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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. 16-23
From The Indianapolis News, Monday, January 18, 1915: The Charles C. Carr Co, 146 N. Pennsylvania, has received a contract for a big supply of wool socks for one of the armies engaged in the European war. The socks are of heavy dark oxford gray material and considerably longer than … Read More
100 Years Ago This Week: Jan. 9-15
From The Indianapolis News, Thursday, January 14, 1915: “The home is a menace; its poor construction makes it a veritable fire trap,” asserted Fred W. Rubin, Irvington Civic League president, in his appeal to the county commissioners yesterday calling for action to remedy the alleged conditions at the Children’s Guardians … Read More
World War I 100 Years Ago: Jan. 9-15
From The Indianapolis Times, Monday, January 11, 1915: Prosperity is returning in great bunches to the Climax Machinery Co, 165 E. Morris St, which has reopened after having been closed for the past three months. “The war shut our doors,” said Ernest K. Hood the company’s secretary-treasurer, “but the war … Read More
World War I 100 Years Ago: Jan. 2-9
From The Indianapolis News, Tuesday, January 5, 1915: At a joint meeting of delegates representing the German-American Alliance and the Allied Irish-American Societies held last night, steps were taken to arrange a public meeting in Indianapolis to protest against the exportation of war materials from the United States to the … Read More
The Civil War 150th Anniversary: December 1864
Reports from Baltimore of a rebel incendiary plot to burn northern cities and the recent incendiary fire in New York City prompted Mayor Caven to issue a warning to the people of Indianapolis that “an attempt to burn the city will be made.” Precautions were to be taken to “see … Read More