Last month my daughter came in for a visit from California with her little dog, Asha. 

[image error]Asha

On a five-mile bike ride to Lombard’s downtown my daughter said, “Lombard is really starting to remind me of Stars Hollow.”

Stars Hollow is the fictional setting for the popular television series, The Gilmore Girls. Although Lombard does not have a Lorelei and Luke, we do have a cute ambience and history that I want to share with you during Lombard’s sesquicentennial/150thAnniversary and the month of May that is Lilac time here in Lombard.

[image error]Lilacia Park in full bloom during the month of May.

You might ask yourself, how did Lombard, Illinois become known as The Lilac Village?

The answer is as quaint as a Hallmark Movie, it all started with Colonel and Mrs. Plum.

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I moved to Lombard in July 1989, with my husband and three children under five years of age. We bought a starter home and figured we would stay for a year or two. The following spring I became ennamoured with all the blooming trees and spring flowers in the area. I was amazed by the: magnolias, redbuds, crabapple, pear and soon the forsythia, azalea, daffodils, hydrangas with tons of multi colored tulips and lilacs, as I drove through the area. I still find this town beautiful in spring time.

I went to the Helen Plum Memorial library and signed the children up for every class I could. That year they had a program where the children received a passport and would get a special stamp for every historical museum that we visited in DuPage county. If you filled in the whole passport by visiting every museum you got a free Sundae at the local Dairy Queen. 

I wanted to learn and teach my children all I could and soon I was hooked and came to love this little town.

 

First, a Little History

The area was originally part of the Potawatomi Native American Heritage. Frink & Walker set up a stage coach line along the Indian Boundary Line established by the 1816 Treaty of St. Louis. European descendants settled the area in the 1830s. Among the first settlers were two brothers, Ralph and Morgan Babcock that settled in a grove of trees along the DuPage River. The area became known as Babcock’s Grove, located where Churchill Woods stands today, later to become Glen Ellyn to the west and Lombard to the east. Frink & Walker Stage Coach Line ran through the area from Rockford to Chicago. At this time it would take one day to travel 20 miles by horse.

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The area was very attractive because of the DuPage river, fertile farm land and timber. Sheldon a traveling primitive portraitist and wife Harriet Peck bought an 80-acre parcel of land in 1837. They built their home that still stands and is part of the Lombard Historical Society Museum at 355 Parkside. The home is part of the Network to Freedom, a list of verified stops on the underground railroad. They also opened their home to local children as the first school. To learn more, visit the museum and click here – scroll down the website to see a brief film featuring Kenneth B. Morris the 3rdGGrandson of Fredrick Douglas and 2ndGGrandson of Booker T. Washington.

[image error]Sheldon and Harriet Peck.

In 1848 the Galena and Chicago Union railroad came through the area and commercial buildings started to sprout up. Soon a Post Office, General Store and Hotel were built.

Dietirch Klusmeyer purchased land in 1857 and built the Babcock Grove House of hand-hewn limestone one foot thick. “Rumor has it,” that he built the hotel to accommodate the 1860 Republican convention held in Chicago where Abraham Lincoln would become our 16thpresident (1861 until his assassination in 1865). The Babcock house is now the oldest commercial structure still standing in Lombard. An entire history of the building can be found on the second floor landing on panels written by Brain Failing.

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Thanks to Tom and Margret Smith, who restored the building in 2012 it now holds thriving businesses and is the anchor to a burgeoning downtown area.

Steven and Dana Moreau have opened an amazing thriving restaurant, Babcocks Grove House in keeping with Lombard’s history and an intriguing cocktail lounge, The Lilac League next door. www.babcocksgrove.com

[image error][image error]East view Lilac League[image error]Original entrance bricked

The second floor holds office space and the third floor holds a Yoga Studio in the hotel’s former Ball Room. info@yogaayourvedacenter.com www.yogaayurvedacenter.com and Message Therapist. Katie Van Eynde KatieLoveslife.com

[image error]Side entrance off Park and Smith Family dedication[image error]The old ball room restored and converted into a yoga studio[image error]yoga studio[image error]Massage Therapist Katie Van Eynde[image error]Original railings from the top of the building known as the widows walk



back to the history

Although the above rumor is unsubstantiated, the railroad did bring a new crowd of people. Instead of farmers, now lawyers and business professionals working in Chicago’s downtown area were looking for locations to settle down and commute to work via the railroad.

