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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: Jan. 3-9
From The Indianapolis Star, Sunday, January 4, 1920: Federal agents arrested twenty alleged radical agitators last night in raids in Terre Haute, Clinton, and Ft. Wayne as part of the nation-wide round-up of anarchists. Warrants were issued for the arrest of fifty men, but many agitators disappeared, having been alerted … Read More
Holiday Panes
In the years before suburban malls, holiday shopping was a bustling expedition to downtown Indianapolis department stores. From H. P. Wasson Co, at the northwest corner of Meridian and Washington Streets, the festive buyer, often a mother with children in tow, would dash across the street to L. S. Ayres … Read More
100 Years Ago: Dec. 20-Jan. 2
From The Indianapolis News, Monday, December 22, 1919: Butler College will be enlarged and placed on a university status by September 1923. Alumni have joined committees appointed by the college trustees to select a new location for the Irvington school. Possible sites include the vacant Hibben land along East Washington … Read More
100 Years Ago: Dec. 13-19
From The Indianapolis Star, Sunday, December 14, 1919: More luxury cars are made in Indianapolis than anywhere else in the United States. While other cities may build more cars and have a larger number of automobile factories, the Hoosier capital is the center of fine car production. Detroit may boast … Read More
100 Years Ago This Week: Dec. 6-12
From The Indianapolis Star, Monday, December 8, 1919: The Indiana Historical Commission received a report on Indiana’s industrial part in winning the world war. War contracts were awarded to 119 state industries, including 29 Indianapolis companies. Among the local firms providing war matériel were Allison Experimental Co, 2½-ton tractors; E. … Read More