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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: Dec. 13-20
From The Indianapolis News, Thursday, December 18, 1913: Dr. Herman G. Morgan, city sanitarian, is warning every city milk distributor that the sale of “manufactured” milk as cow’s milk, unless properly labeled, is prohibited and violators will be promptly prosecuted. The sale of manufactured milk as fresh milk is regarded … Read More
The West Baden Angels
An Indiana Mystery — the Angels of West Baden — is now on exhibit at the Bona Thompson Memorial Center, 5350 E. University Ave., as part of the Irvington Historical Society’s permanent collection. Hoosier photographic artist Pamela Mougin created these life-size images from the original angel paintings that are hidden … Read More
100 Years Ago This Week: Dec. 6-13
From The Indianapolis Star, Monday, December 1, 1913: The new Irvington photo-play house at Washington St and Johnson Av will open Wednesday night. The one-story brick structure was erected by the Guthrie-Thompson Co for the Idle Hour Amusement Co at a cost of nearly $15,000. The house is modern with … Read More
100 Years Ago This Week and IHS News!
From The Indianapolis News, Thursday, November 27, 1913: Indianapolis feasted today on turkey, chicken, duck and goose with cranberries, sweet potatoes, oysters and other traditional trimmings and spent $250,000 (2013 $5,871,994.95) in doing so. A canvass of wholesale and retail grocers and commercial dealers of fruits and vegetables shows that … Read More
The Civil War 150th Anniversary — November 1863
Much of the public’s attention was divided between recruiting efforts to fulfill Indiana’s draft quota with volunteer enlistments and the trials of Mrs. Mary Ann Longenecker of West Indianapolis for the murder by poison of her husband, Samuel Longenecker last June, and James Sutherland for the murder of Roddy A. … Read More