Installing the Dennis 13-Star Flag

One of the most exciting projects of 2014 was concluded early in July with the reinstallation of the 13-star ensign flag belonging to the town of Dennis, Massachusetts. Completed in a mere 4 months, this conservation treatment was an exercise in collaboration--and often patience--resulting in a strikingly dramatic historic flag returning to its home town.

Dennis 13-star flag as it hung in the Nathanial Wixon Innovative School auditorium for 28 years.

The Dennis flag after conservation by Museum Textile Services.

The flag was deinstalled on March 7th, 2014, by MTS colleague Barrett M Keating, a renowned furniture conservator from N. Falmouth, Massachusetts. Barrett also helped us four years ago with the installation of the Tricentennial Quilt at the Falmouth Public Library. 

Conservator Barrett M Keating painstakingly removing staples that the previous installers used to attach the flag to a wooden beam.

Due to the age and quality of the previous conservation treatment, we were anticipating that the flag was suspended from a Velcro hanging system. What Barrett found instead was that the conservators had attached a Velcro header to the back of the flag, but the installers had chosen to staple, nail, and tack the flag to a wooden beam, rather than using a Velcro slat. Fortunately for everyone, Barrett was able to carefully remove each bit of hardware, leaving the top edge intact. He rolled the flag and later delivered it to MTS.

Conservation of the flag took place during March and April, 2014, and was documented in visiting conservator Lisa Yeats' blog A View From Down Under. The previous lining and repairs were retained, additional repairs made to that lining where necessary, and the entire flag was overlaid with sheer nylon net. This invisible net protects the many frayed areas and provides preventive conservation as the flag continues to age. When conservation was complete, the flag was rolled and awaited installation in July.

Visiting conservator Lisa Yeats netting the flag.

The 3-part support panel was assembled.

Archival polyfelt was attached with tape.

The padded panel was covered with muslin.

In order to accomplish the tricky mounting, framing and installation in just three days, we brought together a team consisting of current and former MTS staff and interns. In addition to Director Camille Breeze and Conservator Cara Jordan, intern Kate Herron, former intern Jen Nason and former technician Courtney Jason made the trip down to the Cape. Although the three long days were extremely hot and humid inside the auditorium, and there were many sore fingers and backs, it was great to spend time together and we made the best of our evenings on lovely Cape Cod.

"Quick Draw" Courtney Jason.

Kate, Courtney and Jen taking five.

After hours at Harvest Gallery & Wine Bar.

Kate and Courtney taking their turns working on hands and knees as the flag was unrolled.

Barrett Keating returned on day 3 to help MTS and Artex with framing.

The most challenging part of the job for the MTS team was getting the flag stitched down to the padded panel within the day and a half allotted. Using curved needles and cotton thread, lines of stitching were placed along every other stripe, around the perimeter, and at each star. This thorough support system, along with the preventive netting, assured us that the flag could withstand vertical display for another 30 years. It was tough work but we met our deadline.

Cara and Courtney inspecting the flag prior to framing.

Artex FAS was hired to install the flag on the auditorium wall.

On day 3, Barrett Keating returned to help assemble the frame and acrylic system custom built for us by Small Corp. Inc. Artex FAS also arrived that day to attach the cleat to the auditorium wall and lift the framed flag onto the cleat using two super lifts. By the end of the day, however, concerns emerged about the strength of the cleat. Reluctantly, the decision was made to halt the installation until the following Monday, when a stronger cleat could be used. Camille drove to Western Mass. on Saturday to pick up a replacement cleat made the day before.

On Monday, Camille met the Artex team and installation resumed. After the new cleat was hung, Artex decided that the flag was too large and heavy to be maneuvered by four men. The ability of the super lifts to handle the 500-lb framed flag and the men was also called into question. For safety reasons, Camille asked them instead to unframe the flag and install it first without the metal frame and acrylic. Once the flag was positioned on the wall, the question became whether the acrylic and frame were stable enough to be maneuvered into place without the benefit of the panel system. Again for safety reasons, as well as concerns about the configuration of the auditorium, the powder-coated metal frame alone was attached to the flag panel, and the acrylic was omitted. Light levels were measured at a very low 10 lux, and cleanliness had not been a problem during its previous 30 years on display, so eliminating the acrylic was an acceptable compromise.

The Artex team preparing to install the mounted flag onto the new cleat.

The mounted flag finally makes it safely onto the wall.

The Museum Textile Services team would like to thank all the professionals who assisted with this historic conservation effort. We are especially grateful to Dianne Rochelle of the Dennis Historical Commission who acted as our go-between with the Town of Dennis and the various committees and agencies that had a say in this project. She and her husband were at the auditorium for nearly all of the four days we spent there, adding important insight and support. Stay tuned for one last blog about the history of the Dennis flag, including Diane's research.

The framed flag after installation.

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Camille Myers Breeze founded Museum Textile services in 1999. She is a prolific author, and educator of museum personnel and emerging conservation professionals in the US and abroad.