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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
What’s In a Name?
Some time ago my friend Barb asked me why Indianapolis was called “Railroad City.” I surmised that it was because the “Crossroads of America” at one time had numerous railroads coming and going through the “Circle City.” Although, the number of railroads crisscrossing Indy today has diminished significantly, the old … Read More
100 Years Ago: May 28-June 3
From The Indianapolis News, Monday, May 30, 1921: Indianapolis paid tribute to the dead of all American wars today. Commemorative services and programs began at 9 a.m. on the Circle with exercises at the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument, and continued in parts of the city nearly every hour thereafter until … Read More
100 Years Ago: May 21-27
From The Indianapolis News, Friday, May 27, 1921: Fall Creek is so polluted that swimming in the stream should be prohibited according to Dr. Herman Morgan, secretary of the Indianapolis health department. “There are fourteen openings from which sewage overflow enters Fall Creek between the Monon Railroad bridge and Northwestern … Read More
100 Years Ago: May 14-20
From The Indianapolis Star, Sunday, May 15, 1921: Yesterday afternoon, a large crowd at Irwin Field in Irvington watched the baseball team of Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan, trounce the Butler College nine in a speedy contest, 2 to 1. With the game devoid of spectacular hitting and fielding, the work … Read More
100 Years Ago: May 7-13
From The Indianapolis News, Thursday, May 12, 1921: The first National Hospital Day was observed today throughout the United States and in Indianapolis with the city’s hospitals throwing their doors open to the public. Visitors were welcomed at City, Methodist and Deaconess Hospitals. These hospitals have contracts with the U.S. … Read More