In 1928 the Commercial Hotel was purchased by John D. Barlow of Hope and operated under the management of Richard "Dick" Barlow.  Mr. Barlow remodeled the hotel into a first-class hostelry and named it Barlow Hotel.  It contained, among other things, an elaborate banquet and ball room.    For many years it was the scene of the town's social functions, dances, high school banquets & civic organizations' meetings.  The majority of traveling salesmen travelled by train in those days, staying in the hotels and hiring a taxi to take them to their prospective customers. 

There were two "jitney" operators on the corner of Main and First streets, Charles McKinney and Garland Gibbs, who made a fair living at from 5 to 20 cents per trip.   It was not unusual in those days to see from 15-20 travelling  salesmen sitting on the hotel veranda at sundown, reading newspapers, reclining in their comfortable chairs and smoking big cigars.

The Golden years of Railroad passengers service lasted about 100 years beginning in the 1870's and ending with the current Automobile and Aircraft Age.   Fine Highway Motels have replaced the grand hotels of past years.  All that is left of the old Barlow Hotel is a concrete slab, overgrown with vines and sprouts.   If one cares to probe beneath this overgrowth, he can find the remains of a fine marble kitchen floor made of small checkerboard style squares of black and white marble; a nostalgic reminder of a glorious age that will never be again.

The Golden Years of The Missouri Pacific Depot at Malvern, Arkansas
"The Heritage"  Hot Springs County, Arkansas Historical Society - Volume XII - 1985

Sharon Moore:

John David, Harry R., and Richard Phillip Barlow were my uncles ...  John, Dick and Harry Barlow,  the owners of hotels in Malvern, Hope and DeQueen Arkansas.  My grandfather was their brother, Arthur W. who along with several sisters were the children of Moses "Harry" Barlow and his wife Jane "Jennie" Sullivan Barlow.  The latter couple were both from Manchester, England although they did not meet until they were living in Corry, Pennsylvania.   After marrying and having several children, Mr. Barlow was in bad health and was advised by doctors to move to a more beneficial climate. That is how and why they came to Hope, Arkansas. 

John had step-children; Harry and Dick had no children; Arthur had one daughter .... my mother. 

1900 DE ROAN TOWNSHIP- HOPE, HEMPSTEAD CO ARKANSAS 
#168   Married 24 years  8 children born - 7 living 
Harry -  Hotel Operator     John - Hotel Manager

Barlow, H. Harry	head	September 1839	60	England	England	England
Barlow, Jennie	wife	February 1858	42	England	Ireland	England
Barlow, John	son	December 1879	20	Pennsylvania	England	England
Barlow, Elizabeth	dau	February 1882	18	Pennsylvania	England	England
Barlow, Arthur	son	August 1884	15	Pennsylvania	England	England
Barlow, Eva	dau	October 1887	12	Arkansas	England	England
Barlow, Richard	son	October 1894	6	Arkansas	England	England
Barlow, Jessie Bell	dau	August 1896	3	Arkansas	England	England

OBITUARY

The funeral of Arthur W. Barlow, son of Mrs. M. H. Barlow, of this city was held at St. Mark's Episcopal Church this morning at 10 o'clock, services being conducted by Bishop James R. Winchester, of Little Rock, following which interment was in  Rose Hill Cemetery.   Deceased was 42 years of age,  and resided in Little Rock, being a member of the firm of Hollis & Co., and their traveling representative.   He died in Trinity hospital in Little Rock yesterday morning as the result of injuries received in an automobile accident near Dermott on Thursday after-noon.  He is survived by his wife and little daughter, Mary Lee; his mother, Mrs. M.H. Barlow; three brothers, J.D. Barlow of Hope, H.R. Barlow, of Dallas, Texas and R.P. Barlow, of Shreveport; and four sisters, Mrs. R.L. Pritchard, of Hope, Mrs. F.E. Howson of Ashdown, Mrs. J.L. Boyd of Beaumont, Texas and Dr. Alice Barlow Brown, of Peking, China. He was a member of the  Episcopal Church, and of Hope Lodge No. 1109, B.P.O.Elks.  He was highly esteemed by all who knew him and the family has the sympathy of a host [of] friends in their bereavement.