Our Historic Painted Curtains

Like most Grange Halls, the Broad Brook Grange #151 was built with a stage. Many of these old Granges in New England also have distinctive painted curtains used as grand drapes and backgrounds for plays.

The Broad Brook Grange is fortunate to have four such curtains, all painted by the Guilford born artist Charles Henry.  It is in front of these historic backdrops that many Guilford Center Stage performances have come to life. And where one of Charles Henry's own plays, A Battle of Wits was performed in 2016.

A vintage theater stage set featuring a painted backdrop of a scenic landscape. The scene includes mountains, a lake, a dirt path, and a cottage surrounded by trees. The foreground shows a wooden floor, and decorative curtains frame the top of the stage.

The Old Mill, painted by Charles Henry, circa 1900.

Vintage theater backdrop featuring a coastal scene with a lighthouse, ocean waves, a small red cottage, cliffs, and surrounding trees. Overhead, a painted decorative theater curtain is visible.

Seascape painted by Charles Henry, circa 1900.

Vintage theatrical stage with painted forest backdrop and wooden floor.

Woodland Scene painted by Charles Henry, circa 1900.

Illustration of a Roman chariot race with a driver guiding four black horses, set on a stage adorned with red curtains.

The Grand Drape painted by Charles Henry, circa 1900.