Charles and George King write,
“Hey everybody,
The coat is with the textile conservator and they’re working on it and it’s going great! A magazine about the Civil War is publishing some news about this special Gloucester coat and restoration. We will share that as soon as it’s published. In the meantime, we have a display case to decide on!
As a reminder, we hope that the coat will be shown 3D which poses some problems. For instance it makes any display case bigger and therefore more expensive. Before we make a decision we’d like the public to weigh in.
We have three options. All of them include the coat standing up on a special form from the restorer, a secure Gloucester High School location, and a stand design big enough to support the coat and show it off.
1)We can place the coat in the huge, already made display case in the Gloucester High School currently filled with trophies and an old poster. The JROTC case needs to be de-cluttered and rearranged and the lighting switched out.
Pros: inexpensive and easy
Cons: You can not walk around the coat. (However we could install a mirror behind it.) 
2)We can put the coat in a 5 sided display case (1/4″ plexi) on a pedestal out in the open in the Gloucester High School. The wood shop could also make a cabinet for underneath the pedestal Pros: you can walk around the coat Cons: more expensive than option 1 (estimates from a museum and gallery supplier start at $2000) 
3)Same as option (2), with some first class benefits that may offer more climate control
Pros: Special access door, special linen wrapped aluminum base, 3/8″ plexi
Cons: Pricey as estimates (from a museum and gallery supplier) with crating and shipping were more than $5000.
Conservation vs. good enough?
Because some of the estimates are as much money as the restoration, we are considering all the pros and cons and want to hear from the supporters.
On the one hand, we think it’s a shame to repair the coat and chance going through this for nothing. On the other hand, these estimates are more than it costs for kids to go to camp this summer.
We ask: is there a case for such a case?
Please email us your vote for 1), 2), or 3) or any comments or questions you have.
We hope to reach as many residents as possible, especially kids.
We wish nd Jane Enos will ask the Cape Ann Beacon readers, Mr. Lamont will ask the Gloucester Daily Times readers, and Kim will ask Good Morning Gloucester, and Caroline will ask in the High School,and Jule will ask Bay State Banner readers –even though we’ve asked so much already. “
Sincerely
Charles and George King
Good Morning Gloucester 