For as long as Anderson Plumbing has been a part of the Iola community — 120 years and counting — the company has never really had what could be considered a storefront.
That will change on Friday, when Anderson celebrates the grand opening of its shop and store at 7 N. Jefferson Ave.
Anderson will carry a wide selection of professional-grade plumbing parts in the front, and knowledgeable staffers on hand from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily to answer questions for do-it-yourselfers.
They’ll also rent out tools and equipment, helping customers save the expense of having to buy them.
Just as importantly, they’ll be available to answer questions for those in need. Clients are encouraged to bring in questions, or even photos, to illustrate their problems.
“We’ll know what you need to fix anything,” said Ken Anderson, owner and the fourth generation of the Anderson family to be involved with the business. (Sons Nick and Eric are the fifth.)
“It’ll be nice for people to come in and talk about their plumbing problems,” Nick Anderson said. “There just aren’t a lot of places to get plumbing supplies in town.”
On top of the retail portion, Anderson will continue to offer its plumbing services to those in need, from everything from basic household repairs to commercial installation projects. (They handled the plumbing in the new Iola High School Science Building, the soon-to-open Union Works Brewery in Humboldt, and will soon begin work on a new grade school in Altoona.)
“We try to stay up on all of the latest technology,” Ken added. “We have state-of-the-art equipment: sewer cameras, jet machines. Anything you need.”
SINCE its opening in 1902, Anderson Plumbing has called several places home, from shops on North Chestnut Street, Jackson and Madison avenues, even West Miller Road before most recently out of a shop in Gas.
“We’ve just never had a storefront or formal office,” noted Becky Anderson, Nick’s wife and office manager.
“We’d been planning on doing this for years, but it never happened. We just haven’t had time to do it.”
The business launched when Benjamin Moore Anderson started running gas lines because of Iola’s gas boom.
But when the newly discovered natural gas wells quickly dried up, Anderson shifted gears, focusing more on water lines and household and commercial plumbing services.
Benjamin’s son, G.T. “Bud” Anderson, soon joined the operation.
Bud’s son, Glen, became the third Anderson plumber until shifting gears and focusing on general contract work in the early 1970s.
