Monohon, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Monohon, Washington
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Monohon and its sawmill, circa 1910
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 Monohon, Washington
Location in Washington (state)
Monohon, Washington
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | King |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
Monohon was once a small town located in Washington State. It was on the east side of Lake Sammamish, which was then called Lake Squak. Today, this area is part of the city of Sammamish. Monohon is now considered a ghost town, meaning it's a place where most people have left, and the buildings are often gone or in ruins.
Contents
The Story of Monohon
Monohon started as part of a town called Donnelly. Simon Donnelly built a sawmill there. A sawmill is a factory that cuts logs into lumber. As the area grew, people decided to create their own town.
How Monohon Began
The new town, Monohon, was officially formed in 1888. It was named after Martin Monohon. He had settled there in 1877 on a large piece of land. A railroad line was finished along the lake in 1889. This made it easier to transport goods. The Donnelly sawmill then moved to the Monohon site.
Life and Growth in Monohon
By 1900, Monohon had about twenty homes. The lumber mill was updated with new machines. It also built a new water system for the community. This brought more money and people to the town. By 1911, over 300 people lived in Monohon. A large hotel with 20 rooms was built. It overlooked the beautiful lake. The town also had a church and a meeting hall. The dock was busy shipping lumber and dairy products.
Challenges and Changes
During a time known as the Prohibition era, laws about certain goods were very strict. Officers from the King County Sheriff's Office visited Monohon. They were looking for people who were illegally making or selling items. Reports say they found and took away a large amount of illegal goods.
The End of Monohon
In 1925, a big fire swept through Monohon. Most of the town was destroyed. Only about 10 homes survived the fire. The sawmill was rebuilt, but the town never fully recovered. When the Great Depression started in 1929, Monohon almost completely disappeared. The sawmill kept running for many more years. It burned down and was rebuilt several times. Finally, the mill closed for good in 1980.
