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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: July 16-22
From The Indianapolis Star, Wednesday, July 20, 1921: For the first time in the history of City Court, a woman sat as judge yesterday afternoon and administered stern justice to erring sinners who came before the court. Miss Jessie Levy, who was admitted to practice about three weeks ago, took … Read More
100 Years Ago: July 9-15
From The Indianapolis News, Thursday, July 14, 1921: A French fete honoring Bastille Day will be given at Ellenberger Park by Irvington Post No. 38, American Legion, beginning this evening and continuing through Saturday. “Every event of this fete has been arranged as to recall memories of the expeditionary force … Read More
Flights of Fancy
Over six years after Wilbur Wright took to the sky in the Wright Flyer, sharing the air space with birds, Joseph “J.W.” Curzon in a Farman biplane “made a series of graceful flights” at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on the afternoon of March 3, 1910, marking the first airplane flights … Read More
100 Years Ago: June 25-July 8
From The Indianapolis Times, Tuesday, June 28, 1921: Having been criticized for three years for dilatory “buck passing,” the board of sanitary commissioners and the board of public health took action today to stop pollution of Pleasant Run and Bean Creek. Four public health inspectors started surveying the streams to … Read More
100 Years Ago: June 18-24
From The Indianapolis Times, Wednesday, June 22, 1921: Avoiding automobile collisions is one of the best ways to keep Indianapolis streets free of glass, according to Guy Jeffries, president of the Hoosier Motor Club. “When the time comes that motorists use common sense in the matter of crossing street intersections … Read More