Like many Colorado towns in the 1800's, Central City was settled in an 1859 gold rush. The town soon became known as the "Richest Square Mile on Earth." Millionaires were made over night!
On the third Saturday in June each year, most "miners" clad only in their red Union Suits escort "ladies of the evening" down main street in a popular town parade. One young lady is crowned "Lou Bunch Madam" of the year.
After the parade it is time for the the "Brass Bed Race." The miners wearing Long Underwear jump on beds with their girls. One of the miners (the driver) quickly slips on a striped night shirt over his red Union Suit and pushes beds up and down Main Street for all he is worth.
It
is my unqualified opinion that modern day Colorado has more Union Suit
wearers than any other state. At least that is my impression because
of the number of guys who appear in public in their Union Suits! Plus
it is down right cold in the Centennial State a great deal of the year. Yep, I think Colorado must
be Number 1 with so many of the men
there wearing one-piece long Underwear. And boys, that includes Montana, Minnesota, Michigan, Vermont, Maine, and even Tennessee.
It's
possible that I am wrong but in addition to the Long John wearing
miners above, Manitou Springs, CO also has Union Suit clad firemen
who participate in an annual coffin race each October. See my blog
posting of December 5, 2016:
Apparently, in Colorado, generations of men and boys wear Union Suits. Take Karen of Leadville, CO. She has reported in this blog that not only her husband but her daddy and older son all wear Union Suits! I bet her granddaddy and great granddaddy did too!
Further Proof: As a boy my family and I took a trip to Colorado visiting Pikes Peak, Seven Falls, the Royal Gorge, and the fun western town, "Buckskin Joe's," located just outside of Canon City Colorado. I have never forgotten the main street gun fight with a stand off between the sheriff and a sinister bank robber. No blood was shed when the sheriff out drew the bad guy. Rather, his bullet hit the belt buckle of the robber causing his britches to plummet to the ground revealing his Long Red Underwear. Dropping his gun and abandoning a bag of money as well as his britches in the middle of main street, the bad guy was run out of town in his Union Suit. I thought it hilarious!
Yep, Colorado is synonymous with Union Suits!
Added November 19, 2017:
Franklin of Carson City, NV submitted the above photograph of "another grizzled gold miner with his lady friend sporting boots and red Long Johns."
Thanks, Franklin! I don't know if this is you in disguise but apparently Nevada gentlemen wear their Union Suits to special events as well. Regards...Chris
Dalton of Wheat Ridge, CO emails to tell me that he agrees with me that "Colorado must be the union suit capital of the U.S. I wear union suits six or seven months out of year to work and outdoor activities. And, last Christmas we bought the popular one-piece long johns for my 15 year old son and my 14 year old step son. The boys just love them and wear them snow-boarding and as pajamas at night."
ReplyDeleteGreat post. Thanks Chris
ReplyDeleteSo how about it Oynneb (and other "fans") ...is Colorado the Union Suit capital of the U.S. or can you make a case for your state??!!
ReplyDelete