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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: Oct. 26-Nov. 1
From The Indianapolis News, Thursday, October 31: With the gradual decrease in influenza cases, the Indianapolis board of health has lifted the ban on meetings and other activities just in time for ghosts, witches, goblins, and other weird figures to once again make their annual swoop along the city’s streets … Read More
“I Had a Little Bird . . .”
Along with the cool days of fall and as predictable as the changing leaves are the public service announcements reminding people to get their flu shots. Such was not the case a century ago when the great pandemic swept across the United States and the world, leaving many today with … Read More
100 Years Ago: Oct. 19-25
From The Indianapolis Star, Tuesday, October 22: Following emergency calls for aid from several Indiana counties where the influenza death rate approaches one in every 200 residents, Captain William King, assistant secretary of the state board of health, declared the most serious aspect of the influenza epidemic in Indiana is … Read More
World War I 100 Years Ago:
From The Indianapolis Star, Friday, October 25: Michael E. Foley, chair of the State Council of Defense, issued a statement yesterday condemning daubing homes with yellow paint of those suspected of disloyalty. A mob spirit was demonstrated earlier in the week when two Indianapolis homes of persons alleged to have … Read More
World War I 100 Years Ago: Oct. 12-18
From The Indianapolis News, Thursday, October 17: A tent equipped to care for emergency cases of Spanish influenza which might arise among troops passing through the city has been erected at the Indianapolis Red Cross canteen at Union Station. The tent has a board floor, electric lights, two cots, and … Read More