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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
World War I 100 Years Ago: Aug.1-17
From The Indianapolis Star, Wednesday, August 14: The First Indiana Field Artillery, already mobilized at Ft. Harrison and commanded by Col. Robert H. Tyndall, will soon see active service in France. The War Department has ordered the Hoosier unit’s 1,300 men and 45 officers to be attached to the new … Read More
100 Years Ago: Aug. 4-10
From The Indianapolis News, Tuesday, August 7: The Automobile Row Association was organized at a meeting of North Capitol Avenue merchants and business men yesterday afternoon in the offices of the Cole Sales Co, 343 N. Capitol Av. Carl Fisher, a pioneer in the automobile industry of Indianapolis, was named … Read More
World War I 100 Years Ago: Aug. 4-10
From The Indianapolis Star, Wednesday, August 8: A campaign to enroll all Marion County boys between the ages of sixteen and twenty in the United States Boys’ Working Reserve will begin tomorrow. Carl B. Fritsche, assistant state director of the reserve, spoke to a group of fifty men from the … Read More
“At the sign of the Big Red Rooster”
Late last month there were news reports of a “gas war” between two south side Indianapolis stations, which reminded me of the “gas wars” of the late 1950s and early 1960s. In those days of black and white television and “duck and cover,” a gallon of fuel was 21.9ȼ which … Read More
100 Years Ago: July 28-Aug. 3
From The Indianapolis Star, Sunday, July 29: Mars Hill residents have formed a vigilance committee under the auspices of the Patriotic Gardeners Association in response to garden thieves who have been reaping a crisp harvest from the gardens in the area. Potatoes by the bushel have been dug up, beans … Read More