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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 Old Swimmin’ Hole
Hoosier poet James Whitcomb Riley captured the essence of every boy’s adventure on a hot summer’s day when he penned the lines: Oh! the old swimmin’-hole! In the long, lazy days… How plesant was the jurney down the old dusty lane, Where the tracks of our bare feet was all … Read More
100 Years Ago: July 28-Aug. 3
From The Indianapolis Star, Sunday, July 29, 1923: ”Plans submitted for the new colored orphans’ home at 25th St and Keystone Av were discussed yesterday in a closed meeting of the Marion County council and the board of commissioners. Among the architectural concepts, were plans for a traditional institutional style … Read More
100 Years Ago: July 21-27
From The Indianapolis News, Monday, July 23, 1923: The annual Feast of Lanterns, sponsored by the Brookside Civic League, will feature a pantomime by children of Midsummer Night’s Dream Wednesday night in beautiful little Spades Park. Gyrating gnomes in red suits will amuse King Oberon while fairies clad in the … Read More
100 Years Ago: July 14-20
From The Indianapolis Star, Thursday, July 19, 1923: Last night a crowd estimated at 5,000 surrounding a burning cross in a commons at Miley Av and Vermont St attacked firefighters and police with rocks. The incident began when a group lit an electric cross at New York St and Miley … Read More
100 Years Ago: June 30-July 13
From The Indianapolis Times, Wednesday, July 4, 1923: Early today, members of the Ku Klux Klan were hissed by a crowd of young men after a special interurban car carrying the Klansmen through Indianapolis to a tri-state celebration in Kokomo stopped at the downtown Terminal Station. Police were called to … Read More