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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
Peanuts and Cracker Jack
For decades an afternoon at the local Indianapolis ballpark watching the “Boys of Summer” wouldn’t have been complete without a cup of beer, a hot dog in a bun, a bag of peanuts, and a box of Cracker Jack. Those lazy, hazy days of memory almost became nothing more than … Read More
100 Years Ago: Sept. 25-Oct. 1
From The Indianapolis News, Wednesday, September 29, 1920: Irvington will be the center of football followers as record crowds are expected to fill the stands Friday and Saturday afternoons when the Indianapolis football season opens on Irwin Field at Butler College. The first contest pits the Manual Training High School … Read More
100 Years Ago: Sept. 18-24
From The Indianapolis News, Monday, September 20, 1920: For the fourth time Indianapolis is the host city to the annual national encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic. The fifty-fourth national encampment opened today with over 60,000 visitors expected to attend the week-long event. By the end of the … Read More
100 Years Ago: Sept. 11-17
From The Indianapolis Times, Saturday, September 11, 1920: Driven to desperation by high rents, exorbitant prices of coal, groceries and other necessities, a number of families are considering living two in the same house this winter. The plan is being considered not only in the less exclusive neighborhoods of the … Read More
100 Years Ago This Week: Sept. 4-10
From The Indianapolis News, Friday, September 10, 1920: Speakers at the colored Baptist National Convention meeting in Tomlinson Hall condemned mob violence, lynching and general lawlessness. “True democracy can never exist in America as long as men and women are lynched and burned at the stake. America can never criticize … Read More