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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. 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
100 Years Ago: Oct. 12-18
From The Indianapolis News, Friday, October 18: Because of the “continued prevalence of the influenza epidemic,” the state-wide ban on all public gatherings will continue until October 26. The Indianapolis board of health established an opening time of 9:45 a.m. and a closing time of 6:15 p.m. for all retail … Read More
World War I 100 Years Ago: Oct. 5-11
From The Indianapolis News, Monday, October 7: Clad in olive tinged khaki and carrying shouldered rifles with long bayonets flashing in the sun, a detachment of the French Foreign Legion, led by a mounted police escort and the Indianapolis Newsboys’ Band, marched through Indianapolis downtown streets this afternoon amid the … Read More