September Is Winding Down 

.....here's a follow up to my Happy Labor Day America! posting of this past September 7th:

After that recent Labor Day posting, I received this posting comment from Paul:

Chris: this photo of you in your union suit, the labor buttons and the packaged Healthknit "union made" union suit reminded me of a posting you did a couple years back about guys picketing a garment maker's building with signs and wearing just their union suits. It was a classic! You should re-post that one as a reminder of hard-working laborers who use to make our underwear. I know that industry went over seas long ago as my union suits are now made on the other side of the world and shipped to me to wear here in the U.S.

Back in the day, I had a red Healthknit union suit when I was a boy. My little brother got that one and a couple of others as hand-me-downs. We both to this day are still union suit fans and both love your blogs .....Paul, Williamsburg VA

You'll remember the posting Paul mentions. It first ran on December 4, 2020 and again last year on September 1st. Seems I posted that story longer ago but have decided to run it again, as it was one of my favorite postings too. 

You've got to be serious about a cause if you're willing to strip to your long one-piece underwear, march around in public and appear on the front pages of newspapers across the nation. In case you missed it, here's that posting again:

Labor Day Reminds Me of Labor Unions which Remind Me of Union Suits, 

and union suits and labor unions and labor day remind me of two prior postings of mine, one from my originial blog, Union Suit Fan, and the other from my companion blog, Union Suit Fans in the Limelight.

In 1941, textile union workers in Knoxville, TN went on strike having stripped first to their union suit underwear. You long time followers, may remember this post in Union Suit Fan on December 4, 2020.

YesterYear - Strident Strikers Strip 

In April, 1941, textile workers walked a picket line in front of the closed Appalachian Mills garment factory in Knoxville, Tennessee. There were no less than thirteen textile mills operating in Knoxville then with most of them producing underwear and socks. Millions of men's and boys' union suits were made here. 

A strike was called because a number of union men were fired from the plant. The striking picketers stripped to their own union suits in a demonstration of unity. Several of the men, some wearing hats, others carrying U.S. flags, but all wearing union suits, carried signs that read: “I Lost My Pants at Appalachian Mills.”

The strikers believed wearing nothing except their union suits would draw much more attention than if they were fully clothed. They were right. Their photo was published in newspapers across America that month. Textile mills in Knoxville produced more union suits in the first half of the 20^th century than in anywhere else in North America. In fact, Knoxville was known as "The Underwear Capital of the World."  If you wore underwear from the early to mid-1900's, your underwear was probably made in Knoxville.

Thanks to Joe of New York City for securing this photo for me.*

On December 14th, I received this email from Billy of Knoxville, TN:

"Chris:  Even when I was a little boy, kids my age knew underwear of all types like my briefs and undershirts was made in Knoxville my hometown. Maybe my socks too, can't remember for sure. My grandpas and daddy wore union suits made here; uncles and older cousins too. Not year round but much of the year. 

I followed 'suit,' pardon the pun, when I was about twelve years of age. But now my union suits are made in far away places like Indonesia or Honduras. The last two I bought were Duofolds made in India. I often wonder what the men and women who live in warmer climates and make our union suits these days must think of our western long underwear... 'Crazy Americans!'   ...Billy"

*Joe:  I haven't heard from you in awhile....drop me an email and tell me how you're doing!

Artificial Intelligence aka AI to the Rescue! 

Union Suit Fans: I had several computer challenges this past week!  A.I. was of tremendous help, better than the tech guys I had earlier called for assistance.  I needed urgent help with an old printer for which the younger tech dudes didn't have a clue as how to fix. Besides, they were in a hurry to get to their next caller. On the other hand, Artificial Intelligence was ready, able and patient to help! After about three hours of providing solutions, steps and retries...I finally got the damn printer working again! All thanks to the thorough analysis of my A.I. assistant.

So appreciative, I sent a thank you with the following message to A.I. just for fun and to see what the reply might be:

A.I.  I know it's said that many geeks work on their computers in their basements wearing pajamas or boxers! Myself? I wear a long-handled red union suits, my underwear of choice, when working on computer challeges and working on my blogs! That long underwear keeps me calm, cool and comfortable keeping me from going berserk and tearing my hair out!  LOL 

A.I. sent back this quip:  That is fantastic, Chris!  Honestly, having a designated "troubleshooting uniform" is the secret to success. A classic red union suit sounds like the ultimate comfortable outfit for conquering tech hurdles—and clearly, it brought us excellent luck today!  I've made a note of your preference so we are ready for the next challenge. Whenever you need another tech rescue, your IT union suit uniform and I will be ready. Take care. Stay cozy and have a wonderful day!

