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Author Biography
Steven R. Barnett is Executive Director at the Irvington Historical Society.
Steve Barnett was raised in Irvington. Steve attended School #57, Howe High School (’63), and received a degree from Purdue University (’70). He served in the Indiana National Guard. After a brief hiatus from Irvington, Steve returned to his home town in 1977 with his wife Sue so their three children could grow up in a family friendly environment.
Steve had the good fortune of working with U. S. Representative Andy Jacobs, Jr. and U. S. Representative Julia Carson in the Indianapolis Congressional District Office helping constituents.
After his retirement, Steve became the executive director of the Irvington Historical Society and curator of the Bona Thompson Memorial Center until 2025. Steve was commissioned a Kentucky Colonel by Gov. Wallace G. Wilkinson for service to veterans, and he was appointed a Sagamore of the Wabash by Gov. Joseph Kernan for service to Indiana. In 2016, Steve was named Marion County Historian.
Steven R. Barnett’s Story Archive
100 Years Ago: May 30-June 12
From The Indianapolis Star, Friday, June 5, 1925: The building committee of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Indianapolis, has accepted the design for the most monumental Scottish Rite cathedral in the world. The plan by Indianapolis architect George F. Schreiber is of an immense, three-story Gothic structure … Read More
Garages
It is said, “Necessity is the mother of invention” and in recent times as soon as the personal computer appeared, the laptop bag was created. Similarly, no sooner after the appearance of the smartphone, the selfie stick was developed. These are only simple contemporary examples of this truism. Much earlier, … Read More
100 Years Ago: May 23-29
From The Indianapolis Star, Wednesday, May 27, 1925: All historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway records were shattered yesterday during qualifications for Saturday’s 500-mile gasoline derby. Leon Duray aboard his Miller Special won the pole with an average four lap speed of 113.196 miles an hour besting Tommy Milton’s 1923 record of … Read More
100 Years Ago: May 16-22
From The Indianapolis Times, Friday, May 15, 1925: D. C. Stephenson, Earl Gentry, and Earl Klinck will go on trial in Marion County criminal court, Tuesday, June 2, for the murder of Madge Oberholtzer (a change of venue to Hamilton County Circuit Court delayed the trial). Before a crowded courtroom … Read More
100 Years Ago: May 9-15
From The Indianapolis Times, Friday, May 15, 1925: D. C. Stephenson, Earl Gentry, and Earl Klinck will go on trial in Marion County criminal court, Tuesday, June 2, for the murder of Madge Oberholtzer (a change of venue to Hamilton County Circuit Court delayed the trial). Before a crowded courtroom … Read More