“Josiah Lombard, a Chicago Banker, bought 227 acres of land in 1868 (for residential development) and headed a group of capitalists who registered the first plat and spearheaded the incorporation of Lombard in 1869.” Encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org. And that is how Lombard got it’s name, from Josiah Lombard the Chicago Banker and developer.

Fascinated with the telegraph and seeing the need, William Plum signed up for active duty during the civil war as part of U.S. Military Telegraph Corps at 16 years of age. After serving in the Civil War as a telegraph specialist,  William Plum attended and graduated from Yale Law. In 1867 he married Helen Maria Williams. They moved to Chicago where he hoped to practice law and, eventually settled in Lombard where they “…built a stately New England Colonial…with wide veranda, spacious entry hall and inviting open staircase…in 1869.” (lib.niu.edu Hubert E. Mogle, 1958.) on the corner of Park Avenue and Maple Street. 

[image error]to learn more
copyright © William P. Thayer

The First Church of Lombard, dedicated on May 29th1870 served as the first Library of Lombard, thanks to the collection of 3,000 books bestowed by Josiah Torrey Reade, housed in a room in the church known as the Reade Room. The belfry spire, known as Congregational Tower,  that serves as a backdrop in many of my photos, called the area to Sunday worship and alerted the volunteer fire department when fires broke.

[image error]Colonel Plum helped to build and Col. and Helen Plum faithfully attended, “…First Church Congregational tower, which has been a Village landmark for over 100 years. This was where the Plums attended church. His pew has been reserved one Sunday each year of the Lilac Festival and a large bouquet of lilacs placed in it.”By HUBERT E. MOGLE, Secretary, Lombard Park District 1958




[image error]Josiah Torrey Reade[image error]

In 1881 a prominent Doctor LeRoy, who specialized in making artificial limbs for the veterans of the civil war built an Italianate style mansion at 119 N. Main Street, which in the next century would be known as The Little Orphan Annie house!

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Soon, Victorian houses were lining Main Street. Newell Matson built a Victorian Cottage as a rental property in 1883. The Lombard Historical Society has restored it to a beautiful, pristine example of what life was like in that period at 23 West Maple Avenue.

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The town continued growing and during the 1891 election, an attorney, Ellen A Martin with a group of women demanded the right to vote, sighting that they only needed to be a resident to have the right to vote. The stunned election judges gave in and allowed the women to cast their votes even though it was against the law. The 19th amendment passed in 1920 which allowed woman to vote. Ellen A. Martin became the first woman to vote in the state of Illinois. April 6th is now Ellen Martin Day!

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[image error]First telephones came in 1898!

In 1910 the Plums visited Victor Lemoine in Nancy, France and purchased two Lilac bushes from him. Victor Lemoine was a celebrated and prolific horticulturist of his time and created many of today’s lilac varieties, especial the double-headed Lilacs that he became known for.

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In 1914 war broke out in Europe (1914-1918). Colonel Plum was very regimented on his Memorial Day Rememberance. 

From, The Legacy of William R. Plum, by Gerry Rader Watts:

“A group of children is clustered on the wooden sidewalk along the Maple Street in Lombard, Illinois. It is shortly before 11:00 a.m. and, despite the childlike fidgeting and jostling, one hears nothing save the shuffling of feet on the boards. Occassionally, a child whispers something into the ear of another, but there are no giggles, no audible sounds.

“A screen door creaks as it opens at the back of the house nearby, and a formally dressed, white haired man with mutton-chop sideburns and mustache emerges. Instantly, the whispering and squirming stop as the children quietly fall into step behind the old gent who walks — no, marches — to the flagpole. Slowly, almost reverently, he lowers the flag to half-staff. With one step backwards, he salutes the flag; the children do likewise before turning to follow the old gentleman, in his annual Decoration Day trek to the village cemetery. Leading this little process is William R. Plum, who lives in the big house on the knoll at Park Avenue and Maple Street, and who has made it an annual ritual. Others — children and adults alike  — will be joining the group along the way or already may be waiting for them at the cemetery. This man, more than anyone else is responsible for the Memorial Day tradition in this little town. The walk to the cemetary, the speeches there, including a very long one by Plum himself, are meant to remind all of their dear, departed loved ones and especially of those lost in battle. Plum sees to it that his many friends and neighbors in Lombard never forget those who have fallen in defense of their country….”

