Eric Sloane, in his book "Our Vanishing Landscape," states that the sun used to designate the mens' privy, while the moon designated the womwns'. If so, this probably harks back to Diana and Apollo in Roman mythology.

Marty Pickands
New York State Museum Cultural Resource Survey

>>> [log in to unmask] 09/29/05 12:26 PM >>>
I know that several of you have dealt with this question before and have the 
answer already.   I was asked what was the significance of the crescent moon 
design on privies.   I was given a number of options:

1. It was a symbol denoting Islamic origins

2. It originated in the Civil War in Louisiana

3. The structure doubled as an astronomical observatory
 
4. None of the above

I suspect that the answer is #4.   Can anyone give me an accurate reply?

RLH