Brief history of White City & the White City Improvement Club

• In March of 1893 Louis Albert Francois Pio founded what is now known as White City. A group of six mid-west Danish people were sent to scout Florida and stopped in what is now White City after one of the men on oars said he had come far enough.
• The town of White City was named for the section of the Chicago Columbian Exposition and Worlds Fair known as the Great White City, which opened in 1892.
• They also named the road that ran through the center of town “Midway” after the fair’s main entertainment attraction, Midway Plaisance.
• In 1894 Colonel Myers, a promotor and con man from California, joined Louis Pio in developing White City.  
• Myers handled the money and down payments from residents for land but disappeared with most of the town’s cash
• Louis Pio died June 27, 1894, Age 52
• Residents who stayed in White City were aided by the railroad and canal companies for two years.  The townspeople eventually overcame their adversities, paid off their debts and began living normal lives and enjoying the fruits of their labor.
• By 1898, White City was subdivided into a grid-plan of twenty-six blocks with streets and avenues, comprising roughly one-eighth of its approximately 360 acres.

The White City Improvement Club was founded in 1901 and chartered in 1904

• Its first location was in a recreation center on Midway Road a few hundred feet east of the St Lucie River. Its members would also meet for social and political gatherings along the river on Sunrise Blvd near Charlotta St.
• In the early days, only Dane and non-Scandinavian men could belong to the WCIC. Only men of good character could belong because there were many heavy drinkers and rough brawlers that caused trouble at dinners and dances. 
• Only members and their families were allowed to attend dances and dinners.
• The original clubhouse was sold in 1961 and the new clubhouse relocated to 1006 W Midway Rd. Its present location
• Rumors have it that the WCIC was started to exclude rowdy residents of the community from disrupting an enjoyable gathering while others say it was started mainly to aid immigrant settlers in their adjustment to a new life in a new community. Also, to guard against those like Colonel Myers who would threaten the safety and prosperity of the town.
• To this day, The White City Improvement Club has maintained a safe and proper community organization, working towards preserving its history, quarterly potluck dinners, community activities and informational meetings. 

This information was taken from material written by William Jorgensen, Pat Ferrick, Stan Hill and written up by Ronna Perry

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