[image error]Lists fallen soldiers going back to The Civil War, Spanish American War, WW1, WW2, and Vietnam located at the Lombard Commons.



[image error]and still celebrated today in this community.

The Plums tended their garden in the following years adding new varieties. Colonel Plum liked trading and built up his garden by trading with other gardeners across the country. Today the park host 1,200 lilac bushes, of over 200 different varieties. That is why people say that Lilacia park is the closest you can come to springtime in Paris in the Midwest region.

Sadly, Mrs. Helen Plum passed away on March 25th1924 and the Colonel followed just three years later, on April 28th1927.

Colonel Plum generously bequeathed his home to the town of Lombard for a Library in memory of his late wife Helen and his acreage to become the first park district. The residences of Lombard accepted the gift via a referendum and The Park District established on September 26th1927.

read the will

In 1924, Harold Gray set up a studio at 119 N. Main Street. Harold Gray was the creator of Little Orphan Annie comic strip that ran in the Chicago Tribune. He used his house in the cartoon strip. Gray was the first to use a cartoon strip to voice political philosophy. (I read on a few websites that Harold Gray founded the Lombard Chapter of the Free Masons. In the History of Lombard Lodge 1098, no evidence of this exists. Although I did discover that Col Plum was a member). Harold Gray  moved to New York in 1929. His comic strip inspired a radio show sponsored by Ovaltine, film adaptations by RKO in 1932 and Paramount in 1938, and a Broadway Musical in 1977. The series cancelled in 2010. And that is how Dr. LeRoy’s house became known as, The Little Orphan Annie house.

[image error]The Ovaltine factory was one town east, in Villa Park. Children would listen to the radio show and buy ovaltine to get the special decorder ring!



[image error]A replica of the Little Orphan Annie House originally stood in the Library is now in the Historical Museum coach house.



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In 1926, the former home and gardens of Chicago Tribune Film Critic, Mae Tinee, (pseudonym for Mrs. Elkins) located at 109 S. Main Street was purchased and destroyed when the current owner, Mr. Roath, spread ten gallons of Kerosene and lit the house on fire to make way to build a theatre! The fire department came out to protect neighboring buildings and the town was saddened by the loss of the great estate. One thing did survive and currently resides at Lilacia Park. Click link to read article

[image error]Rastus was a lawn decoration at the Elkin Estate and it originally had horns.

In the roaring 20’s, Hollywood Film producers were encouraging small towns across the country to build movie houses where their films could be viewed by the public. Architect R. G. Wolff of Rapp & Rapp Architect Firm of Chicago, Illinois designed the theater after the Aragon Ball Room in Chicago that was inspired by John Eberson who was the premier designer of Atmospheric Theaters of the time.

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The $300,000.00, 1,400 capacity Fischer Deluxe Theater with attached shops and office space, completed and opened to the public on July 26th1928. Decorative terra Cotta tiles adorned the front façade, an ornate free-standing ticket booth stood in the grand entranceway with terrazzo marble floors. The promenade lobby had ornate renaissance side panels but the real gem of this theater was the auditorium. Set to look and feel like you just entered a Spanish Style Court Yard, the surrounding façade with archways housed tiffany styled stain glass lamps in the shapes of bells, stars, and globes with a backdrop of nature settings wrapped around the auditorium and the retractable screen. An orchestra pit below the screen housed the musicians accompanied by a built-in pipe organ that played music along with the featured film streamed out through ornate floor to ceiling panels on either side of the stage. The ceiling mimicked the night sky with twinkling stars and a moon that would travel across the sky while viewers watched the movie. Unfortunately the stock market crash of 1929 forced the original owner to sell the theatre. It changed ownership a great deal over the years. The Theatre was Registered as a National Landmark of Historic Places in 1987, but sadly and despite the effort of many of the residents including my entire family to save the theatre, it was met with the wrecking ball in 2007. To learn more click here. http://coololdthings.com/dupage_theatre.html

All that remains of the theatre is found in an exhibit inside the Coach House of the Historical Museum.

