Staff writer
It might take an hour or two to view every one of the 1,963 sets of salt and pepper shakers Marlene Anduss of Marion has collected.
The 72-year-old woman keeps them in three, large, enclosed display cases, two curio cabinets, several smaller cabinets, and on shelves in a special room she and her husband built onto their house at 1015 E. Main St.
When she was growing up on a farm north of Hillsboro, Marlene (Gaede) had an aunt who had a salt and pepper shaker collection.
“I remember going to her house and standing in front of the curio cabinet looking at them,” she said.
She graduated from Lehigh High School in 1954 and married Reign Anduss in 1955.
While working at an ice company in Newton, a traveling salesman, Burt Bishop of Peabody, gave her two sets of unique salt and pepper shakers he found on one of his trips.
Added to a set given to her by her father, they were the beginning of a gradual accumulation. Whenever the family went on trips, Marlene bought salt and pepper shakers as souvenirs.
After the Anduss’ three daughters were grown, they began giving their mother salt and pepper shakers on special occasions.
That is when Marlene became serious about her collection and began to expand it. She began recording the sets in a notebook, assigning each set a number and whenever possible noting the date and source.
She accumulated many sets through estate sales and by browsing antique stores and gift shops.
“I like colorful sets that catch my eye,” she said.
Marlene’s collection is organized and displayed in groups according to subject matter, such as animals, people, food, holidays, transportation, birds, buildings, and sports.
Approximately 600 pairs still are in boxes awaiting display as soon as Marlene can make room.
She has begun a second notebook in which she records the current value of the sets in the event her children may want to someday sell them. She uses books with pictures of salt and pepper shakers and their values.
She also notes which sets in her collection have boxes, which makes them more valuable.
“I thought I had a lot of sets, but when I look at these books, I see there are a lot I don’t have,” she noted.
She said most of the sets probably are worth $5-10, but some are valued up to $75. Her most expensive set is worth $85.
Marlene’s collection was featured a few months ago in an area newspaper.
She has begun to get requests from individuals and groups to view her collection. Anyone interested in viewing the display may contact her at 620-381-4465.