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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: June 7-13
From The Indianapolis Star, Thursday, June 12, 1919: A series of flashlight photographs captured a record number of patrols, bands and chanters in last night’s Shrine Imperial Council parade. More than 5,500 uniformed Shriners, many clad in zouave dress, and 1,500 fez capped Nobles in evening dress passed before a … Read More
Adventures in Good Eating
Growing up, I often went with my mother on the street car downtown to shop. After a morning of wandering through department store aisles, we would go to the Russet Cafeteria, on south Meridian St. across from Ayres, for lunch. I can’t recall the entrée, but I’ll always remember the … Read More
World War I 100 Years Ago: May 24-June 6
From The Indianapolis Star, Tuesday, May 21, 1919: W. E. B. DuBois addressed a crowded auditorium of the colored Y.M.C.A. last night on The Negro and the War. He emphasized seeing, as a war correspondent, how kind the French were towards the colored troops. Most of the 200,000 negro troops … Read More
100 Years Ago This Week: May 24-June 6
From The Indianapolis Star, Friday, May 30, 1919: The stage is set for history’s greatest speed carnival. Tomorrow an expected 100,000 spectators will see the fastest field ever as thirty-three speed demons push their mounts around the 2½ mile brick oval at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the international auto … Read More
100 Years Ago This Week: May 17-23
From The Indianapolis Star, Monday, May 19, 1919: The modern health crusade poster exhibit, sponsored by the Marion County Tuberculosis Association, begins today with 1,500 posters displayed in various downtown store windows. Florence Fitch, Indianapolis Public Schools art supervisor, conducted contests among seventh and eighth grade art students from which … Read More