Paul Langan is going to tell us about the legend of Orval Shaw—The Bandit of Skunk’s Misery. We often hear fragments of stories and myths. Paul has done the research. He is going to talk about the process of collecting information for historical books and about how this booklet came together.
Orval Shaw never killed anyone or committed any major crime, yet from 1921 to 1934, Orval’s life of petty crimes led to some of the most sensational police hunts to try and capture him.
On April 3, 1929, in Hespeler, Ontario, the greatest force of police anywhere in Canada was assembled to search for the “mystery man of Skunk’s Misery.” For the first time ever, historian and author Paul Langan has collected all the known published information on Orval into one book. Local connection: Paul’s mother’s family, the Doyle’s, are from 9th Concession of Raleigh Township.
Book released- 11/13/2024 – ISBN 978-1998829408
We will have books for sale at this book signing event.
In the meantime, to order his book(s):
WORDSWORTH BOOKS in Waterloo, Ontario carries all Paul Langan books in print.
Booklet is also available from Amazon. The Bandit of Skunk’s Misery is only paperback; no e-book options available .
Mission: to promote, encourage and foster the study of local history and genealogy including original research.
The Historical Society primarily focuses on local history within the bounds of the current Municipality of Southwest Middlesex, located in the south-west tip of Middlesex County.
The area includes:
Village of Glencoe
Ekfrid Township [Former]
Mosa Township [Former]
Appin
Newbury
Melbourne
Middlemiss
Wardsville
Local Expertise: Many of our members are experts in regional history:
land registry records for West Middlesex 1790-1973
regional settlement in the 1800’s
life and culture throughout the past 200 years
involvement in WW1 and WW2
history of local families
significant buildings and structures
local agriculture
building design and methods, and
textiles, sewing, quilting.
Objectives: The Glencoe & District Historical Society is an incorporated non-profit volunteer organization. It is a member of the Ontario Historical Society and the Ontario Genealogical Society. Our objectives are:
To promote, encourage and foster the study of local history and genealogy including original research.
To collect and preserve information, including books, manuscripts, typescripts, charts, maps, photographs, photostats, microfilms, tapes and related material for such historical study.
To reproduce some of the talks presented to the Society, as well as other research and materials, particularly relating to the region and to sell such reproductions.
To encourage, support and solicit research information on heritage buildings in our District as well as lend our support to other community groups who are active and interested in the preservation and restoration of heritage buildings.
The founding president Reverend George Hamilton held a strong passion regarding the preservation of local history and believed in the importance of sharing knowledge and engaging people with an organization that would provide an environment focused on encouraging these interests. The Society was formed in April 1978.
