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\u201cWe did the work as safely as we could,\u201d Bishop said. \u201cYou just didn\u2019t have any of the things to keep you safe the way you do today.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bishop said the depth of holes increased the risk of cave-ins while working, and available safety equipment was primitive compared to the options today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe had two pieces of plywood on each side while we were down there, and you pulled them out by hand every day,\u201d Bishop remembered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These makeshift walls weren\u2019t the sturdiest solutions, but Bishop never had one cave in on him. Today, better protective tools keep workers at a minimum risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBack in the day, you had nothing,\u201d Bishop said. \u201cToday, you\u2019ve got better machines, better trench boxes; I mean, it\u2019s unreal the difference.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today\u2019s techniques include sloping trenches to prevent pressure buildup and using a stair-step method called benching to create stronger structural integrity, among other protocols.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite having less to work with in the beginning, Bishop\u2019s small crew was productive and dedicated to doing quality work. Bishop worked primarily with Edwin Sells and supervisor Jim Vann, and the three could go the distance with rudimentary tools and the willingness to work hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe put in a full mile of pipes in a day,\u201d Bishop said. \u201c[Vann] would make sure it all got done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Vann passed away several years ago, but Bishop never forgot those good years working under his leadership. He recalled fondly that Vann would take the straightest path to connect water lines, even through treacherous forest areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe said, \u2018Go ahead and dig right through.\u2019 But we told him, \u2018You go first!\u2019\u201d Bishop said with a smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bishop was instrumental in running water lines all over Winchester and deep into Moore County, though they have since sold most of those Moore County lines to Metro Moore County Water. His crew ran pipes within a few miles of Jack Daniel\u2019s Distillery and out to the Tyson chicken farm. Today, their service area stretches from the edges of Moore County all the way into Grundy County, including Winchester and other areas of Franklin County. Bishop witnessed Winchester\u2019s changes over 50 years, particularly when Tims Ford Lake was created in the late 1960s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt was probably about 1969,\u201d Bishop said. \u201cBecause so many people wanted to move to this area once there was a lake there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n This influx of new residents meant utility system expansion, growing from what Bishop estimates was \u201cmaybe 50 miles or less\u201d of water lines to around 500 miles today, with Bishop contributing significantly to that work. Locals may not know how much Bishop has done to help build this community, but his behind-the-scenes efforts have brought water to thousands over the years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For someone considering a utilities career today, Bishop\u2019s advice reflects his old-school work ethic:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou know, you have to have the right tools to do it and be ready to work hard. I\u2019ve always enjoyed this work \u2014 it was a good job,\u201d Bishop said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester Utilities continues to explore more effective technology, which could bring exciting systems to the area. Waterline workers already use leak-detection tools to pinpoint problems, but integration with phone apps could someday mean immediate notifications and leak analysis. Automated metering and other smart grid technologies could also be added soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Human Resources Manager Jeff Mathews, automated meters are in the works. This would allow utility workers to read meters without visiting homes and provide instant usage updates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCustomers can have a better idea of what their usage is and have more control over what they\u2019re doing,\u201d Mathews said. \u201cYou can see the immediate impact. You know how everyone talks about making sure you turn the lights off in a room? Well, you can actually see the impact on your usage every time you turn them off or on.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n These ever-improving technologies are incredible, but wouldn\u2019t be possible without groundbreakers like Bishop, who humbly said it was \u201cjust a great job with great people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt was always something different every day. That\u2019s what I liked about it,\u201d Bishop said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n His work laid the foundations for Winchester\u2019s utilities and the employees who would come after him, and he is deeply respected for his contributions. GN<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" MARVIN BISHOP was hired at the Winchester Utility System 50 years ago, and at the time, it was a radically different job. The crew did not have trench boxes, automated meters, or GPS systems. Workers relied on experience, work ethic, basic tools, and willingness to work together regardless of difficulty. Bishop\u2019s expertise has impacted a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":24374,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24372","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-feature"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/goodnewsmags.com\/franklin-county\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/10\/5-2-1024x683.png\")
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