History of Bonnie View School forgotten. A deeper look at a forgotten school.

The history of the Bonnie View School in Bonnie View, Texas has been long forgotten. Not very much is known about this school.

Bonnie View School was established at Five Points in the small town of Bonnie View, Texas in 1908. Bonnie View School became part of the Nueces County Common School District #34 which had been created by HB96 in 1913 and was the beginning of the present Calallen Independent School District (Calallen ISD) in Corpus Christi, Texas. (Ref: https://www.calallen.org/domain/88)

In November 2, 1922, Refugio County School Board erected a school building a cost of $30,000. The school was built on a concrete foundation. Wooden floors were added inside. W. C. Stephens was the architect responsible for designing this school building. The school building itself was 3 stories tall in height and had a basement.

(Ref: https://books.google.com/books?id=78Q6AQAAMAAJ&pg=RA10-PA119&lpg=RA10-PA119&dq=%22Bonnie+View+School%22&source=bl&ots=YMYJPOni0k&sig=ACfU3U3BGwLVsxAqt7bNk7XKrQTIfbnfMA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjl_dSugODqAhUGRK0KHZiSAT84HhDoATAGegQICRAB#v=onepage&q=%22Bonnie%20View%20School%22&f=false)


A water well was drilled on the property in 1940 by Bert Kraemer for the withdrawal of water. He was the driller responsible for brining water well to Bonnie View School. The well went 649 feet deep. According to records from Texas Water Development Board, the estimated flow 15 gpm in 1946. (Ref: https://www3.twdb.texas.gov/apps/waterdatainteractive//GetReports.aspx?Num=7954801&Type=GWDB)

According to records from Texas Water Development Board, the State of Texas has labeled Olson Well as a “Historical Observation Well”. This well was plugged and destroyed by Calallen ISD sometime in the 20th century. Exactly when is unknown. (Ref: http://www3.twdb.texas.gov/apps/waterdatainteractive//GetScannedImage.aspx?Num=7954801&Cnty=Refugio)

PHENOLPHTHALEIN was discovered to be lurking within the water supply of this well according to recorder W. R. Moore. (Ref: https://s3.amazonaws.com/wellpdfs/documents/7954801/7954801.pdf)

A gymnasium was erected and constructed in 1941. This was around the same time the teacherage and superintendent’s home was constructed. J. K. Kerr was the superintendent at that time. (Ref: https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101158/m1/613/)


By the time the 1947-1948 term ended, Bonnie View School was part of a 225-square-mile consolidated school district (CSD/ISD). Calallen CSD voted a $250,000 bond issue for general improvement. A new roof was placed on the Bonnie View School. (Ref: Corpus Christi Caller Times, Page 20, August 15, 1948)

Bonnie View School later became a community center. Church services were held in this building for a number of years.  Bonnie View School consolidated into Calallen Independent School District (Calallen ISD) of Corpus Christi, Texas in 1954. The Bonnie View School was demolished in 1960.

Land where the former Bonnie School building once stood became a county park in 1972 for Refugio County. Today only a metal square framed building remains of the Bonnie View School. This metal square framed building has since been remodeled. This metal square building has been painted green.

Addresses for this location are and were as follows:

359 FM 629, Bonnie View, Texas, US 78393
359 FM 629, Woodsboro, Texas, US 78393
Rt. 1 Bx 2, Woodsboro, Texas, US 78393
Rt. 2 Bx 31, Bonnie View, Texas, US 78393