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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: Nov. 13-Nov. 19
From The Indianapolis Star, Friday, November 19, 1920: City officials favor a plan endorsed by council president Gustav Schmidt that would abolish the municipal boards of works, safety, and sanitation, whose members are appointive, and have their duties assumed by members of the city council. The proposal would approach the … Read More
100 Years Ago: Nov. 6-12
From The Indianapolis Star, Friday, November 12, 1920: Hardy uniformed veterans waving flags braved freezing weather last night as they marched in formation to the Statehouse where they joined a great crowd that thronged every available inch of space inside the flag-draped Capitol to hear patriotic speeches celebrating Armistice Day. … Read More
Indy Rocks
For many years I was one of the tens of thousands of motorists heading out east New York St. from the downtown area at the end of day. Crossing the Belt Railroad and seeing the green heights of Hillside Park provided me with a psychological boost — the narrow confines … Read More
100 Years Ago This Week: Oct. 30-Nov. 5
From The Indianapolis Star, Wednesday, November 3, 1920: Women voters were out in force for yesterday’s election long before male voters had fallen into line. The intense cold made standing in line an unpleasant task, but the women, some with babes in arms and children in tow, were too interested … Read More
100 Years Ago This Week: Oct. 23-29
From The Indianapolis Times, Tuesday, October 25, 1920: “Buy a Brick for $1 (2019: $13) – Help Build the Shelter for Animals,” is the advertising slogan of the Indianapolis Humane Society’s appeal for facilities to care for the city’s outcast and stray animals. Solicitation begins next week when 25,000 miniature … Read More