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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
The Civil War – 150th Anniversary: June 1863
June opened with Indianapolis residents catching the final acts of the theater season at Metropolitan and Masonic Halls as they were equally drawn to accounts in the Journal columns of the drama contained in the long casualty lists from the battlefields of Port Gibson, Raymond, Champion Hill, and Vicksburg. First … Read More
100 Years Ago This Week: June 21-28
From The Indianapolis Star, Sunday, June 22, 1913: The novelty of quick restaurants will come to Indianapolis this week with the opening of the Merchants Cafeteria in the basement of the Merchants Bank Building on Thursday. Only a few months ago there were only four houses in the country offering … Read More
100 Years Ago This Week: June 7-14
From The Indianapolis Star, Tuesday, June 10, 1913: North and South joined to honor the memory of Col Richard Dale Owen, the Civil War commandant of Camp Morton, with the unveiling of his bronze bust during ceremonies at the State House. In presenting the statue to the state of Indiana … Read More
100 Years Ago This Week: May 31-June 7
From The Indianapolis Star, Tuesday, June 3, 1913: “Notice – Zone of Quiet” would be posted in a radius of 250 feet of hospitals if an ordinance introduced by President Charles F. Copeland at last night’s city council meeting, at the request of the superintendents of Deaconess and Methodist Hospitals, … Read More
100 Years Ago This Week: May 24-31
From The Indianapolis Sun, Monday, May 26, 1913: Auto polo, the most strenuous expression of sport, is regular polo played with automobiles. Play is on a field, 300 feet by 200 feet, with two cars on a side, manned by a driver and a “mallet man,” competing for five ten-minute … Read More