Opened in 1888 by the Pioneer Vermilion Iron Mining Co., then leased by the Oliver Iron Mining (OIM) Co., it later became U.S. Steel's Pioneer Mine "A" Shaft, this headframe was designed in 1901 by U.S. Steel's American Bridge Division (ABD) and was built in 1902. The "B" shaft was on the south side of the pit (now Miner's Lake) where the Mine's drive house was located. During WWII (1943), plans were being made to build the "C" shaft, near where the Grand Ely Lodge now sits, and begin mining more ore for the war effort. The mine closed on April 1, 1967; Iron Ore (Hematite) was mined here; 1600 ft. deep, 16 working levels, the "skip loader" worked on the 17th to load ore in the "skip" cars that brought the iron ore to the surface.