It’s not often that a Reno shop celebrates 125 in business. Savage and Son Plumbing goes back to 1893, just 25 years after there was a City of Reno. The story begins in 1859 in Virginia City, and a man by the name of Leonard Coates Savage. He helped pipe water out of the silver mines. Of course, current Savage vice-president Pete Savage never met him, but heard the stories. As he told us, "I think he was a hard worker back in Virginia City, taking all that water in and out of the mines."

In 1880, Leonard’s son Frank opened a plumbing shop in Virginia City. Same family values. Savage president Len Savage told me, "I know he was a man of hard work, perseverance, and strong ethics." There was no magic formula to go from a handful of workers to over a hundred employees now. Just the basics, done well. Pete says it’s just, "Solving problems and taking care of people's needs."

In 1893, Savage and Son opened on Reno's Sierra Street, then to Virginia Street where Michael's Deli is now. Then in 1993, onto Yori Avenue with a huge complex and warehouse. When quality control from suppliers slipped, they opened a fabrication shop to assemble their own. Len told me, "We assemble the pipe and fittings that make it more efficient. It’s also more cost effective."

When a company reaches its 50th anniversary, it usually holds a sale. At 100 years, a big party.  125 years? That's, a big deal. But at Savage and Son, Pete says, "We're not a celebratory-type family. We're just a working family."

But Savage and Son is celebrating, albeit in an understated fashion. They're really all about the work…work that has made them last for 125 years. And from the very beginning it’s been 24 hours a day since 1893. Len says back then, "There were no phones, but they were knocking on doors. And if they had an issue, I know Frank Savage would be there. My grandfather Leonard Savage would be there." Pete Savage added, "One thing I can say is...there's always been a Savage here, every single day."

In the parking lot standing by his work truck, Savage project manager Jack Nieradzik believes he and his co-workers are keeping alive a vital link to Reno's past. Savage and Son goes so far back, it seems like the business grew the city around it. As Jack told me, "It sets everybody's standards a lot higher. They started when times were very tough, back when it was so very rural in Nevada."

Today, Len Savage passes on his plan for the future: "Its 'grind it out,' and make sure we're here for the next generation."

Leonard Coates Savage would certainly be pleased.