mine closed after WWII, although a fire continued to burn in the mine for some time. The once busy little town no longer existed after the Mining Co. had all the homes loaded onto railroad flatcars and hauled out of the valley.

Presently, the Centralia Steam Plant uses coal from the Tono area to run its steam electricity generators.

Check out the related website and a few pictures of this historical city. (visit link)

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Arne n fbyb prqne cbfg

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)