Fort Vancouver – Chief Factor's House and Counting House
2012.09.29
The Chief Factor’s House was a relatively luxurious residence, given the remote wilderness locale.
Counting House
Above the door of the Counting House is the motto of the Hudson’s Bay Company, Pro Pelle Cutem, which is usually roughly translated as “a skin for a skin”. The Latin words pelle and cutem have multiple meanings and are somewhat synonymous, but a more enlightening translation might be “a pelt for felt”. They purchased beaver pelts, with the skin and all the long hair still attached. But ultimately the value lay in the short underhairs next to the skin, which would be processed into felt. A secondary interpretation suggests the fur trappers and natives were “risking their skins” for pelts.
F.V. Carpenter Shop / Bastion