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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. 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
100 Years Ago: Oct. 9-15
From The Indianapolis Times, Monday, October 11, 1926: Today, the Marion County grand jury began investigating charges that politicians and high officials were involved with D C. Stephenson, former Klan grand dragon, in corrupt political deals when Stephenson was “the law in Indiana.” Criminal Judge James Collins instructed jurors to … Read More
100 Years Ago: Oct. 2-8
From The Indianapolis News, Saturday, October 2, 1926: The Indianapolis Airport will be established at once on 234 acres of level ground in Mars Hill that has been leased by the Indianapolis Airport Corp. The tract selected is a half-mile square, bounded on the east by Holt Rd, on the … Read More
Treading the Boards
From Broadway to Hollywood and into living rooms via radio and television, performers from Indianapolis have entertained audiences for generations. Locally, theatergoers have enjoyed live stage productions for over a century with talented actors bringing the house to tears or roaring laughter. Among these Indianapolis performers for over three decades … Read More
100 Years Ago: Sept. 25-Oct. 1
From The Indianapolis News, Saturday, September 25, 1926: The sixth annual concert of the Educational Aid Society for Colored Orphans will take place at Shortridge High School’s Caleb Mills Hall Tuesday evening. An “All Hoosier Cast” of more than forty musicians of exceptional ability include 150 singers representing the colored … Read More