Privy to secrets of Monticello/Operation of privies a mystery (T Jefferson Indoor Crapper Design)

Richmond Times Dispatch (Times Dispatch, Disgrace,Distort (whatever) ^ | Aug 10, 2003 | CARLOS SANTOS

[putupon]

CHARLOTTESVILLE - It might not be the mystery of the century, but historical researchers at Monticello are puzzling over just how Thomas Jefferson's elaborate but primitive system of privies operated both inside the great house and out.

Was the waste meant to be flushed away by water or hauled out by a wheeled device called an "earth car?" Were the privies locked for use only by the select? Were they used according to gender or station? What was used for toilet paper? Did they wash their hands after? What was the purpose of the long tunnels connected to the privies that Jefferson referred to as "sinks"? Why did he call the privies "air closets?"

[putupon]

For anyone interested more historic dumping mechanisms:

[Tijeras_Slim]

I've waited all my life for the straight poop on this mystery.

[YOMO]

It's a Crappy job but someone must flush out the truth.

[putupon]

The Clintoons have been trying to denigrate the Founding Fathers for a while now in order mask the smell of Bubba. Judging the leftwing propoganda rag that published this story, I suspect this another attempt.

While some of the guests to Montecello may have dropped "bombs", it is well known by all true Americans that Mr. Jefferson's $#!+ did not stink.

[davisfh]

"...it is well known by all true Americans that Mr. Jefferson's $#!+ did not stink."

But that's just an opinion. And, you know what they say about opinions. They're just like rectums. Everyone has one and they all stink.

[putupon]

My doesn't, and if mine doesn't, certainly Thomas Jefferson's couldn't.

Trust me, I wouln't hand you no

[martin_fierro]

Tough TP? > s h u d d e r <

[martin_fierro]

I came home on Saturday night,
As drunk as I could be.
And there was a hat upon the rack,
Where my hat ought to be.

So I said to my wife, the curse of my life,
"Explain this thing to me,
Whose is that hat upon the rack,
Where my hat ought to be?"

"Oh, you're drunk you fool,
You silly old fool,
You're as drunk as a (#$@&) can be,
That's not a hat upon the rack,
But a chamberpot you see."

I hate it when that happens.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Whigs... Federalists... I'm always getting them mixed up.

[larryjohnson]

I find this interesting,more so than whether he screwed slave girls.
I was just there in March. The bedroom privy,I got the impression was just a chamber pot in a closet. Shoot, my GGGrampa's house in N. Va had that feature which I used as a kid. I had to take it to the outhouse and dump it if I used it ,however.

[martin_fierro]

Privy to secrets of Monticello/Operation of privies a mystery

This guy looks like he knows something.

[ZviTheWise]

There are lots of architectural/technical mysteries hidden at Monticello. It could be that the pooper tunnels were part of some Jeffersonian brainstorm that never quite worked out.

[davisfh]

Wow! And it's still steaming too.

[wildbill]

There really is no mystery here. The toilets were obviously early versions of the composting "waterless" toilets that are currently on the market. Run a google search on "composting toilets." They are particularly good environemenal answer to the problem of removing human waste in areas where water is lacking (deserts)or hard to obtain (mountainsides)for watercloset construction.

Here's how they work. Human waste is dropped onto the long downward slope of the "sink". It is transformed by heat and enzyme action into non-toxic compost or mulch. When the compost mulch wound up at the bottom of the "sink" chamber, it was no doubt collected by the earth carts and used by the canny Jefferson as agricultural fertilizer.

The air vents carry any odor out of the house. Using a connection to the fireplaces is brilliant because of the drawing effect of rising hot air. Also, any wind crossing the top of the chimney would produce a venturi effect that would enhance the draw of the upward rising air and dissipate any odors.

An international patent was given to the Swedish waterless toilet producer, Clivus Multrum a number of years ago. Maybe Jefferson should have applied for a patent.