OH195 William "Bill" Derington Oral History
Collection Title
Jackson Purchase Oral History Project - Kentucky Dam Project
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Series Number
OH195
Interviewee
Derington, William "Bill"
Interviewer
Rousey, Eric
Date Interviewed
October 21st, 1994
Processed by
Benjamin J. Drake
Date Processed
December 10th, 2012
Description
2 sound discs (1 hour, 29 minutes)
Abstract
William “Bill” Derington of Marshall County, Kentucky discusses his experiences as a laborer during the construction of Kentucky Dam and working in Detroit, Michigan during the Second World War. He describes working conditions and the impact of labor unions in both Kentucky and Michigan. He recalled the many changes brought to Marshall County, Kentucky when the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) began construction of the dam and after its completion. He recounts safety issues, race relations, hiring practices, alcohol consumption in the camps and work related injuries.
Biographical/Historical Note
William "Bill" Derington was born in northern Marshall County, Kentucky. Beginning in 1937, he worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the State of Oregon. In 1941, he was employed for six months by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) as a laborer during the construction of the Kentucky Dam. He relocated to Detroit, Michigan to work for Briggs and STratton when the Second World War began. From the summer of 1945 until the fall of 1945, he traveled between Detroit and Marshall County working at both Briggs and Stratton and the Kentucky Dam. After October of 1946, he remained permanently in Marshall County.
General Information
No user access to original recordings. Use audio user copies, digital derivatives, transcripts, and/or tape indexes. This collection may be protected from unauthorized copying by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code). Permission for reproduction must be requested from Murray State University.
Subject Headings/Descriptors
Derington, William
Kentucky Dam (Ky.)
Tennessee Valley Authority
Briggs & Stratton Corporation.
Dams - Kentucky.
Land Between the Lakes (Ky. And Tenn.) - History
Marshall County (Ky.)
Detroit (Mich.)
Recommended Citation
Rousey, Eric, "OH195 William "Bill" Derington Oral History" (2025). Kentucky Dam. 5.
https://digitalcommons.murraystate.edu/oh-kendam/5
Audio Transcript