The year was 1978 and Sheryl Hamilton was 26 years old, living on Knox Street with her husband, when her friend John, an employee at the Salvation Army, gave Hamilton her first salt and pepper shaker.

It was shaped like a telephone and Hamilton, now 58 and a resident of John F. Murphy Homes in Auburn, got such a kick out of it that she looked for more.

Quickly, her collection grew to more than 200 in different shapes and sizes.

She has wooden sets, ceramic sets and plastic sets shaped like cows, cats, sandals, fruits, vegetables, M&Ms, lighthouses, shells, hearts, turkeys, snowmen, a bear catching a fish, and even a car pulling a camper.

She also has a salt and pepper shaker from Hawaii that she picked up while there on vacation.

Asked why she collects salt and pepper shakers, Hamilton’s answer is simple.

“I want to,” she says with a shrug.

So she keeps looking for more to add to her collection at discount shops, Goodwill, the Salvation Army and garage sales.

“She loves them and shows them off to everyone,” says Kathy Wade, a Murphy Homes staffer.