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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: Jan. 13-19
From The Indianapolis Star, Thursday, January 18: Indiana adjutant general Harry B. Smith announced that the Arcadia Theater building, 459 Virginia Av, has been leased from the Amusements Building Co as an armory for the Indianapolis units of the Indiana National Guard. First Indiana Infantry Companies A, C and D; … Read More
World War I 100 Years Ago: Jan. 6-12
From The Indianapolis News, Friday, January 12: Led by mounted police and the Indianapolis Police Band, five hundred Hoosier National Guardsmen paraded through the downtown streets to the State House late yesterday afternoon. Stores were decked with flags and bunting and many hundreds of persons lined the streets cheering and … Read More
100 Years Ago This Week: Jan. 6-12
From The Indianapolis News, Friday, January 12: The first of twenty-five new steel street cars have been received from the Cincinnati Car Co and are now being readied for service at the Indianapolis Traction & Terminal Company’s shops on West Washington Street. The new cars are the “pay-as-you-enter” type with … Read More
On Thin Ice
Winter sports in Indianapolis in the 1950s were very limited. Most of my outdoor activity centered around sledding on Brown’s Hill ([southwest corner of Washington St and Emerson Ave.), building snow forts, and engaging in snowball fights. Once there was a strange sight of a cross-country skier slowly gliding across … Read More
World War I 100 Years Ago: Dec. 23-29 & Dec. 30-Jan. 5
From The Indianapolis Star, Wednesday, December 27, 1916: The Indiana National Guard supplied only 52.8% (3,640 men) of the war strength (6,871 men) that was called into Federal service in connection with the Mexican troubles, according to the War Department. Among the 48 states, Indiana ranked 40th in this regard; … Read More