[image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error]Still a vacant lot where the DuPage Theater Once stood.

I found this left in the comments on the site to save the DuPage Theatre. It is an elegant example of home town life and why we need to cherish our heritage and revitalize our downtown areas to create civic pride.

Save `The Dupe’ … … and save those memories of Main Street

(July 29, 2005, by John McCarron, who teaches, consults and writes on urban affairs. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Remember?

Remember the scary sword fight between Sinbad the Sailor and the skeleton man? Or Sinbad’s face-off with the cyclops on the island of Colossa, where he had to go to break the spell cast over his beloved princess Parisa, who had been reduced to the size of a pocket knife by the evil sorcerer Sokurah?

I didn’t think so. Neither did I before I tweaked my memory on the Internet. What I do remember, like it was yesterday, is that sweet feeling of independence, walking down Main Street, Lombard, with my 12-year-old buddies, chores finished, fancy-free on a Saturday afternoon, off to see “The 7th Voyage of Sinbad” at the DuPage Theatre.

As always, the 1959 action movie was only part of the show at “The Dupe.” Some of my older classmates had begun to hang out with (groan) girls, so first we’d cruise the balcony to see who was necking with whom. Next we’d go down to the long, glassy candy counter for an obligatory box of Milk Duds, maybe even a roll of caramel bull’s-eyes—if the lawn-mowing money held up. Then it was time to settle into the red velour seats, under a fake black sky with twinkling stars, and trip away with Sinbad, or Hercules or Jason and the Argonauts. Loved those sandal flicks.

Ah, The Dupe. Say it ain’t so. Say they’re not going to tear her down.

They can’t tear her down. Not after more than a decade of civic efforts to save her. Not after those efforts secured charitable contributions, plus federal and state pledges, worth $5.5 million. Not after one of the nation’s top restoration architects—Daniel P. Coffey, the guy who helped restore the Chicago and the Oriental and the Palace theaters in the North Loop—has drawn up a sensational plan, not just to save the old theater as a performing arts center, but to infuse Lombard’s anemic downtown with a $30 million wrap-around development of luxury condos and lively storefronts.

Most curious of all, how can they knock down The Dupe when powerful DuPage County politicians are pleading with the Lombard Village Board to give preservation one last chance? U.S. Rep. Henry Hyde (R-Ill.), state Sen. Dan Cronin (R-Elmhurst) and former Illinois Senate President James “Pate” Philip (R-Wood Dale)—none previously known as gargoyle-hugging preservationists—are urging the Village Board to reconsider its June vote authorizing demolition.

In some ways you can’t blame the Village Board for losing patience with the project. Ten years ago the volunteer Friends of the DuPage Theatre said a developer was lined up to convert the building into offices and a studio for making educational videos. When that deal fell through the village took title to the 77-year-old theater and its attached offices and storefronts. In 2001 the board appointed a blue-ribbon committee to come up with a plan, but it was slow going.

Seems the “new urbanism” that has inspired towns like Elmhurst, Downers Grove and Arlington Heights to rejuvenate downtowns around restored train stations and theaters has been, well, slow to catch on in the lilac village. It’s still tough to compete there with the big-box discounters on Roosevelt Road and the 18-screen cinema at the Yorktown mall. And public-private partnerships of the kind needed to save The Dupe remain a tough sell politically. It’s still a tax-a-phobic town, even if the John Birch Society long ago closed its anti-communist “library” off St. Charles Road.

Still, there was excitement earlier this year with the unveiling of Coffey’s plan for preservation and redevelopment. His client, developer Richard Curto of RSC & Associates, would restore the theater’s “Spanish courtyard” interior a la the 1928 design by Rapp & Rapp, including those twinkling stars of my youth. In the parking lot south of the theater would rise a five-story condo-over-stores structure of compatible design (this sentence as published has been corrected in this text). Behind the stores, out of sight under the condos, would be two levels of parking for 237 cars, including spaces set aside on weekdays for commuters using the Metra station across the street.

