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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
Indy’s Great Fires Part 2
Fire often has held a peculiar fascination. Like a moth drawn to the flame, a crowd, too, is drawn toward glowing, leaping red-orange flames, whether from a bonfire or building inferno. Such was with the St. Patrick’s Day Bowen-Merrill Co conflagration. A few minutes after three o’clock the afternoon of … Read More
100 Years Ago This Week: March 28-April 3
From The Indianapolis News, Friday, April 3, 1925: Former Indiana Grand Dragon D. C. Stephenson was arrested today on five charges in connection with an alleged March 16 attack on Madge Oberholtzer, secretary-treasurer of the Teachers and Young People’s Reading Circle of Indiana. Charged with assault and battery with intent … Read More
100 Years Ago: March 21-27
From The Indianapolis Times, Tuesday, March 24, 1925: Leading business and professional men have joined in the movement with the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce convention bureau to “tell the world” about the merits of the city in order to bring more conventions here. The movement was a result of Dick … Read More
100 Years Ago: March 14-20
From The Indianapolis Star, Wednesday, March 18, 1925: Orange, green, and white, colors of the new Irish republic, predominated yesterday’s parade as practically every Indianapolis person of Irish heritage celebrated the glory of St. Patrick under the auspices of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. Thousands of persons lined downtown streets, … Read More
100 Years Ago: March 7-13
From The Indianapolis News, Friday, March 13, 1925: Bishop Joseph Chartrand announced the creation of a new Catholic parish to be known as Little Flower with Rev. Charles Duffey, assistant pastor at St. Patrick’s, as pastor. Located north of Irvington, Little Flower parish will be formed from sections of three … Read More