The water of the Georgian Bay Was very rough and shallow And so upon the highest point Was placed a barrel of tallow This barrel was very special To a small town with no name The town became so proud of it The barrel became its fame. When the water became rough and dark And ships out there were lost The only thing that guided them Was the light upon the rocks. I can picture in my mind The ships of long ago Champlain and all his company Watching for the glow. They knew the shoals were dangerous They knew they must be right And so the burning tallow Was more than a welcome sight. Many years have passed since then And the barrel upon the hill Is replaced by a modern lighthouse In the town of Pointe-au-Baril. The barrel and the tallow Are memories of the past But the name that tells the story Will last and last and last. Mindy Ord (Grant) 1978