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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 12-19
From The Indianapolis News, Wednesday, July 16, 1913: Small boys bathe their dogs, men soak their heads, women wash their hands and other small boys of a mischievous nature throw water on passersby out of the drinking fountains at the Soldiers & Sailors Monument in the Circle and keep them … Read More
100 Years Ago This Week: June 28-July12
From The Indianapolis Star, Wednesday, July 2, 1913: Nearly 5,000 store clerks entered downtown streets shortly after 5 p. m. last evening happily enjoying the rule adopted by the majority of stores to close at 5 p. m. weekdays and 6 p.m. Saturdays during July and August. No other city … Read More
The Civil War – 150th Anniversary: June 1863
June opened with Indianapolis residents catching the final acts of the theater season at Metropolitan and Masonic Halls as they were equally drawn to accounts in the Journal columns of the drama contained in the long casualty lists from the battlefields of Port Gibson, Raymond, Champion Hill, and Vicksburg. First … Read More
100 Years Ago This Week: June 21-28
From The Indianapolis Star, Sunday, June 22, 1913: The novelty of quick restaurants will come to Indianapolis this week with the opening of the Merchants Cafeteria in the basement of the Merchants Bank Building on Thursday. Only a few months ago there were only four houses in the country offering … Read More
100 Years Ago This Week: June 7-14
From The Indianapolis Star, Tuesday, June 10, 1913: North and South joined to honor the memory of Col Richard Dale Owen, the Civil War commandant of Camp Morton, with the unveiling of his bronze bust during ceremonies at the State House. In presenting the statue to the state of Indiana … Read More