Orval Shaw: The Bandit of Skunk's Misery - Author Talk at Guelph Civic Museum

 

Join award-winning historian Paul Langan on February 3, 2026, at the Guelph Civic Museum for a captivating presentation about Orval Shaw, Ontario's notorious "Skunk's Misery Bandit." Discover the untold story of this 1920s folk hero who evaded police across 40+ Ontario communities. 

Event Details: Guelph Historical Society Evenings with History

📅 Date: Tuesday, February 3, 2026
🕖 Time: Doors open at 7:00 PM, Lecture begins at 7:30 PM
📍 Location: Guelph Civic Museum, 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario

 

Who Was Orval Shaw? The Legend of the Skunk's Misery Bandit

Orval Shaw wasn't just another criminal—he was a master escape artist, a symbol of Depression-era defiance, and a folk hero whose name once echoed through over 40 cities, towns, and rural communities across Ontario. Known as the "Skunk's Misery Bandit," Shaw captured the public's imagination during the 1920s and 1930s with his daring escapes and Robin Hood-like persona.

Operating primarily in southwestern Ontario, Shaw used his intimate knowledge of the dense Skunk's Misery swampland near Newbury (Mosa Township, Southwest Middlesex) to evade massive police manhunts that included Indian guides and civilian posses. His legendary ability to disappear into the wilderness—and even laugh at police from tree branches while they searched below—made him a celebrated figure in Ontario history.

The largest police hunt in Ontario's history at the time, was chasing Orval through Guelph and surrounding area. 

Paul Langan's Discovery: Uncovering a Forgotten Ontario Legend

"Orval's life would make a fantastic Hollywood movie!" says Cambridge-based historian Paul Langan, who stumbled upon Shaw's story while researching local history in the Hespeler area. "I was amazed that nobody had comprehensively researched his life previously."

Langan's journey to write "Orval Shaw: The Bandit of Skunk's Misery" involved extensive archival research, combing through historical newspaper accounts, and tracking down a distant relative of Shaw's who provided rare personal insights. The biggest challenges? Finding photographs of the elusive bandit and piecing together details of his private life that had been lost to time. 

What to Expect at This Guelph Historical Society Presentation

During this Evenings with History lecture, attendees will discover:

·         Orval Shaw's difficult early life and how he became the Skunk's Misery Bandit

·         His legendary cat-and-mouse games with Ontario police forces in the 1920s

·         Daring jail escapes, including his dramatic 1928 breakout from Chatham jail

·         How Shaw stole cars, wore disguises (including a British army uniform), and evaded capture across multiple counties

·         His time in Kingston Penitentiary and attempts to rebuild his life

·         The 1975 interview with a 71-year-old Shaw and what happened after his criminal days

·         Why this Depression-era outlaw became a folk hero in Ontario communities 

About Author and Historian Paul Langan

Paul Langan is one of Ontario's most prolific local historians, having published over 30 books on regional history and railway heritage since beginning his writing career in 1999. Based in Cambridge, Ontario, Langan specializes in preserving forgotten stories from southwestern Ontario's past.

Awards and Recognition:

·         City of Cambridge Sports Contributor of the Year Award

·         Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal Recipient

·         Rudolph Boost Heritage Award - City of Cambridge

·         Bernice Adams Legacy Award for the Literary Arts - City of Cambridge

Beyond his historical writing, Langan founded High Speed Rail Canada, an educational resource center advocating for passenger rail service. He has also volunteered in youth sports for over 30 years and serves as President of FUSE, a registered charity promoting arts in his community. 

Paul Langan's Recent Local History Books (2024-2025)

·         Orval Shaw - The Bandit of Skunk's Misery (2024)

·         Forgotten History and Stories of the Railway - Galt, Preston & Hespeler (2025)

·         The Fisted Fate: A Tale of the Preston-Guelph Stagecoach (2024)

·         John "Jack" Langan - The Legendary Irish Pugilist (2024)

·         Classic Hockey Stories from Pulps Golden Era, Vol. II 1930s-1950s (2024)