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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: April 7-13
From The Indianapolis Star, Tuesday, April 10, 1923: The U. S. Army dirigible TC-1, the largest non-rigid American airship, cruised majestically at 500 feet over Indianapolis shortly after noon yesterday, circling above the Monument before departing for St. Louis, leaving in its wake craning necks and mounting waves of excitement. … Read More
Nature Calls
You’re on the go and nature calls — where to go to go? That is the question. More than a century ago a newspaper article observed, in all “American cities, practically no provision is made for ‘public comfort stations’ outside of saloons. Department stores provide these ‘for customers only.’ Hotels … Read More
100 Years Ago: March 24-April 6
From The Indianapolis Times, Tuesday, March 27, 1923: Rev. Daisy Douglass Barr, president of the Indiana War Mothers, resigned last evening after a number of gold star mothers had “strongly disapproved” of her reported efforts in organizing a woman’s Cu Clux Clan while attending to her duties as president of … Read More
100 Years Ago: March 17-23
From The Indianapolis News, Wednesday, March 21, 1923: Members of the Big Money League direct elaborate bootlegging operations for bringing smuggled liquor and dope from Florida and Georgia ports up the Dixie Highway to Indianapolis. Secrecy on the part of men higher up is essential and they stay far away … Read More
100 Years Ago: March 10-16
From The Indianapolis News, Tuesday, March 13, 1923: The West Indianapolis Civic League for the Enforcement of Law West of White River met last night and selected officers. Three men, known as captains, will be assigned to every square in West Indianapolis to watch for and report to the central … Read More