Q. Do you have any information about old building foundations in Oak Hammock Park and about a possible Indian mound?

A. Unfortunately not very much. One of the city's loveliest parks, Oak Hammock, located at 1982 S.W. Villanova Road, now features beautiful walking trails, a pavilion, boat ramp, fishing piers, children's play area and paved parking. It was established in 2000.
Though the subject of a long battle between the city and the operators of a religion-based children's home for the rights to purchase the property, it doesn't appear the home was actually ever built there or near there. Western Port St. Lucie was mostly cattle ranches before being bought for development by General Development Corp., so the building may be related to this.
We are unaware of an Indian mound in the area. These are generally found near water and the water there is a man-made canal. There is an Indian Mound in the Spruce Bluff area, along the North Fork of the St. Lucie River.
The naturally unspoiled area came into prominence in 1981 when a fisherman found the skull of a young woman along the side of the canal. It was believed to have been the victim of Gerard Schaefer, a Martin County sheriff's deputy who was had been convicted in 1973 as a serial killer. Through the early 1990s, when development was sparse, the wooded area was said to be a popular site for parties and "satanic rituals."
-- PSL Historical Society volunteer (Know the answer to this question? Please contact us)
-- Photo with permission of Debbie Albert of Keller Williams Realty