Galena had a dual personality as both a mining property and an important lumbering center. It was developed in 1860 as a mining property by R. S. and Andrew Hatch, whose quartz mill and smelter were among the earliest erected on this side of the Sierras. Gold float from the local mines contained a heavy admixture of lead sulphide, galena, which made the mining operations unprofitable, but the mills continued to operate by processing ores from the Comstock mines. A severe winter in 1864-65 interrupted freighting to Virginia City, and the resulting mining depression forced the Galena mills to close. At the same time, Galena grew into an important lumbering center, with eleven sawmills operating by 1863 along with stores, lodging houses, a justice court, a school that also served as a community hall, saloons, and dozens of homes. After two disastrous fires in 1865 and 1867, Galena was abandoned.