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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 This Week: July 31-Aug. 6
From The Indianapolis News, Thursday, August 5, 1920: Thirteen Indianapolis playgrounds will have swimming pools for children and two large city pools for adults, one at Brookside Park, will be ready next summer under plans approved today by the board of park commissioners. “This program must go through regardless of … Read More
How Now Brown Cow?
Where do you get your milk from? Almond? Soy? The grocery? Cows? There was a time when most folks went out back of their house to the shed or barn and got a pail of the refreshing white liquid from Bossie. Many city dwellers even had a family cow that … Read More
100 Years Ago: July 24-30
From The Indianapolis News, Thursday, July 29, 1920: The Indiana General Assembly unanimously passed a bill this afternoon to build a $2,000,000 (2019: $25,947,908) Indiana world war memorial on the land bounded by St. Clair St. and North St., Meridian St. and Pennsylvania St. now occupied by St. Clair Park … Read More
100 Years Ago: July 17-23
From The Indianapolis News, Wednesday, July 21, 1920: The Lafayette Motors Co. is addressing the housing needs of its employees with the initial construction of fifty-three houses in Mars Hill near the factory. When the company established its plant last year at a considerable distance from the center of Indianapolis, … Read More
100 Years Ago This Week: July 10-16
From The Indianapolis Star, Friday, July 16, 1920: Fences of unpainted boards, placed closely together, extending the length of the property to the sidewalk, were erected yesterday on either side of Dr. Lucian Meriwether’s home, 2253 N. Capitol Ave. The fences, one ten feet high and the other six feet … Read More