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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: July 25-Aug. 1
From The Indianapolis Star, Thursday, July 30, 1914: Patriotism is running higher and higher among members of the Indianapolis Serbian colony with every fresh bulletin from the war zone. At the Foreigners’ House, 617 W. Pearl St, a crashing, clashing conglomeration of sound could be heard as the Serbian tamburica … Read More
The Civil War 150th Anniversary: July 1864
The sound of improvement can be heard in every quarter of the city. The “splendid” additions taking place on South Meridian Street where the city’s main wholesale business will be carried on and the new buildings “springing up” along Massachusetts Avenue that “before long . . . will be another … Read More
100 Years Ago this Week: July 18-25
From The Indianapolis News, Monday, July 20, 1914: The Fletcher Savings & Trust Co has adopted the Flak system of finger prints for identification of depositors, who are unable to write their names, to insure absolute security and certainty of the identity of such depositors. Invented by P. A. Flak, … Read More
100 Years Ago This Week: July 11-18
From The Indianapolis Star, Wednesday, July 15, 1914: Beech Grove’s new St. Francis Hospital is open and receiving patients. Built through the efforts of the Sisters of St. Francis, it was believed that a hospital was necessary in that section of the city because the Big Four Railroad shops are … Read More
100 Years Ago this Week: July 4-11
From The Indianapolis News, Monday, July 6, 1914: Irvington always celebrates the Fourth in such an original and delightful way that no citizen of that suburb ever wishes to go elsewhere for this patriotic celebration. Tradition was carried out in a beautiful manner Saturday when at Ellenberger Woods a pageant … Read More