The location was originally called Hollenbeck's Station, (possibly after the namesake of the Sunnyvale street of the same name). It was renamed for Lafayette F. Bell, who had built a saloon at the entrance to a road over Pacheco Pass. Later, Bell bought the road over Pacheco Pass from Andrew Firebaugh and began charging a toll for passage. A Bell's Station Post Office was established by the U.S. Post Office Department, and was in use from 1873 to 1914.