I am interested in tracking down a bow from Paul C. Hougham. Anyone know of any of these bows still in circulation? Pictures?

Thank you ahead of time.

I have a couple I picked up in an auction about 10 years ago. I have only seen one other,in a yard sale, about three years ago. But it was 70 pounds, and the guy wanted $200 for it. Too high on both accounts. They both say Highland archery, Paul C. Hougham, Visalia, California. I originally thought these might have been custom made for him, and that he lived in Visalia. But with three of them it's obvious he was a bowyer here. I have lived here since 93, and this is the only thing I've ever heard of him.

I can have a couple of arrows stamped highland archery as well, so he must have had a small shop here at one time.

Well they are lovely bows. The design is similar to those of Ernie Root's bows of the 1950s. I owned a couple of his and enjoyed their fine performance. Thanks for sharing a look at them. - lbg

Thank you stykzz, beautiful. I private messaged you.

Maybe "skookum" or "jazz" will know of this bowyer as they seem to have a lot of knowledge about the California archery scene.

I am interested in trying to find bows that people might part with. Paul C Hougham is my father's uncle. We have none of his legacy, I am desperately trying to get them back into the family. Something, my own son's can proudly pass along to their own children.

My father recently sourced one of Uncle Paul's more obscure publishing from an online book collector. When he tore into the package he was like a child at Christmas, his eyes welled up as he turned the book over in his hands learning the cover and spine. When he really lost it, was when he opened the book and to his surprise it was inscribed to his mother, "Dearest Betty Jane, thank you for your support, your loving brother Paul." I want to give him a piece of his memory, a moment of his childhood, and that connection to his Uncle as a Christmas present.

Our family shoots together, both at Trad fun shoots and our own backyard targets. My own son's and I are members of the Sonoma Bowmans Association. If I learned anything from my dad growing up fishing and hunting together, those moments where you share in a passion, ignite the soul more than any other I have ever experienced. It is a common flame that a family spread out over great distances can still share. I thank you all for responding and passing the info around. Anyone is welcome to private message me, also with any leads.

Thank you

I would like to share my most heartfelt and humbled thank you to you all for participating in this forum thread. I am humbled by the the shared common enthusiasm and willingness to assist others with furthering their own. My most sincere thank you to Stykzz, for a story that will resound around the tables of my family for the years that follow.

To hold the pieces of my Great Uncle's craft was electric. To fulfill a father's dream, nostalgically filial. But to share in the process with not only my own sons and friends, but at the total and complete compassion of strangers, is enough to make even the biggest of personalities feel pretty small.

The photos were greatly appreciated. The phone call was unexpected. The shipment of bows and arrows within hours, solely based on the convictions of a phone call was the type of altruistic, trusting and communal experience we all subscribe to, yet in this current social paradigm rarely get to see.

As promised Stykzz; one old man transported to his youth, one more thread of connectivity for this living plane and beyond, and one human brought to tears by the selfless act of another.

Kudos. You are a noble man.

CG Scott

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