[2] It all started in 1905 when a group of Purdue students took the Cannon to Champaign in anticipation of firing it to celebrate a Boilermaker victory.

Hall, discovered it in a culvert by the field and took it before the Purdue students could start their "booming" celebration.

Hall later moved it to his farmhouse near Milford, Illinois, where it survived a fire and gathered dust until he suggested it be used as a trophy in the football series between the two schools when the rivalry resumed in 1943 after an 11-year lapse.

It was presented at halftime to the schools' athletic directors, Doug Mills and Guy Mackey.

[4] The cannon is now maintained by the Tomahawk Service and Leadership Honorary at Purdue and Illini Pride.