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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: Feb. 25-March 3
From The Indianapolis Star, Wednesday, March 1, 1922: As part of a nation-wide movement to force Congress to pass the bonus bill, Indianapolis World War veterans’ organizations, along with women’s auxiliaries and allied organizations, will participate in a mass meeting this coming Sunday afternoon at Tomlinson Hall. “The meeting will … Read More
100 Years Ago: Feb. 18-24
From The Indianapolis Star, Monday, February 20, 1922: Fire swept through the main stables at the state fairgrounds early yesterday morning, destroying the structure. Stablemen entered the burning structure, braving the intense heat, cutting several horses loose from their stalls and driving them from the conflagration, but approximately 100 valuable … Read More
100 Years Ago: Feb. 11-17
From The Indianapolis Star, Sunday, February 12, 1922: A committee of the National Disabled Soldiers’ League will temporarily use a vacant two-story brick double house at 16 E. Michigan St. as a relief station for destitute ex-service men until it has use of the adjacent San Toy Apartment building once … Read More
100 Years Ago: Feb. 4-10
From The Indianapolis News, Wednesday, February 8, 1922: Five pneumonia deaths and one influenza death have occurred in the last twenty-four hours according to Dr. Herman Morgan, secretary of the Indianapolis public health department. He further stated that with forty-five pneumonia and influenza deaths having been recorded in the last … Read More
First Families
While governments are not known for their humor, sometimes their actions can be pretty funny. For example, when the Indiana General Assembly met in Corydon for its Sixth Session in December 1821 to conduct the serious business of enacting laws for the state, a bill creating Marion County passed and … Read More