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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: Oct. 17-23
From The Indianapolis News, Saturday, October 17, 1925: Butler College campus had a festive appearance today for home-coming celebrations. Fraternity and sorority houses were decorated in blue and white and Irwin Field, scene of the football contest between Franklin College and the Bulldogs was bedecked with colors of both schools. … Read More
100 Years Ago: Oct. 10-16
From The Indianapolis Star, Friday, October 16, 1925: Yesterday afternoon the small patients at Riley Hospital were mystified by the magic of Houdini. In two sessions, one for girls and one for boys, Houdini had each audience laughing and gazing in wide-eyed wonder when the little yellow rabbit came out … Read More
100 Years Ago: Oct. 3-9
From The Indianapolis Times, Monday, October 5, 1925: D. C. Stephenson, Earl Gentry, and Earl Klinck, whose trial for the alleged murder of Madge Oberholtzer is to begin next Monday at Noblesville, have been indicted together with Fred Butler by a Marion County grand jury for arson in conspiring to … Read More
The First U Indy
In the dark woods, a plot of marshy ground was set aside in the original plat of Indianapolis as University Square. It was to be the site of the state university, but as the years passed another location was selected in Bloomington, Indiana and the square in the Hoosier capital … Read More
100 Years Ago: Sept. 26-Oct. 2
From The Indianapolis Star, Sunday, September 27, 1925: The first Indianapolis radio exposition signed off last night after a successful week. More than 45,000 visitors ambled about the exhibit booths at Cadle Tabernacle since the doors opened Monday evening. Herbert Luckey, president of the Broadcast Listeners Association, said exhibitors transacted … Read More