For the 1930 Homecoming the rooks (freshmen) gathered fuel from all over Corvallis and built "the greatest woodpile ever hauled to the campus" on the lot between Waldo Hall and McAlexander Fieldhouse (near the current site of Snell Hall). The bonfire burned on the Friday night preceding Oregon State's homecoming football game against the University of Oregon. The Beavers shut out the Ducks 15-0 in that game.
1924 Rook Bonfire. Each year's freshman class attempted to build the largest "Rook Bonfire" (the Homecoming Bonfire) in school history, often adding long poles to add to the height. Donor's description: "Puttin it together. I'm on the left in the white(?) shirt." Labeled as B-2.