By Alicia Doyle
Sunday Signal Writer
Santa Clarita’s own embrace of history shines through the enduring legacy of the El Camino Real (pronounced el kah-MEE-noh rreh-AHL) bells, an iconic symbol that stretches beyond roads and into the heart of local heritage.
Santa Clarita and the Spirit of the Bells
At the dawn of the 20th century, the emergence of automobile culture transformed not only California but also cities like Santa Clarita, spurring growth and adventure for travelers and residents alike. The El Camino Real Association, formed to advocate for a paved north-south highway, represented the pioneering vision that Santa Clarita shares — a desire to connect communities, ignite tourism and celebrate shared history.
Phyllis Hansen, Los Angeles historian and frequent presenter in Santa Clarita’s historical circles, recalls, “The El Camino Real Association formed to advocate for the creation of a paved north/south highway to serve all of these the new ‘autoists.’”
The Forbes Legacy
Integral to this history, Mrs. A.S.C. Forbes and her husband, Armitage Forbes, led the charge in shaping California’s highways and their symbols.
“She was of East Coast Quaker ancestry, he from the U.K., who came to the U.S. to partake in cowboy culture,” Hansen explained, noting that the Forbes family eventually made California their “forever” home.
Santa Clarita’s brush with the Mission highway is more personal than just proximity — it’s a spiritual descendant of the same pioneering energy. Residents and visitors who traverse local stretches of the El Camino Real can appreciate the Forbes’ quest as part of Santa Clarita’s own story — of forging connections and honoring the journey.
How the Bells Came to Be
The group’s campaign for the symbolic highway paralleled a moment when California sought to recover from disaster and make a bold statement to the world.
“California needed P.R. — and branding,” Hansen shared, adding that the romance of the Missions inspired the creation of a unique symbol: the El Camino Real Bell.
Hansen recounted, “A contest was held. Legend has it that Mrs. Forbes preferred her own design … Research shows Mrs. Forbes had been a bell aficionado all her life, loving the varied sounds of their ringing.”
The bell design, inspired by the mission bells and shepherd’s crook, soon became a familiar sight across Santa Clarita’s roads, echoing the area’s dedication to marking its place in the Golden State’s story.
A Lasting Legacy
Forbes’ determination led to the founding of the California Bell Company.
As Hansen underscored, “When Armitage passed in the 1920s, Mrs. Forbes took over the company herself, becoming the only known woman founder in the country, perhaps anywhere.”
The bells have weathered time, becoming more than roadside markers — they ignite conversation and pride in communities like Santa Clarita.
“They continually spark conversation, and I believe they are a graceful symbol continuing to attract motorists’ attention along the highways more than a century in,” Hansen said.
Honoring Women and Reflecting on History
The story of the bells is a testament to women’s influence in California history, supported in part by Santa Clarita’s own women’s organizations.
“Women should be proud that these bells were designed, produced, and championed by a woman and financially supported at their launch by a host of women’s organizations, including the Native Daughters of the Golden West, Daughters of the American Revolution and the powerful women’s clubs of the era,” Hansen noted.
The bells also invite deeper reflection.
“Historical symbols such as this tell us where we have been, in that sense providing a basis for evaluating the present and our future. It ties us to our roots, both for the better and sometimes for the worse,” Hansen reflected. In Santa Clarita, local historians and residents use these reminders to encourage recognition of all facets of California’s past — including the lives and experiences of Native Americans.
Local Connections and Personal Discovery
Hansen’s own journey began with local art and history circles.
“I was researching my own ancestor, Orpha Klinker, a noted painter — a bit of a historian herself as she often painted our California pioneers and our old landmarks,” she recounted. The connection runs through Santa Clarita, where Klinker’s friendship with Forbes inspired new avenues of exploration and understanding.
Her research, sparked by items found in an estate sale, now informs talks across Southern California — including in Santa Clarita — where the bells serve as beacons linking past to present.
In Santa Clarita, the El Camino Real bells are more than historic markers — they are symbols of vision, resilience, and the power of community to remember, question, and celebrate its shared history.