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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: March 30-April 5
From The Indianapolis Star, Wednesday, April 3: Indiana is Dry! At the stroke of midnight last night 3,520 bars in Indiana, including 547 bars in Indianapolis, closed in accordance with the law enacted by the 1917 state legislature prohibiting the manufacture and sale of intoxicants. There was little hilarity in … Read More
World War I 100 Years Ago: March 30-April 5
Indianapolis News, April 2: Soldiers stationed at the Speedway aviation depot wielded picks and shovels today in the warm spring sun constructing a network of trenches on vacant ground at Ohio and Alabama Streets, opposite City Hall. Indianapolis is not expecting an attack from German troops; the trenches are not … Read More
Teed Off
I am not a golfer, but I enjoy viewing the vast, well-maintained green and tree-lined courses that provide a comforting ease to urban eyes. As a boy, I often walked several Indianapolis links (yes, one used to walk the fairways) as my father’s “caddie” while he and his buddies enjoyed … Read More
100 Years Ago This Week: March 23-29
From The Indianapolis Star, Monday, March 25: Permanent public improvements have played a great part in the development and growth of Indianapolis as a city of homes. The elevation of the Belt Railroad, improvements at Ellenberger Park, the construction of Pleasant Run Boulevard, and the extension of the East Michigan … Read More
World War I 100 Years Ago: March 23-29
From The Indianapolis News, Friday, March 29: Following the confiscation of eighteen sacks of flour at an Indianapolis home earlier in the week and the seizure of nine sacks of flour yesterday, Stanley Wyckoff, Marion County food administrator, made it clear that he proposed to uncover all flour supplies that … Read More