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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. 6-12
From The Indianapolis Times, Thursday, November 11, 1926: Downtown streets were bedecked with flags today and most public offices were closed in commemoration of the eighth anniversary of Armistice Day. At Keith’s Theater, the 11th Infantry band from Ft. Benjamin Harrison gave a concert proceeding a ten-minute historical sketch, The … Read More
100 Years Ago: Oct. 30-Nov. 5
From The Indianapolis News, Wednesday, November 3, 1926: The extremely light vote in yesterday’s election will result in the automatic removal of the names of approximately one-half of the eligible voters from the registration rolls in Marion County, representing all political parties. Before these voters can vote at the next … Read More
Salvage Corps
October is Fire Prevention Month in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire that began on October 8, 1871, when Mrs. O’Leary’s cow, according to legend, kicked over a lantern that started a fire in the straw strewn about the barn that quickly consumed the structure. The blaze spread to other … Read More
100 Years Ago: Oct. 23-29
From The Indianapolis Times, Tuesday, October 26, 1926: Investigations into Indiana political corruption involving elected Republican officials and the Ku Klux Klan continued before the Marion County grand jury and the special U. S. Senate committee chaired by Senator James Reed. Declaring they had “God’s plenty” to tell the jury, … Read More
100 Years Ago: Oct. 16-22
From The Indianapolis Star, Sunday, October 17, 1926: A radio controlled “Ghost Car,” operated without driver or passenger, will make its first appearance in the Midwest during a week-long series of demonstrations around Indianapolis as a feature of the second annual radio show. One of the most unusual inventions of … Read More