On the checkout counter of the Gillett Public Library sits a cute salt and pepper shaker set resembling books on a book shelf. People checking out materials at the library are delighted by the cute combination, said their owner, Assistant Librarian Cathie Erdmann, though they didn’t know the full story behind the shakers — until now.
Erdmann in January placed hundreds of salt and pepper shakers in the display case at the library entrance, along with a description of how the collection began nearly 30 years ago.
Library patrons have a chance to take home one of the the sets for themselves, if they can correctly guess the number of sets on display. The contest ends Saturday, Jan. 30. Erdmann said some of the individuals entering the contest have already chosen a set to take home if they win, but she has no favorite. So many of them are special, she said.
“It’s addictive to take them out, look at them,” she said.
Erdmann has fond memories of going to rummage sales, flea markets and auctions with her mother-in-law, Ardith “Ardy” Fleischman, to search for additions to the collection. Fleischman suffered from dementia and other health issues, but Erdmann said the troubles were less evident on the good days when they would simply have fun together hunting for salt and pepper shakers.
Fleischman, a self-proclaimed shopaholic, started the collection with a few sets she purchased, plus gifts she received on her birthday and at Christmas.
She displayed them on shelves built by her husband, Paul, in her living room in Athlestane. When Fleischman moved to an apartment in Shawano, she gave the salt and pepper shakers to Erdmann, who continues to add to the collection.
“It’s fun,” Erdmann said. “When you go to rummage sales and flea markets, your eye goes to those right away.”
She never spends more than $10 for a set and has no duplicates. She admits she doesn’t know if any of the sets are extremely valuable; that’s not the reason she collects them.
She stores them by themes — animals, holidays, Disney characters, etc. — in shoe boxes, and each month, her grandchildren choose which nine sets to display in Erdmann’s window box shelf in her kitchen.
Library Director Kay Rankel said the collection is phenomenal and perfect for the library’s display case, which regularly showcases people’s artwork and crafts.
“It’s fun to see what type of things people like to do,” Rankel said.
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