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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: Sept. 27-Oct. 4
From The Indianapolis Star, Wednesday, October 1, 1913: A representative of fire insurance companies told prominent business men and members of the city council that fire insurance rates in Indianapolis will be boosted in the near future unless a new building code ordinance that was proposed two years ago is … Read More
The Civil War 150th Anniversary: September 1863
Many of the citizens of Indianapolis are not aware of the large number of citizens from other states, especially from the South, who have left their homes since the war commenced and “sought refuge and employment” in the Hoosier capital. Day and night the “buzz of machinery may be heard” … Read More
100 Years Ago This Week: Sept. 20-27
any of the citizens of Indianapolis are not aware of the large number of citizens from other states, especially from the South, who have left their homes since the war commenced and “sought refuge and employment” in the Hoosier capital. Day and night the “buzz of machinery may be heard” … Read More
100 Years Ago This Week: Sept. 13-20
From The Indianapolis Star, Thursday, September 18, 1913: The Emerson Civic League completed its organization last evening. Earlier twenty residents and property holders residing in Emerson Heights met to consider various problems of interest to those living in that locality. First under consideration will be an effort to persuade the … Read More
100 Years Ago This Week: Sept. 6-13
From The Indianapolis News, Friday, September 12, 1913: At a luncheon today, a plan was announced to create a $250,000 (2013: $5,871,994.95) building fund for Methodist Hospital. Although the hospital bears a denominational name, it recognizes no creeds in its operations or patient treatment, and from the beginning it has … Read More