 The small Native American village was abandoned by the time American Fur Company trader Peter Crebassa visited in 1836.In 1877, Charles Hebard and Edward Thurber purchased a large tract of land on Keweenaw Point, favored especially for its deep, protected harbor and easy access to timber.The mill began its operations with a capital of $200,000, with stock owned mostly by the Hebard and Thurber families.