Salt and Pepper Museum Opens in Wilder

A hand-built wooden box trailer in Wilder now houses a free museum dedicated to salt and pepper shakers.

The World Famous Salt & Pepper Shaker Museum moved to its current location in front of KIS Thrift in early June. It previously sat outside the home of owner Maggie Cassidy in White River Junction for nine months. Cassidy, 38, collected more than 300 pairs of shakers featuring animals, cartoon characters, and miniature objects. The collection includes umbrellas, skillets, and dollhouse-sized radiators. Cassidy stated that the collection grew beyond her initial rule of fitting only on kitchen shelves. She described the situation as a problem before deciding to open a small, free museum inspired by similar institutions in Tennessee and California.

Cassidy purchased the trailer for $500 and painted it in shades of black raspberry creemee. Her husband, Chico Eastridge, built the interior shelves and installed plexiglass on the upper sides as a birthday gift. The structure resembles a San Francisco trolley. The museum has attracted a steady stream of visitors since its move. Photographer Liza Lynehan posted an Instagram video of the museum on August 29. The post has received 4.2 million views. Cassidy said she was surprised by the viral reach but expected interest in the kitsch of the items. Most shakers were gifts or purchased for less than $5 at thrift stores. She noted that people enjoy seeing personality added to everyday objects.

Cassidy works as a marketing manager for KIS Thrift and its estate clean-out business. She also writes freelance pieces. Previously, she served as editor of the Valley News and managing editor of VTDigger. Visitors can enter the museum only when Cassidy is on a break and unlocks the padlocked doors. Otherwise, guests view the collection through the windows. The plexiglass allows a clear view of the exhibits. These include praying nuns, glowing red glass strawberries, a shaking-head ceramic cowboy, and a Noah's ark. Cassidy maintains a specific section for well-dressed animals, such as bow-tied crocodiles and seagulls in berets.

The museum hosts a grand opening event on Saturday, November 7. Both narrow doors will be unlocked for close inspection of items like a cat in a fish-shaped car and bread in a mini toaster. The event features live music, food, and swag. A raffle will offer two-of-a-kind gorilla shakers crafted by Mary Arnold of Victory Pottery in White River Junction. Proceeds from the raffle benefit the Bugbee Senior Center. Cassidy called the senior center the salt and peppers of the community. Tickets are available online through the museum website.

Inside the low-ceilinged trailer, a photo shows a young Cassidy with her family's heirloom shaker set of Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf. Cassidy believes these may have started her fascination, though she cannot recall for certain. The family keeps the heirlooms at home because they are too precious for the trailer. However, they rarely use them at the table. Eastridge, who cooks in the household, seasons food well, so they seldom add salt during meals. When they do use salt, they typically use a blue Morton canister.