The glamour and excitement of Ridgefield’s famed Stonehenge Inn during the 1950s will be the focus of the Ridgefield History Club on Tuesday, Nov. 17, at 10 a.m. at the Ridgefield Historical Society’s Scott House, 4 Sunset Lane. Historical Society board member Keith Russell will lead an illustrated group discussion, “Clarence Korker’s The Golden Age of Stonehenge – The 1950s,” featuring recently digitized photographs of the inn’s celebrated guests, staff and social life, including entertainers Judy Garland and Jackie Cooper.
Clarence “Korky” Korker documented Ridgefield from the mid- to late 20th century through thousands of photographs and negatives. After retiring, he donated his extensive collection to the Ridgefield Historical Society. Russell has been gradually digitizing the images and adding them to the Society’s online archive. The collection ranges from portraits, weddings and community gatherings to streetscapes, commercial buildings and celebrities visiting Stonehenge Inn.
The Ridgefield History Club is an informal community storytelling program of the Ridgefield Historical Society. The group meets for an hour on the third Tuesday of every month to explore a specific topic in Ridgefield’s history through shared conversation.
Each session is recorded and cataloged in the Historical Society’s archive to preserve these stories for future generations. The program is also streamed live on Facebook and uploaded to the Society’s YouTube channel. Everyone is invited—just bring your curiosity and love of history. Some attend every month, while others join when a topic holds special meaning for them. Longtime Ridgefield residents and newcomers alike are welcome. This free program is a wonderful way to connect with others and discover new insights into the town’s heritage.