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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: Sept. 2-8
From The Indianapolis Star, Friday, September 8, 1916: Mayor Joseph Bell addressed a meeting of the heads of the various city departments yesterday and announced the first plans for a city sewage disposal plant. He emphasized the need for such a facility stating that at the present time the city … Read More
World War I 100 Years Ago: Sept. 2-8
From The Indianapolis News, Monday, September 4, 1916: The five officers and 141 enlisted men of Battery D, First Field Artillery, Indiana National Guard, began their physical examinations today at Ft. Benjamin Harrison. When the examinations are completed tomorrow, the War Department will be notified that the battery is ready … Read More
The Standard of Groceries
Stopping by the supermarket on the way home from work to pick up a roasted chicken or the “fixin’s” for a quick meal is so commonplace today that we don’t give it a second thought. Ah, the supermarket; the truly great symbol of “America the land of plenty,” providing not … Read More
World War I 100 Years Ago: Aug. 26-Sept. 1
From The Indianapolis News, Tuesday, September 1, 1916: U. S. Army Lieutenant Gilbert Cook is inspecting the six Indiana National Guard recruiting offices recently opened throughout Indiana to ascertain what methods may be used to increase recruiting. Army Lieutenant Philip Remington, who is in charge of recruiting in Indiana, says … Read More
100 Years Ago This Week: Aug. 26-Sept. 1
From The Indianapolis Star, Thursday, August 31, 1916: The Circle Theater opened last evening with every one of its 3,100 seats taken. Theatergoers arrived an hour before the scheduled 8 o’clock performance to inspect the beautiful interior behind the white terra cotta façade — fittings of ivory and gold, the … Read More