n tusks. He believed space should be used economically. Jefferson had many inventions displayed around Monticello. An example of one of his inventions was an hour clock, placed over the main entry doors of the entrance hall that connected to a seven-day calendar run by weights. The weights were actually Revolutionary War cannon balls. "The weights moved with the clock's ticking and controlled the gong on the P4 roof that struck hourly." The days of the week were indicated by the movement of the weights, which passed by marks on the wall for Sunday through Friday. Jefferson did forget about Saturday and had to have the cannon balls pass through holes in the floor to reach Saturday marked on the wall of a recreation room below. Another invention Jefferson had in the house was a rotating pantry door that had shelves built on it to hold dishes with food. The servants would place the food on the shelves and rotate the door so that the food would be in the dining room. Jefferson also had in the dining room, dumbwaiters that were built into the sides of the fireplace. These dumbwaiters were mechanical lifts for sending wine bottles up from the cellar beneath the dining room. In the entrance hall he had a set of doors, that were separately hung and free-swinging, that opened and closed in automatic harmony. People were mystified at how Jefferson was able to invent such an unusual set of doors. And it wasn't until 150 years later, when the floor needed to be replaced, that a mechanism was found under the flooring and the mystery was solved. Thomas Jefferson was known as the "Father of American Architecture" because of ingenious ideas for new buildings. He was a man that was very ahead of his time, and today is still truly appreciated. He had wished that he would die in Monticello and his wish was answered. He died in his bedroom at Monticello on July 4, 1826 and was also buried on the grounds. The great mansion had to b...
