 The town greatly expanded after 1862, when it also became an important lumbering center.By 1863, there were eleven sawmills operating in Galena.The town's streets during the height of commercial activity, were crowded with "grog shops overflowed with charcoal burners, wood choppers, timbermen, millers, miners, bullwhackers and teamsters"

The town was abandoned after 1867, following two disastrous fires.