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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: Aug. 23-29
From The Indianapolis Star, Friday, August 29, 1919: With the greeting, “Buddies and friends,” Col. Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. began his address on the plans, purposes, and founding ideals of the American Legion before an overflowing crowd of hundreds of former service men and other men and women at Tomlinson Hall … Read More
100 Years Ago: Aug. 16-22
From The Indianapolis Star, Tuesday, August 14, 1919: Consumers began to form-up an hour before army surplus commodities went on sale at the Federal building yesterday morning, and when clerks started taking orders at 8 o’clock the waiting crowd of 150 persons extended from the tables set-up to take orders … Read More
100 Years Ago: Aug. 9-15
From The Indianapolis Star, Tuesday, August 14, 1919: A cosmopolitan gathering of Indianapolis women packed the auditorium of the Main Public Library yesterday to organize the Indianapolis Housewives League for the purpose of fighting higher food prices and to campaign for saner purchasing among city housekeepers. The price of commodities … Read More
100 Years Ago This Week: Aug. 2-8
From The Indianapolis News, Tuesday, August 5, 1919: Indianapolis welcomed 150 black soldiers of the 809th Pioneer Infantry back home Monday evening. The soldiers marched from the War Camp Community Club for colored soldiers, Senate Av and North St, along downtown streets, around Monument Place, and through the Victory Arch … Read More
Justawee Studio
Many know of Irvington’s art heritage. The “Classic Suburb” has been home to artists since its founding almost 150 years ago, most notably the Irvington Group of William Forsyth, Clifton Wheeler, Hilah Wheeler, Dorothy Morlan, Frederick Polley, Simon Baus, Robert C. Craig, Constance Forsyth, and Helene Hibben. However, over the … Read More