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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. 29-Dec. 5
From The Indianapolis Star, Monday, December 1, 1919: Gambling predominates among vices in Indianapolis, according to the report of the police morals squad. Cards are seldom found when officers break up games of chance as the time-honored game of poker has been almost replaced by the more modern “craps.” Another … Read More
Remembrances
How do we remember heroes? Are they memorialized as armed sentinels of bronze and stone standing vigilant on court house squares and in village parks where once or twice a year a wreath is placed amid words of thanks and praise? Are names emblazoned on plaques of those who served … Read More
100 Years Ago: Nov. 22-28
From The Indianapolis Star, Tuesday, November 25, 1919: Beginning yesterday afternoon at 4 p.m., coal conservation in Indianapolis began in earnest when most factories and stores in the city closed in an effort to help manage coal supplies of electricity producers while coal miners continue to strike. While not compulsory, … Read More
100 Years Ago: Nov. 15-21
From The Indianapolis Star, Friday, November 21, 1919: Nineteen tons of soot is falling annually for each city block in the downtown Indianapolis area. This conclusion was arrived from calculations made by students in the night school physics class at Manual Training High School who conducted tests under the direction … Read More
100 Years Ago: Nov. 8-14
From The Indianapolis News, Tuesday, November 11, 1919: The permanent home of the American Legion will be in Indianapolis. Delegates at the first national American Legion convention in Minneapolis selected the Hoosier Capital City, shortly after noon today, over Washington, DC on a second ballot vote of 361 to 323. … Read More