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In the late 1880s the first schoolhouse was built in Bonita and the first teacher hired. The old Red Barn was built in 1894 as a packing shed for the valley's production of lemons. In 1886, the San Diego Land and Trust Company formed the National City and Otay Railroad, which hauled Bonita and Sunnyside fruit to market and carried tourists to the Sweetwater Dam. Rail excursions declined when the land boom went bust in 1890. The freeze of 1913 rerouted the lemon-packing business to nearby Chula Vista. And the devastating "rainmaker" flood of 1916 washed away the train tracks, never to be replaced.
The Old Red barn was alternately been used as a residence, blacksmith shop, horse and mule stable, and a feed store. The beautiful landmark was torn down in 1960 to make room for a shopping center.
Today Bonita's rural acre-size lots showcase homes ranging from California Ranch style to Spanish-influenced architecture surrounded by eucalyptus, palm, oak, and chaparral.
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