In short, the project would catapult Lombard into the forefront of new urbanism and transit-oriented design. Who knows, the town might even snag a Starbucks. Best of all, contends Coffey, the property and sales taxes from the development, plus the state and federal grants already pledged, would cover the $8.5 million cost of restoring the theater.

But it may not happen. There is bad blood between preservationists and certain members of the Village Board. Deadlines have been missed. Harsh words have been exchanged in public. Other condo developers likely are standing by to pay Lombard serious money for the site—so long as they don’t have to save the theater. Why take a chance on preservation?

“It seems to have come down to plain old personality problems,” said Coffey.

That may be. But for this son of Lombard, this long-ago marcher in the Lilac Parade, it’s also about memories. And the faint hope that some Saturday afternoon in the not too distant future, a 12-year-old and his buddies will be able to walk, not ride, down Main Street, buy some Milk Duds and slip into another world—to the island of Colossa, perhaps—under the stars at the good old Dupe.”

12 years later the lot remains vacant, not even paved for a parking lot.

 

back to history

In 1929 the old two and half story frame Jerkinhead style surrey and horse barn built into the side of a hill of the Plum Estate was restored for $4,500.00 and housed the Board of Park District Commissioners, headed by William Ralph Plum the Newphew of Col. Plum.

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 Today the old Surrey and Horse Barn known as the Coach House is a quaint little shop where visitors can buy items made by local talented artist, Kathy Plumb (82) who has been painting in the docorative style since 1976. A member of the Illinois Prairie Painter a Chapter of the Society of Decorative Painters.

Between 1927-1929 an additional 5 acres of land were purchased for $67,000 the original post office and general store that stood on the property were knocked down.

Jens Jensen renowned landscape architect was hired for $600.00 plus living accomodations for he and his wife Anna Marie at the Plum House. Anna Marie worked to organize the books and open the library for two hours a day, four days a week. For further information and pictures of Jensen’s original design click here.

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The first Lilac festival held in May of 1930, orchestrated by local Author of, Green Valley (1919), and Willow Creek (1924) and founder of Lombard’s first Newspaper “The Lombard Breeze” (1912), Kathy Reynolds created elaborately costumed play with wandering minstrels, Robin hood, archers, clowns, equestrians, and costumed school children, Directed by Harriet Taylor.

Five Lilac Princesses where chosen, Adeline Fleege daughter of the local, Fleege Grocery Store, emerged as Queen in an elaborate ceremony held in the park.

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The first crown was made from the donations of local women’s silver spoons and created by Christia Reade (age 70) when she made the crown, exhibited her work at the Columbian World’s Fair (1893), daughter of aforemented Josiah and Christia Reade.

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The Lilac League formed and the festivities continued until 1936. Perhaps the depression and the impending war put a cabash on the tradition until it was picked up again in 1947 by the local camera club that reinstated the Lilac Princesses and Queen coronation. The parade didn’t start up again until 1957. The Lilac Ball was created and instated in 1959 by the Lombard Chamber of Commerce

[image error]Article explaining the cardboard crown

Today the Village of Lombard is 10.5 square miles with 42,000+ residences. The Lombard Park district has grown and holds 353.92 acres of land throughout the area. The parks have changed so much since I first moved to Lombard 30 years ago, as I have discovered on my walks with Asha whom is now staying with us until July!

Female Lombard Residents between the ages of 16 to 21 years of age are eligible to enter the Lilac Princess Contest sponsored by the Lombard Junior Woman’s Club.  lombardjrs.club/lilac_princess

Lilac Princess Crowning is held the first Saturday in May. https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20190504/grateful-lilac-queen-crowned-saturday-in-lombard

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The historical Society and Museum holds tours of the park throughout the three week period. Lilac Time

The Lombard Garden Club holds an annual lilac bush and plant sale. http://www.lombardgardenclub.org

There is an Annual Mother’s Day Concert, brunch, and Annual Beer Tasting, Wine Tasting, Annual Mut Strut, Pancake Breakfast all colminating with The Annual Lilac Parade held the third Sunday in May, that can be viewed on the local Cable Channel. For further information click park district.

