My enduring memory of “Mr. Pybus” was the fundraising schemes he devised for the pack. For several months we were urged to have our parents set aside used cooking fat. Obviously, in the days before formal recycling, there was a market (candles???) for processing the drippings of steaks, chicken, bacon, fish etc.

In any event, my best friend Brent and I were both away for a couple of weeks due to illness. We returned, dutifully carrying our latest Sun Rype metal juice containers full of congealed fat. Mr. Pybus looked at us askance and intoned: “Oh, sorry boys, but we’re not collecting old kitchen fat no more. No. No. No. Now we’re collecting used pocket books.”

It’s an anecdote I would come to often recall as life provided no shortage of unexpected surprises.

Back to your topic: The bright owner of B.C. Stamp Works– with the “buried houses” concept of including potential retail space with a residential development–was clearly ahead of his or her time. For the past couple of decades, or longer, it’s been quite de rigeur to plunk two or three storeys of condos atop one or more storefront enterprises underneath.

Just a note that I appreciate your wonderful interest in our history and bringing them to the forefront so they won’t be forgotten. Keep up with the good work!

Larry