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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 This Week: May 18-24
From The Indianapolis Star, Thursday, May 23: The Boy Scout executive board has decided on a permanent camp site for the Boy Scouts of Indianapolis and has authorized $30,000 (2017: $497,763) to purchase the site. The 90-acre Vandercook farm, northeast of the city and west of Ft. Benjamin Harrison, was … Read More
100 Years Ago This Week: May 11-17
From The Indianapolis News, Monday, May 7: The city council unanimously voted to make Indianapolis a “fireproof city.” Mayor Charles Jewett asked for the ordinance which establishes an “efficient, standardized system of fire prevention” with the creation of a fire prevention bureau operating as a division of the city building … Read More
World War I 100 Years Ago: May 4-10
From The Indianapolis Star, Saturday, May 4: In response to the depredations by dogs, cats, chickens, cattle, horses, hogs, and other pests on some of the 45,000 vacant lots being cultivated by patriotic citizens for war gardens, Mayor Charles Jewett and Chief of Police George Coffin warned that city ordinances … Read More
100 Years Ago This Week: May 4-10
From The Indianapolis News, Monday, May 7: The city council unanimously voted to make Indianapolis a “fireproof city.” Mayor Charles Jewett asked for the ordinance which establishes an “efficient, standardized system of fire prevention” with the creation of a fire prevention bureau operating as a division of the city building … Read More
A Little Teed Off
I’m a father of two daughters, and like most fathers I thought that it would be OK if they began dating at age thirty. My practical and wise spouse had a better plan; she bought Putt-Putt miniature golf season passes so when the question, “Well, what do you want to … Read More