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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: March 11-24
From The Indianapolis News, Wednesday, March 15: The deplorable conditions of the Indianapolis public schools, particularly the high schools, was the subject of Butler College President Thomas Carr Howe’s address last night to members of the Principals’ Club. Howe said Indianapolis citizens must be awakened to the lack of proper … Read More
World War 1 100 Years Ago This Week: March 11-24
From The Indianapolis News, Monday, March 13: Officers and men of the Indiana National Guard are “champing at the bit,” while the Mexican situation looms up as a possibility that the state guards may be called into action. Captain George L. Bumbaugh will confer with men desiring to enlist in … Read More
100 Years Ago This Week: March 4-10
From The Indianapolis Star, Tuesday, March 7: Hoosiers go to the polls today in the first state-wide primary in Indiana’s political history. Ballots for Republican, Democratic, and Progressive parties will be available in every precinct across the state, and every member of each party is entitled to a vote if … Read More
World War 1 100 Years Ago: March 4-10
From The Indianapolis News, Saturday, March 4: The Indianapolis committee of the American Fund for French Wounded will begin a campaign next Monday to collect money and supplies for small out-of-the-way French hospitals. Hospital garments and surgical dressings are in great demand. In many places sheets and pillowcases are not … Read More
Fidelity Farm Transformed
“What’s going on with all those trucks?” is a question that I often hear in connection with the row upon row of semis filling the lots at the old International Harvester (Navistar) facility along Brookville Road at Ritter Avenue. Once the production site for International truck engines, today only about … Read More