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From American Archaeology, Winter 2005-2006, Vol. 9, No. 4, "A Glimpse of 19th-Century Farming," by Jim Walker:"The Conservancy has acquired the remains of a portion of the Redondo Ranch Ruin, also known as La Hacienda San Ysidro, an historical homestead, farm, and ranch that dates from the late 1800's. The preserve, located in Yuma, Arizona, contains the standing walls of what is believed to have been a mill along with the remains of three other smaller associated structures. Jose Maria Redondo (1830-1878), who came from a prominent family in Sonora, Mexico, worked in the California gold fields as a teenager. He moved to southwest Arizona in 1839 to establish a store and bakery in the mining camp of Laguna along the Colorado River, and he later opened a store in Gila City and became a partner in a ferry business. His commercial ventures were highly successful. In the early 1860's he acquired a large tract of land along the Gila River, and he built 27 miles of canals and ditches to bring river water to his acreage. The enterprise was the first large-scale irrigated farm of the historical period in Arizona. Wheat, barley, beans, corn, sugar cane, peanuts, and various fruits and vegetables were raised there. Livestock at the ranch included sheep, goats, cattle, and horses. According to historical records, as many as 100 Yaqui Indian families worked at the ranch, living just outside the walled ranch headquarters. Redondo was a prominent figure in Yuma's development, and he served for a time in the Territorial legislature. His sudden death in 1878 led to the rapid demise of the ranch. The adobe structures quickly fell into ruin from disuse. Although the site has been disturbed by looters over the years, a testing program conducted by the consulting firm Janus Associates in the 1980's found intact floors and features. The site is listed in the National Register of Historic Places."}
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