“Galena, the actual term galena is a Latin term for lead sulfide,” said miner from 1971-75 Bob Buman.

This lead ore mineral was found and mined in the region by the Sac and Fox Indians.

“The Indians who didn’t really know what to do with the lead so much so after it was smeltered so they would hammer and would use that as a trading tool with other Indians that traveled down the Mississippi Valley,” said Buman.

By the late 1600s, French trappers discovered the area and began mining the lead.  And made good use of the popular mineral.

“Of course bullets, lots of roofs made of lead,” said miner from 1968-72 Tom Golden.

It was a gateway for what would become the industry that started the town of galena.

“Probably 40% of the population of the surrounding towns had something to do with mining,” said Buman.

In the mid 1800s, the rich lead drove the first major mineral rush in the U.S.

“Next thing you know, in 1830 there’s about 10,000 miners right here,” said Buman.

“All the farmers who had nothing to do in the winter would mine,” said Golden.

“Now they’re trading pound for pound for this precious lead,” said Buman.

And for hundreds of years, it became a mainstay in the area.

 “They found more uses for lead, paint, gasoline  batteries,” said Golden

Lead was in great demand; it led to the booming commercial world.

“It really blossomed, it bloomed and it took off,” said miner from 1967-1971 Mayor Terry Renner.

 “And I think there was about 85 or 90% of lead supply that went to the war and that came from this region right here,” said Buman.

The majority of the people living in Galena worked in the lead mining deposits.

And these guys were a part of it in the late 60s and early 70s.

 

“The legacy of everyone in the area followed their father and grandfathered footsteps, somebody was a miner,” said Buman.

Mining the lead was the easy part.

“The way lead formed it was easy to go scrap it off you would just grab pieces and take it off, you don’t have to worry about waste material,” said Golden

And it paid well too.

“I was making good money in ’71, you’re talking 10-grand or better,” said Renner.

But as aluminum came and replaced pot metal, the lead market declined making it difficult for the miners.  

“We were in this era we had to scrap for every penny we were at the tale end of the era,” said Golden.

During their time underground, they saw remarkable scenes while working.

“It’s pretty underground. You shine your light up there the lead is sparkly,” said Renner.

But those views also came risks.

“When you’re in the mind you want to be close the wall, that’s about the safest place you’ll be, you gotta kiss the wall,” said Renner.

In the late 1970s, one of the last mines in town closed.

And the memories of the business quickly began fading away.

But they hope to continue sharing their stories to remind the new generations of its rich mineral history.

“This is still the largest zinc and lead deposit right here in this region,” said Buman.

The Galena and U.S. Grant Museum has displays and more information on the lead mining history. Click here.