The Legacy in the Grain: Tyler Bishop Hall’s Woodworking Story
Every legacy has more than one side. The Bishop family’s story includes not only classrooms and school hallways, but also farm fields, workshops, and sawdust. When a recent article was written about the new elementary school named after his grandmother, Deane Bishop, two names were missing: Tyler Bishop Hall and his daughter, Madison Bishop Hall. They are the last of the Bishop line — carrying the Bishop name forward in the middle, and carrying its spirit forward in their lives. That side of the story was left untold, but it’s the one Tyler carries forward every day in his shop.
But the truth is, Tyler’s legacy doesn’t need a line in a newspaper. It’s written in every board of walnut, every box crafted by hand, every heirloom that passes from his shop to a family’s hands. His story — and the story of the Bishops — is one of farming, woodworking, and building things that last.
Family Roots: Farmers and Makers
Tyler’s grandfather, Leland Bishop, was a farmer. On the farm, working with wood was part of survival — mending, making, fixing. The smell of oil and the hum of tractors are what Tyler still associates with those early memories. Leland’s hands shaped both soil and lumber, leaving behind a quiet example of skill and perseverance.
Tyler’s father, Larry Hall, carried that same spirit. He worked for Ohio Bell, but his true love was woodworking and farming. He built cabinets, crafted furniture, and even constructed two of the homes he lived in — including the one he lives in today. Though they didn’t spend much time working side by side, Tyler and Larry share an unmistakable likeness in their skills, values, and love for craftsmanship.
The First Cut: Tyler’s Beginnings
Tyler’s own woodworking journey began in shop class at school, and when he built his first project: a desk. It wasn’t perfect, but it planted the seed. Years later, it was keepsake boxes that made him realize woodworking was more than just a pastime. That’s when it became a calling.
Born from Reba: The Heart of Mad Tree Woodcrafts
In 2017, Tyler and Christy lost Reba, their Chow Chow, to cancer. She was more than a dog — she was family. Her loss was the spark that lit the fire for what would become Mad Tree Woodcrafts.
“We started making urns to help others,” Tyler says. And in the center of the Mad Tree logo, you’ll see Reba’s silhouette — a reminder that love and loss are at the heart of every piece they create.
Craft and Philosophy
Tyler’s style of joinery is simple yet timeless: the miter joint, strengthened by careful splines. His guiding value? Perfection.
His favorite part of making a box is the assembly and finishing, the moment when all the pieces finally come together. “That’s when it starts coming together,” he says. It’s also the most challenging part — he’s changed his finishing process more than 20 times, testing oils, waxes, and varnishes, always chasing the perfect feel.
A Legacy Written in Wood
For Tyler, woodworking isn’t just a craft. It’s a way to carry forward the lessons of those who came before him — lessons of patience, persistence, and creating something with your own two hands.
“What legacy do you want to leave for future generations?” we asked. His answer was simple: “Quality-made products, made by hand.”
Today, that legacy doesn’t end with Tyler. Madison, his daughter, is part of it too. Though her name was also missing from the school article, her presence in this story is undeniable. The first project he ever built was for her, and through her, the Bishop name carries forward in new ways. She, too, loves working with her hands.