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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
The old southside
The Old South Side in the 1950s ran from South to Raymond Streets, White River to East Street and was a community of German immigrant heritage — Protestants, Catholics, and Jewish. My wife grew up on Talbott St. in a family of German ethnicity that had moved to the south … Read More
100 Years Ago Today: Oct. 24-30
From The Indianapolis Times, Thursday, October 29, 1925: After thirteen days of jury selection, opening testimony began this morning in the trial of D C. Stephenson and his two co-defendants who are charged with the murder of Madge Oberholtzer. The first witness to take the stand was Mrs. George Oberholtzer, … Read More
100 Years Ago: Oct. 17-23
From The Indianapolis News, Saturday, October 17, 1925: Butler College campus had a festive appearance today for home-coming celebrations. Fraternity and sorority houses were decorated in blue and white and Irwin Field, scene of the football contest between Franklin College and the Bulldogs was bedecked with colors of both schools. … Read More
100 Years Ago: Oct. 10-16
From The Indianapolis Star, Friday, October 16, 1925: Yesterday afternoon the small patients at Riley Hospital were mystified by the magic of Houdini. In two sessions, one for girls and one for boys, Houdini had each audience laughing and gazing in wide-eyed wonder when the little yellow rabbit came out … Read More
100 Years Ago: Oct. 3-9
From The Indianapolis Times, Monday, October 5, 1925: D. C. Stephenson, Earl Gentry, and Earl Klinck, whose trial for the alleged murder of Madge Oberholtzer is to begin next Monday at Noblesville, have been indicted together with Fred Butler by a Marion County grand jury for arson in conspiring to … Read More