Exactly what happened to the park after the fire is somewhat sketchy. Since White City's loss was not covered by insurance, the future of the park was in jeopardy. Whether owners Robert Light and W.H. Tabb seriously considered rebuilding the park is not known. The 250-foot wide and 500-foot long swimming pool, completed prior to the fire in 1908, continued to serve as the main core of the park, and opened to the public every summer. Three years later, on March 6, 1911, owners Light and Tabb sold the park to the Union Traction Company which operated the park for 11 years. 105 During that time, the company erected a new boathouse with an open-air dining hall (seating 500) where patrons could purchase chicken dinners for 50 cents. The owners also added a new 10,000-square foot dance hall, a Philippine milk depot, swings, and assorted playground equipment. Newspapers from 1911 mention the presence of a scenic railroad and a carousel, and the steamer "White City" which plied the nearby river. 106 Admission to the park remained free.

The pool remained a principal attraction of the park. In 1922, the National Swimming Event was held at the pool. Two years later, Broad Ripple sponsored the Olympic tryouts, at which time Johnny Weissmuller won the 100-meter freestyle qualification. Olympic qualifications were held at the pool again in 1952. 107 [According to a city report on leisure activities, swimmers paid 35 cents (if they furnished their own swim suits) to use the pool.] 108

end part three

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