History of Barling Elementary
Barling School, one of the oldest schools in Sebastian County, began in the early 1870s as the Spring Hill School. The first school was a one-room building for students in grades one through eight and also served as a church. Like many rural schools of the time, it operated on the self-contained classroom model, where one teacher guided students through multiple subjects and grade levels.
In 1888, the community of Spring Hill was officially incorporated as the town of Barling, named after early settler Aaron Barling. As the town grew, so did the school. By the late 1930s, the original wooden schoolhouse was replaced with a new natural stone building, complete with multiple classrooms and eventually a cafeteria. This new facility reflected a shift toward more modern, graded education and served generations of students from 1938 through the early 1970s.
A major turning point came in 1948 when Barling School was annexed into the Fort Smith School District. This change allowed Barling students to continue their education beyond eighth grade without paying tuition.
From its beginnings as a one-room schoolhouse to its role today as a modern elementary school within Fort Smith Public Schools, Barling School has continually evolved to meet the needs of its students and community.
Major Milestones in Barling History
- Early 1870's: First known school, a one-room white frame building.
- 1880's: Addition of a second story, with the upper level used as a Masonic Lodge.
- 1938: A new stone school was constructed and included five classrooms, an auditorium, and a basement. This marked the transition from ungraded to graded classes.
- 1941: Ninth grade was added.
- 1948: Barling officially consolidated with Fort Smith Public Schools. At this point, Barling became strictly an elementary school (K-6) with a nine-month school year.
- 1960's: School enrollment grew with Fort Chaffee nearby. Temporary classrooms were added to meet demand.
- 1968: A tornado destroyed many school records. That same year, the school cafeteria was modeled after being in a temporary space for years.
- 1974: Current Barling Elementary School building was constructed on D Street, introducing open classroom learning with 16 teaching stations, a cafeteria, a library, and a gym.
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2019-202 Wall Project: In response to challenges posed by the open-space design, such as high levels of noise and frequent distractions, FSPS completed a wall project. This transitioned Barling Elementary away from its original open-concept layout.
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Summer 2022 Secure Vestibules Addition: Secure vestibules were added to enhance the safety and security of the school.
Origin of the School Name
Barling Elementary was originally called Spring Hill School, named for the nearby spring where travelers stopped to rest and water their livestock. However, when postal services became confused with another Arkansas town also called Spring Hill, the community decided to rename the town and the school. They chose Barling, in honor of Aaron Barling, one of the town’s earliest settlers.
Notable People in Barling History
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Aaron Barling – Early settler for whom the town and school were named.
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Mr. L.A. Chaffin – Longtime educator and principal who helped plan the consolidation of Barling with Fort Smith Schools. The middle school in east Fort Smith bears his name.
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Mrs. Arvilla Dooly – Teacher and historian who documented Barling’s early history.
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Rex Cochran – First principal of the 1974 open-classroom building.
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Hal and Tommy Smith – Professional baseball players and Barling alumni; the school’s baseball field was named Smith Field in their honor.
Discover Our History
Explore the rich history of Orr Elementary. Here, you'll find documents, stories, and resources that highlight key milestones and achievements of our school. Dive into the past to see how Orr Elementary evolved and has made a lasting impact on the community. Click the links below to learn more.
Contribute to Our History
We invite you to share any resources, stories, or photos you may have about Barling Elementary School. Your contributions help preserve the rich history and legacy of our school. Please contact the District Communications Department.