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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: April 3-10
From The Indianapolis News, Tuesday, April 6, 1915: The Boy Scouts of Indianapolis today took advantage of the first real spring weather and many hikes were made to woodland places by the boys in khaki uniforms. Large groups early wended their way toward country places with well filled haversacks on … Read More
World War I 100 Years Ago: March 27-April 3
From The Indianapolis News, Tuesday, March 30, 1915: The Indiana Peace Society held its first annual meeting last night at the Y. M. C. A. Speakers expressed the belief that the world was never more in need of peaceful movements than at this time, and members were urged to awaken … Read More
100 Years Ago This Week: March 27-April 3
From The Indianapolis Star, Tuesday, March 30, 1915: Technical High School will graduate its first class in June, although the East Side institution will be only three years old. The 16 students who make up the class are finishing up their work in record time, most of them completing the … Read More
The Civil War 150th Anniversary: March 1865
On the sunny side of fences, grass begins to make “a feeble display of green,” and along with singing birds signs of spring are “deliciously suggestive.” The Journal noted, “Many of our streets are in horrible condition. The city is either very poor, or its officials very careless of its … Read More
World War I 100 Years Ago: March 20-27
From The Indianapolis Star, Sunday, March 21, 1915: The European war is causing the International Machine Tool Co, 1124 W. 21st St., to work its plant twenty-two hours a day to fill orders for a lathe that can be used in the manufacture of shrapnel shells. Thirty lathes have already … Read More