Dave Dean, Ithaca’s plumbing impresario for 50 years

Almost every old timer in the Ithaca area has met Dave Dean. For this old-timer, it was 1972, when we bought our first “new” home in Etna for $15,000. Redoing our kitchen made Dave Dean central to our lives.

Born in Warren, Ohio, Dave’s family moved to the Odessa-Montour area before he began sixth grade. Since 6^th grade his parents, and then he and his family, have mostly lived somewhere along Rt. 228. For years Dave has lived next door to a childhood friend from 7^th grade. “It’s a nice little area, where we can walk across the street to our favorite fishing hole…Herbie Braatz sold cars right near where we live these many years, HB Used cars…Together we’ve remodeled Herbie’s house and still enjoy the peacefulness of the Montour Falls area.”

After graduating from Montour Falls High School, Dave took a job in Ithaca at Stevens and Murry’s Shell Gas Station on the old Rt. 13, in the area where Maguires now has its varied network of dealerships and services.

After his time at Shell, Dave moved nearby to Sam Kramer’s Auto Paints and Finishes,  also on Rt. 13 across from the much loved Manos Diner, now the popular Old Mexico Restaurant.

“In those days, Rt. 13 was mostly open fields with little development. Townsend Chevrolet and Body Shop was located where Goodyear Tire and the small strip mall are now located, down by Home Depot. Zikakis Chevrolet came in when Townsend Chevy closed. When I worked for Townsend Chevrolet I learned to paint cars, which came in useful, so I could paint cars for Herbie’s lot in Montour.”

Ithaca Plumbing Supplies and Hull Heating was opened by Delbert Hull in the 50’s at 802 West Seneca Street. Dave Dean was hired by Del in 1969 and “worked the Back Room” doing inventory and learning the ropes. “Del had two sons and two daughters. His daughters, Dorothy and Marilyn owned and operated the popular Meadow Court Motel in 1969; and they still run it today.”

“The West Side of town was all open and not yet developed in 1969. There was nothing much in place in the late 60’s. A big carnival would be installed each year, since there was so much open land down where Wegmans is today…The Station Restaurant was in place, and the train was already decommissioned on Taughannock Blvd. The current Asian Ren’s Market building was not yet built.”

When built, it served as a temporary home to Greenstar Food Coop after the Cayuga Street Greenstar was destroyed in a fire.

Since 1969 Dave Dean has been our reliable source of plumbing parts, plumbing advice, plumbing therapy for those in need. After all these years, Dave Dean looks unchanged as ever. Ditto for the shop. The cavernous back rooms of plumbing inventory could be a backdrop for an old Dickens story. And Dave is as friendly and welcoming as he was in 1972.

“When Delbert Hull died his sons agreed to keep Ithaca Plumbing Supplies going, and his grandson Frank was the lead. Later, another grandson, David took over the management. Now, Green Mountain Electric owns the building.”

“Ithaca is almost unrecognizable from the view in 1969. Collegetown is like a different world than it was in the 50’s. 40 years ago I became a union plumber with the UAW, Local 81…My son Christopher works as a union plumber at Cornell, so whenever I am up in Collegetown I take in all the new buildings and changes. My daughter Kelli started her own business in Horseheads after college and my son Casey is still on the move post-college in Buffalo.”

Dave still commutes to IPS Monday through Friday, and opens the store  by 6 AM. By 7 AM the door is open, and customers are often waiting for some urgent supply for a plumbing catastrophe. Later in the day, more orderly, yet focused folks are stocking up for some exciting projects. And Dave is there to guide and/or console as needed.

If you haven’t upgraded your plumbing or been hit by an emergency,
now is your time to renew your Dave Dean contact before he turns 75.

For emergency and non-emergency calls to Dave Dean:
607-272 3553.

Dave does it all.