Vero Beach in Indian River County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Treasure Hammock Ranch Farmstead and Cow Pens
Treasure Hammock Ranch was established in 1943 by Indian River County pioneer Waldo E. Sexton, who arrived in 1913. The ranch and surrounding lands comprise headwaters of the Sebastian River set in a Chapter 298 Drainage District by the Florida Legislature in 1927. The east portion of the ranch was broken out of the original Kenmore Cattle Company of Gilbert Barkoskie, Hubert Graves, Prescott Gardner, and Sexton when the partnership was dissolved. The bridge, barn, cattle pens, weigh scales, dipping vat, and one-of-a-kind wooden squeeze chute were all built with vernacular materials and workmanship, and remain in the original state. Since its inception, the ranch has been a source of feeder calves and seed-stock. Originally devoted to breeding dwarf Guinea cattle, derived from European strains, and Brahman cattle, the ranch produced a small, thrifty hybrid for Florida's subtropical conditions. It evolved toward modern production standards and in 1953, became a founding member of the Florida Beef Cattle Improvement Association. Herds of the ranch are still driven on the historic Ranch Road (now 82nd Ave.) as was customary for decades. The farmstead was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2013.
A Florida Heritage Site
Erected 2021 by Indian River County Historical Society, Indian River Cattleman's Association, Treasure Hammock Ranch Trust, LLC, and the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-1170.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Animals • Architecture. A significant historical year for this entry is 1943.
Location. 27° 39.794′ N, 80° 29.725′ W. Marker is in Vero Beach, Florida, in Indian River County. Marker is on 82nd Avenue (County Route 619) 0.1 miles north of 37th Street, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Vero Beach FL 32966, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Laura (Riding) Jackson Homeplace (approx. 3.1 miles away); Baseball and Dodgertown (approx. 4.6 miles away); Winter Beach Pioneer Cemetery (approx. 5.6 miles away); Gifford School / Hosie Shumann Park (approx. 5.7 miles away); Site of Fort Vinton (approx. 5.7 miles away); Osceola Park Historic Residential District (approx. 5.8 miles away); Quay Dock Road (approx. 5.9 miles away); City of Vero Beach (approx. 6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Vero Beach.
Also see . . .
1. Treasure Hammock Ranch possible national landmark. TC Palm website article (2013) (Submitted on February 25, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
2. Treasure Hammock Ranch Farmstead. Wikipedia entry, links to National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form (Submitted on February 25, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 25, 2024. It was originally submitted on January 1, 2023, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 193 times since then and 45 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 1, 2023, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida.