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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: July 11-18
From The Indianapolis Star, Wednesday, July 15, 1914: Beech Grove’s new St. Francis Hospital is open and receiving patients. Built through the efforts of the Sisters of St. Francis, it was believed that a hospital was necessary in that section of the city because the Big Four Railroad shops are … Read More
100 Years Ago this Week: July 4-11
From The Indianapolis News, Monday, July 6, 1914: Irvington always celebrates the Fourth in such an original and delightful way that no citizen of that suburb ever wishes to go elsewhere for this patriotic celebration. Tradition was carried out in a beautiful manner Saturday when at Ellenberger Woods a pageant … Read More
100 Years Ago This Week: June 27-July 4
From The Indianapolis Star, Thursday, July 2, 1914: Lunch wagons and newsstands were ordered off the streets by the board of public safety yesterday afternoon. Disclosures that food sold in the lunch wagons is prepared under unsanitary conditions were made by the city board of health. In a letter to … Read More
The Civil War 150th Anniversary: June 1864
Among the candidates selected at the Marion County Union Convention at the end of last month were James H. McVey of Warren Township for one of the two state representative positions and Lorenzo Vanscyoc of Washington Township for county commissioner, first district. McVey is “an honest man, who has brains … Read More
100 Years Ago: June 20-27
From The Indianapolis News, Monday, June 22, 1914: Five hundred businessmen received an instructive course Saturday in the efficiency and management of five Indianapolis public utilities during a Chamber of Commerce tour. The excursionists learned the T. H. I. & E. Traction power station has one of the highest efficiency … Read More