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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: Jan. 17-24
From The Indianapolis Star, Monday, January 19, 1914: Approximately 1,200 workers at a mass meeting in Tomlinson Hall yesterday afternoon heard speakers call for establishing a co-operative department store in Indianapolis. “Next to wages, a co-operative store is the best thing for the laborer….With a great advance in the cost … Read More
100 Years Ago this Week: Jan. 3-10
From The Indianapolis Star, Monday, January 5, 1914: The tango, the Boston, the fifty-seven and other new dances are growing in popularity largely because of the criticism they are receiving from the good people who imagine that they are doing the public a distinct service by assuming the attitude they … Read More
100 Years Ago This Week: Jan. 2-9
From The Indianapolis News, Wednesday, January 6, 1915: The Irving Theater was packed last night with people who paid 25 cents (2013: $5.67) each to see the all-star vaudeville entertainment given by Irvingtonians to benefit The News Winter Relief Fund and The Star Charity. Will Forsyth, the artist, was master … Read More
150th Anniversary of the Civil War: December 1863
December began with the Rumsey’s Minstrels performing at Masonic Hall which provided a diversion to the citizens of Indianapolis from accounts of the Battles of Chattanooga – Missionary Ridge, Wauhatchie, and Lookout Mountain. These contests were “proven to be among the most successful ones of the war,” but the accompanying … Read More
100 Years Ago this Week: Dec. 20-Jan. 3
From The Indianapolis Star, Thursday, December 25, 1913: An estimated crowd of 700 persons gathered around the towering Christmas tree, glittering with a myriad of incandescent lights, tinsel and American flags, in University Square early last night as the seventy-five members of the People’s Chorus sang traditional Christmas hymns to … Read More