Virginia Bell: Kept those C.S. Bells ringing

NOTE: This is Part 4 of a series leading up to the Highland County Historical Society inducting five more members into its Hall of Fame on Aug. 17. This week, we profile the late Virginia Bell.

By Steve Roush
HCP columnist

Ladies and gentlemen, Virginia Bell Thompson Telfair (1906-1971) was a longtime president of the C.S. Bell Company in Hillsboro, which was founded by her grandfather, Charles Singleton “C.S.” Bell (1829-1905), more than 167 years ago.

On Jan. 7, 1858, C.S. Bell began the operation of his own company called The C. S. Bell Company, in Hillsboro, starting with two employees and a weekly payroll of $7. That first year, they processed eight tons of pig iron.

This early foundry was located in a frame building near the B & O Railroad depot. A few years later, a second foundry was built on the corner of Main and North West streets.

James K. Marley became a partner and ran the showroom while C.S. Bell operated the foundry. In 1869, Bell purchased Marley's interest and they continued to add more product items, which were to include Mogul stoves, caboose stoves, coffee hullers, pulpers, grinders, farm plows, and garden rollers.

The manufacture of bells began in 1875. The first year of bell sales were 1,000 units. By 1890, sales had increased to over 20,000 and fifteen sizes were being produced.

C.S. Bell experimented with formulas of various metals, searching for an alloy cheaper to produce than brass, but more durable than iron.

After many failures he was successful and discovered that his new alloy could be pitched to create a vary mellow tone. It was this tone and durability that made his bells famous throughout the world.

C.S. Bell was a prominent citizen of Hillsboro, and is still regarded as one of the town's greatest benefactors. He built Bell's Opera House in 1895 at a cost of $40,000.

C.S. Bell and his wife, Mary Louise Roberts Bell (1832-1920), were the parents of five children: Charles E. Bell, Alice Morton Boyd, John Bell, Cora Evans Bell, and Clara May Bell.

C.S. Bell died Feb. 6, 1905 at the age of 75, and the business passed into the hands of Charles E. Bell (1849-1929), Virginia Bell’s father. Charles E. Bell passed away June 11, 1929 at the age of 79, and Virginia Bell gave up a stage career in New York City to return to the company that her grandfather had founded and made a big difference to the company.

With Virginia Bell as president and her brother Charles B. Bell (1903-78) as vice president, they led the C.S. Bell company for decades.

Bells produced at the C.S. Bell Company are still ringing throughout the world. During World War II, bells were made for the United States, British and Russian navies.

Throughout the 110 years the Bells ran the foundry, they contributed generously to Hillsboro and its people. As mentioned earlier, Bell’s Opera House was built in 1895, the Bells helped start a library in 1887, and they helped bring the railroad to town in 1880.

Virginia Bell was generous to the Highland County Historical Society, helping buy the Highland House. She gave the Historical Society funds to help get it started, and a large C.S. Bell Company bell sits in front of the Historical Society’s Highland House.

Virginia Bell married John B. Thompson (1901-1966), and later married Matthew Woodrow Telfair (1926-1981) after Mr. Thompson passed away. Mr. Telfair was a cousin of Gov. Allen Trimble of Hillsboro.

Virginia Bell passed away Jan. 22, 1971 at the age of 65 and was buried in the Hillsboro Cemetery.

In addition to Virginia Bell Thompson Telfair, the 2025 Highland County Historical Society Hall of Fame inductees are Bill and Janet Butler, the late Al and Alice Cassner, the late Mary Muntz, and the late Dayne “Woop Woop” Puckett.

The recipients will be honored at an induction ceremony Sunday, Aug. 17 at 2 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church in Hillsboro, followed by a reception at Highland House directly across the street from the church. The public is cordially invited.

For more information on the society or the upcoming Hall of Fame ceremony, please call (937) 393-3392 or email the society at hchistoricalsociety@gmail.com.
 
Steve Roush is president of the Highland County Historical Society and served as chairman and vice chairman on the HCHS Board of Trustees for two terms, a board member of the Highland District Hospital Foundation, a vice president of an international media company and a columnist and contributing writer for The Highland County Press. He can be reached by email at roush_steve@msn.com.