SeeCalifornia.com

What happens when you want to buy a bell? In the case of  Saratoga resident John Kolstad, you end up buying the bell company! Over a decade ago when Kolstad contacted the manufacturer of bells seen throughout California along El Camino Real–The Kings Highway–he wanted only one bell. The bell company owner, an 84-year old Joe Rice, didn’t want to sell. He was looking for someone to take over the entire business, so the story goes. If Kolstad wanted his bell, he’d have to buy the entire operation and produce it himself. Swell!

Kolstad bought the company and met the challenge of making and installing over 555 bells through California Bell Co. (californiabell.com). Learn about Kolstad’s mission to save the bell legacy, and find out about the lady who started the project in 1906 (Mrs. A.S.C. Forbes shown in left photo above). John Kolstad, California Bell Co. owner, speaks on Friday, April 20, 2012 at 7 pm, at The Heritage Society of Pacific Grove Lecture Series. Location:  Pacific Grove Performing Arts Center, Middle School Campus, Pacific Grove, CA (pacificgroveheritage.org)