Henry Shaw at the Mendocino Centennial Celebration, 1952.
A frequent participant in local parades, Shaw’s striking appearance – draped in fur skins, complemented by a long white beard and flowing hair – earned him admiration as the embodiment of a primitive man.
Born in Liverpool, England in 1880, Henry immigrated to the United States in the early 1900s, settling in Elk in 1906. He was a graduate of Oxford University and a cousin of the famed playwright George Bernard Shaw.
After arriving in Mendocino County, Shaw tried his hand at a wide variety of jobs. He worked at the Mendocino Mill for a while. In 1911 he became an ordained minister of the Christian Church in Ukiah. Later he returned to the coast, becoming a licensed embalmer who owned his own funeral business in Fort Bragg. After selling his business, he worked for J. D. Johnson, the Mendocino undertaker.
Henry Shaw at the Mendocino Centennial Celebration, 1952
Later in life he moved back to Fort Bragg. Although nicknamed the “Hermit,” he was a very sociable person. He was interested in civic improvement, attending city council and other government meetings. He was an honorary member of the Fort Bragg Volunteer Fire Department.
Shaw died in Ukiah in 1955 after a lengthy illness. Friends remembered him for his generosity. A pensioner in his later years, he saved from his limited income to aid those less fortunate, offering not just financial help but also a place to stay in his modest apartment.
Today @11AM! Walking Tours of Historic Mendocino – Join our expert docents for a stroll and lively commentary. You’ll pass by early pioneer homes, historic meeting places, and buildings that make up the Mendocino Historic District.