Shaw Oil Gusher Image courtesy of the Oil Museum of CanadaShaw Oil Gusher Image courtesy of the Oil Museum of Canada
Sarnia

Virtual talk highlights discovery of Shaw oil gusher in 1862

The Oil Museum of Canada is hosting a virtual talk Thursday night about Canada's first oil gusher.

Curator Erin Dee-Richard said they've partnered with Lambton Heritage Museum to share the story behind who uncovered the Shaw gusher.

"In this talk, Lambton Heritage Museum's Curator/Supervisor, Dana Thorne, will share details surrounding the confusion between John Shaw and Hugh Nixon Shaw," said Dee-Richard. "She will discuss which Shaw uncovered Canada's first oil gusher in 1862 and how historians got it wrong for so long."

Dee-Richard said there was a time when one of the Shaw's legacy seemed destined for obscurity, while the other would get all the credit.

"Through Dana Thorne’s research, we have been able to decipher and clarify who actually brought in the first oil gusher. After a successful launch of virtual talks in 2021, we’re looking forward to expanding this year and exploring additional topics related to oil history.”

The discussions are free, but pre-registration is required.

You can register for the event online here. 

The Oil Museum just reopened following over a year of renovations. 

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