-
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 Angel of Norwood
Norwood, a mostly African-American neighborhood on the near southeast side of Indianapolis, bounded on the north by Prospect St., Terrace Ave. on the south, Sherman Dr. on the east and Vandeman St. on the west, takes its name from the Norwood family who farmed the area. For many years the … Read More
100 Years Ago: March 29-April 4
From The Indianapolis Star, Tuesday, April 1, 1924: The Indiana Society for Medical Freedom met last night and passed a resolution calling on city school authorities and the board of health to respect state law exempting from medical examination or treatment any school pupil on objection of parent or guardian. … Read More
100 Years Ago: March 22-28
From The Indianapolis Times, Thursday, March 27, 1924: Policewoman Anna Bruner says dancers have been getting away with improper actions under the eyes of dance hall matrons. “Why, at times you couldn’t get a match between the dancers,” Bruner asserted as the modern sheik and sheba glide over dance hall … Read More
100 Years Ago: March 8-14
From The Indianapolis Star, Thursday, March 13, 1924: The increasing use of automobiles has seen the demand for paving alleys account for more than half of the street improvements according to Elmer Williams, of the Indianapolis board of works. With many people having some kind of automobile, alleys are more … Read More
100 Years Ago: March 1-7
From The Indianapolis Star, Tuesday, March 4, 1924: Laura E. Alexander is the only automobile saleswoman in Indianapolis. She is employed with the North-Overland Co, 3011 Central Ave., the city’s oldest distributor of Overland and Willys-Knight cars. Prior to her affiliation with the North-Overland Co., she sold Overlands and Willys-Knights … Read More