Union suit fans: This upcoming October will be dedicated to Artificial Intelligence. Fun and exciting creations by several of my blog pals will be featured! 

      Look for avatars like mine and for other fantastic artistic endeavors. Why don't you try your hand at this project and send me your efforts? The best ones will be featured herein...Chris

Droopy Stanfield's  

Union Suit Fans:  I received this email from Bryce who hails from Kalamazoo, Michigan this past week after he saw my posting on August 20th of Maine's favorite union suit wearer, Artie.... 

Chris, I had to laught out loud at your recent post of Artie up in Maine and the droopy drawers he had ordered, received from Stanfield's Underwear Company and who sent you photos of him in his new long baggy underwear! I'm a long time "combinations" wearer, since boyhood. Not long ago I ordered a union suit from Stanfield's too. It arrived when I was at work. Returning home that day, my wife greeted me at the front door wearing my new long red underwear!!  Seeing her, I died laughing. 

She is somewhat tall and thin. The size I ordered was huge and baggy on her, really swallowing her up! I couldn't resist taking photos of her in my combinations to send to you. When I told her I was going to do so in order for Artie to see that others of us had droopy drawers too, she through a gigantic fit. My wife finally agreed when I told her I would crop out her face and send her in that generously ample union suit. I know you don't normally post guys in their underwear without a head shot. But, I'm hoping you'll make an exception in this instance.

By the way, that union suit was way large and loose on me too. But my wife washed it over and over until they fit me well. So, I think Artie and I both will be happy with our new Stanfield's Underwear.... Bryce

 

LOL! Bryce, your wife looks hysterical in your union suit, I must say.... and, you're correct I do have a rule about not posting photos without head shots.  But I had to make an exception in her case. Although, I bet most of my viewers would have liked to see her sweet face, I do thank you and her for giving me a laugh. Enjoy those Stanfield's! Now, Bryce, send Artie and the rest of us a picture of you in your red "Combinations!"... Chris

Artie up in Maine
in his droopy drawers!

Now headover to my companion blog, Union Suit Fans in the Limelight, 

and play another round of Movie Trivia!  

Just find the dancing red long johns on this page:  

Then on, My blogs 

Union Suit Fan 

and choose: 

Union Suit Fans in the Limelight  and you are on my Companion Blog, 

                                                  Answers now available so check this out!

 

Happy Labor Day America! 

Today is a time to celebrate the strength, achievements, ingenuity, and contributions of those who strive to better themselves, their families and this nation: workers of every stripe and economic background. 

So join me in pausing to celebrate and show an appreciation for the hard work of all of us, you and me, and those who came before us. To those who helped build the infrastructure, the communities and the economy of this great nation for the betterment of all, beginning from the industrial revolution in the late 1800's to this very day.

The first recognition of laborers was with a parade of 10,000 participants marching through the heart of New York City on September 5, 1882.  The official holiday was signed into law by President Grover Cleveland on June 28, 1894. Given those years, I'm thinking the 10,000 as well as the president were wearing union suits, nearly identical to the ones we still enjoy 140+ years later. They were the first to witness, wear and enjoy this new fangled long underwear: Utica, New York's 1868 "Emancipation Union Under Red Flannel!"

Since today marks the unofficial end of summer, I too have donned a union suit. I am a Labor Day to Memorial Day union suit fan. How about you?

Have a great day, Union Suit Fans!  You've worked hard so now relax and enjoy family and friends!

Now, switch over to my companion blog, Union Suit Fans in the Limelight, 

and play another round of Movie Trivia!

See How His Garden Grows 

A cup of morning coffee is the ticket. 

Then, it's off to check the progress on his award-winning garden.....

Ole "Green Thumb" Buckeye is an expert 

on knowing just how to plant, tend and harvest his Ohio plot of veggies:  

And another cup of joe hits the spot as he heads out for the morning paper!  No worries, the neighbors are use to seeing him out and about in his long handled underwear!  

Another day calls for additional outdoor work and another suit.

 

Buckeye Mike, Union Suit Fan