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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. 12-18
From The Indianapolis Star, Thursday, February 17, 1921: For the first time in the legal history of Indianapolis, and possibly the United States, a jury of twelve black women sat in a jury box yesterday hearing evidence in a damage suit brought by a black citizen. In the case before … Read More
100 Years Ago: Feb. 5-11
From The Indianapolis Star, Sunday, February 6, 1921: The new home of the Indianapolis Athletic Club will be built at the southwest corner of Vermont and Meridian Streets pursuant to a decision made yesterday by the club’s board of directors. Currently, the Fahnley Home occupies the site. With its façade … Read More
WhEE-E-E-E-E-E!
I grew up in Irvington, on the east side of Indianapolis. Every winter I looked forward to sledding down snow-covered Brown’s Hill at the southwest corner of Emerson Avenue and East Washington Street with my neighborhood friends. I lived a few blocks from Brown’s Hill, and I would trudge along … Read More
100 Years Ago This Week: Jan. 29-Feb. 4
From The Indianapolis News, Wednesday, February 2, 1921: A cold “sky blanket of darkness” draped over Indianapolis for most of yesterday. The mysterious phenomenon, created by minute moist particles of soft coal soot suspended in the light air and deepened by fog, required the city’s businesses to use artificial light … Read More
100 Years Ago: Jan. 22-28
From The Indianapolis Times, Monday, January 24, 1921: Indianapolis hotel managers are seeking legal methods to protect themselves and their guests against unjustifiable abuse of search warrants issued by city courts and served by Federal prohibition enforcement agents. These warrants have given prohibition agents authority to search guest rooms and … Read More