Village Squire, 1980-11, Page 18An unusual
bookstore
Book store "afficionados". new owners at Fanfare.
hope to carry on the past tradition of the store
BY ALICE GIBB
It isn't difficult to understand why two people who are
self -described absolute afficionados of bookstores, would drop in
to Fanfare Books, on Waterloo Street in Stratford. But when
Hildburg Scheu and Maurice Poujade visited the store this
summer, they not only browsed, they bought the bookstore.
Hildburg Scheu said the venture started when she said, "I'll
show you an unusual bookstore." Ms. Scheu wasn't completely
unfamiliar with the store; she worked there as an assistant for
the 1971-72 season. But this summer, when she and Mr. Poujade
visited then -owner Ellen Stafford, they learned the store was on
the market. In September, they turned a lifelong love of books
into a fulltime occupation.
Ms. Scheu, who was managing a bookstore in the Toronto area
until recently, comes from a family who have always valued
books. Her sister and nephew, who live in Germany, are both
booksellers- a profession that requires a three year apprentice-
ship in that country.
Before adopting her sister's profession, Ms. Scheu was
involved in a family photography business in Wingham for
several years. Then she returned to university as a mature
student, and studied philosophy and German literature. After
deciding teaching wasn't her -torte, she hit upon the idea of
opening her own bookstore. After an apprenticeship working for
a chain, she's now achieved her goal.
Her partner, Maurice Poujade, who was a college and
university professor of languages and medieval studies, also
PG. 16 VILLAGE SQUIRE/NOVEMBER 1980
brings a varied background to the book business.
VARIED BACKGROUND
Mr. Poujade first studied marine engineering, or the
architecture and maintenance of ships and their related
equipment. He worked in the Arctic for three years, then studied
meteorology and worked on ocean-going ships. His next venture
was in actuarial studies and computer sciences and he worked for
a life insurance company for four years. After his business
career, Mr. Poujade returned to school, where he took a Bachelor
of Education degree and eventually a Masters degree in English
and Fench studies, specializing in Elizabethean and medieval
studies. This led to a teaching career at the high school level and
later at college and university in Quebec.
Now that the partners have become independent
businessmen,both admit "you have to be a bit of a dreamer to be
in the book business," Maurice is even blunter - "it takes two
pig-headed, hard-hearted people" he says. The hard hearts are
needed at the end of a long day when the partners find they get
so lost in their work, "we don't want to leave at night," Ms.
Scheu said.
Both of the store's owners emphasize 'they want to continue
the atmosphere created at Fanfare Books by former owner Ellen
Stafford. Mr. Poujade said Mrs. Stafford had "an exceedingly
good knowledge of the books that should be carried in such a
bookstore." He added her choice fits in superbly with the type of
person who comes into Fanfare Books, both as a regular
customer and during the Festival season.
BOOKS BEAUTIFY BRAINS
Ellen Stafford, who'd been an editor with McCelland and