Hill's Archery Supplies on Alder Lake

One of the greatest cottage industries in Manitowish Waters was Hill's Archery Supply on the shores of the Trout River inlet to Alder Lake. Ralph and Francis Hill moved to Manitowish Waters from the Racine area in the 1951 with their family. Manitowish Waters area was already hub for archery enthusiasts and manufacturing. Ralph Hill built his famous Hill's Hornet (3 blade) broadhead, 2 bladed broadhead, blunts and field points in a shop next his home. Today, traditional archery collectors prize Hill's craftsmanship and unique designs. Explore the images below and backstory that illustrates how a small lakeside business helped the evolution bow hunting.

This site is on private property and is best viewed by water where the Trout River enters Alder Lake. The Wild Rice Lake boat landing is the closest access point. Private property rights should be respected and additional inquiries should be forwarded to mwhistoricalsociety@gmail.com.

Small manufacturing continued to grow in the community of Manitowish Waters after World War II. Lyon Boats, Trueflight Feathers, RCM TV Towers were but a few who Hill's Archery joined as part of the small community of Manitowish Waters entrepreneurs. Recreational hunting, fishing, boating and the growth of summer residents provided important markets.

Archery was a growing sport after World War II and Wisconsin's Northwoods was a leader from the earliest days. Roy Case from Racine, Wisconsin harvested the first deer with a bow on December 6, 1930, on Big Lake. Case demonstrated that bow and arrow hunting was humane and safe. 1934 marked the first bow season authorized by the Wisconsin Conservation Commission. In Manitowish Waters Trueflight Feathers created a special process for manufacturing feather for arrow fletching that still operates today. While Art La Haha ran his famous archery guide service out of the Bear Bar in Winchester.

Ralph Hill worked at HI Case in Racine, Wisconsin where he also operated his archery business out of his basement. In 1951, Ralph and Francis Hill moved with their children Mary, Ronald, Nyla and Tom to Manitowish Waters. The Hill family moved to a vertical log summer home which provided little protection from a Northwoods winter. In the first winter, the Hill's children slept in bunk beds and occasionally woke-up with snow on their blankets that leaked through the vertical logs. Soon Ralph tightened the cabin walls and made several additions to their home. Hill also remodeled an old garage into his "new" factory to produce his innovative archery broadheads and points.

Hill knew pioneer archer Roy Case, who helped Hill advance his business. The Hills were part of a growing archery community in Manitowish Waters area. Target shooting at a range next to the Oasis Bar (Smokey's) drew archery enthusiasts from several towns. Town chairman and husband to Mary (Hill) Hanson reports, that Ralph's wife Frannie was by far the best shot among the Hill family. The influence and recognition of the Hill's business was evidenced by the town naming the road to the hill property, Archery Road.

In 1962, Ralph Hill sold his lakefront property to Ken Thies from St. Louis. Today, the workshop or factory for Hill's Archery Supply has been renovated into a year-round rental, operated by Jim and Emily Bokern. An old fire bell still stands in front of the old factory, marking an earlier era where families living on older properties communicated with fishermen to come home for dinner or to neighbors for help.

Hanson, John. Personal interview. Koller Library. 12 July. 2023.

Manitowish Waters Historical Society. Hill's Archery Supply, Manitowish Waters Historical Society. January 1st, 2020. Accessed July 12th, 2023. https://mwhistory.pastperfectonline.com/Archive/30181EBA-F779-4F47-B5B9-791477375950.