Red flannel drawers

These drawers were once a hidden secret. Since a woman could not wear trousers in public in the 19th century, her long skirt kept them modestly out of sight. In a letter, an English traveler to Canada sketched the construction of the "coarse red or linsey-woolsey large knickerbockers" she used here. "Ladies wear them out of doors over everything except crinoline and outer skirts. Strong warm protection against the cold will save much in sickness and worry." People believed red wool undergarments provided health benefits.