History of the Area:

Andrew Baldwin bought Crescent Moon Ranch in 1935.
Later after he died, his widow Janet inherited it, and she remarried the
owner of Red Canyon Ranch.

Nick and Lois Duncan later bought Crescent Moon Ranch, which included the now famous ford, called Baldwin's Crossing, on April 10, 1953.

But, where did it get its Name?

Probably the most recognizable symbol associated with the traditional
outhouse building is the familiar CRESCENT MOON carved into the privy door. Actually, the symbol is an ancient one, and was a sign for womanhood (-luna-) in colonial days and on the frontier.

Its male counterpart, Sol, was either a star or a sun burst design also on the door. Since most male outhouses fell into disrepair rather quickly they
seldom survived; while the female ones were better maintained, and were
eventually used by male and female.

Although you can find outhouses still standing with the crescent moon, the original meaning for gender identification was lost (in translation?) by the late nineteenth century in most areas of the United States.

Well-photographed Cathedral Rock dominates the skyline south of Crescent Moon Ranch, Arizona. Here's a close-up of the west tower of Cathedral, as seen from the vortex site.

June 18, 2009