Opened some time prior to 1855, the Tar Hill Mine was originally worked from rather sizable open pits, one measuring as much as 70 feet long by 60 feet wide. The magnetite here was heavily mixed with pyrite. The mine was again in operation from 1867 until 1873. During this time, a considerable amount of effort was undertaken although the deposit was found to be relatively small. At least six shafts were sunk.

From 1873, the mine laid idle until 1880 when the Crane Iron Company began driving an adit to intersect the orebody underground. Upon reaching the ore, it was found to be lean whereas at the surface it was rich enough to warrant mining. The ambitious tunnel excavation reached a distance of more than 250 feet. While a small amount of ore was removed, presumably it was not thought profitable to mine and the Tar Hill Mine was abandoned permanently thereafter.