In 2023 the Sunday Olympian’s theme for its Looking Back feature was the origins of area place names. The town of Bucoda was once called Seatco, a Native American word meaning “ghost” or “devil.” In 1890, the name was changed to Bucoda for the first syllables of the businessmen who owned the coal mines in the area: James BUckley, Samuel COulter (pictured here) and John DAvid.
Photo mid to late 1800s, Courtesy State Capital Museum collection, Washington State Historical Society, catalog C2015.0.22
Text © Deborah Ross and The Olympian 2023