The parade committee works tirelessly all year holding fundraisers and reaching out to the community. Local Businesses sponser floats for community leaders and philanthropic organazations. School District’s, marching bands, baton twirlers, and gymnastic teams all join in. The fire and police departments from the surrounding area, are not only on standby but join in the festivities.  For further information.

[image error]A Special Thank You to: (pictured above left) Yvonne Invergo, President and CEO, of the Lombard Chamber of Commerce.
The Lombard Chamber of Commerce holds an annual Arts and Craft Fair the first Sunday in May.




[image error] And the Lilac Ball the second Friday in May.
For more information visit https://www.facebook.com/LombardChamber/
or https://www.lombardchamber.com

I would also like to extend a special thank you to, Sarah Richardt, Excutive Director, of the Lombard Historical Society whose professionalism and eagerness to help is very much appreciated.  

As Memorial Day weekend approaches, I am struck not only by the veterans that gave their lives for our country, but also thinking about all those that came before us. 

It is important to have civic pride to know where you came from and to have pride in the area you live in. With all the large corporations infiltrating the small towns of America it is difficult to find originality. Therefore I am grateful to small towns that keep to local businesses that make their town unique.

My daughter was right, in many respects, Lombard is like Stars Hollow. The following is a list of small businesses in our downtown area. 

 

Shop Downtown Lombard



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Praga/Boton Restaurant
located at 229 W. St Charles Rd. Lombard, Il 60148 (630) 495-0470
https://www.facebook.com/PragaBonton-Restaurant-and-Bar-229665294432/




[image error]The Corner House, Coffee Shop, located right across the street from the Babcock House on St. Charles Road, serves delicious coffee. Local Artist’s works adorn the walls and are available for purchase.



[image error]Pet Store.

https://www.rufflifechicago.com



[image error]Woman’s Boutique Paradiso
http://www.shopparadisoboutique.com



[image error]http://www.drytini.com



[image error]https://brickswoodfiredpizza.com/locations.html



[image error]http://shannonsdeli.com



[image error]http://www.balkanbakerycafe.com
https://www.hairexperts.us
https://www.marquettekitchenandtap.com





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[image error]http://www.fairy-tales-inc.com



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[image error]https://www.fringeoflombard.com



[image error]https://www.luisarturodance.com



[image error]http://www.mensesquire.com



[image error]Tuck to the Left of Marquettes Kitchen and Tap is 40 West Wine.



[image error]https://skycenters.com



[image error]Punky’s Irish Pub



[image error]https://www.claudiojamessalon.com



[image error]http://www.sweetstreetcandies.com



[image error]http://www.smileydyes.com



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[image error]Main Street Cafe
Located on the corner of St. Charles and Main Street.
http://www.mainstreetcafelombard.com/breakfast-menu.html

I hope you enjoyed discovering Lombard with me. I am off to go white water rafting up in the North Woods of Wisconsin. Have a safe Memorial Day Weekend and be sure to shop small business all through the year. 

About the author:

[image error]Carly Compass has a Bachelor’s Degree in Writing and English from Elmhurst College. She is an avid reader, reviewer on Goodreads and Amazon, as well as a member in good standing of Phi Theta Kappa and Sigma Tau Delta International Honors Societies. 

Find her poetry and prose published in: The Prairie Light Review, Black Widows, Web of Poetry, and the Middle Western Voice.

Her first series, Electric, published in the fall of 2014 received critical acclaim and five star reviews across the board for all three books. 

She became a best-selling author on Amazon when Book 4 came out to the waiting arms of her readers in April of 2015. 

Electric, The Beginning Book 1 is available for a free download.  

Books 1, 2, 3 and books 4, 5, & 6 are also available in a discounted combination set. All books read well as stand alone, but you’ll want to read every word and leave no page unturned. 

New in 2018: About Life, About Love, About Family, A Collection of Short Stories and coming soon, Rituals Lost, A Pagan/Wiccan tale, Books 1, 2, and 3!

Pick up your free copy today and let the world know what you think by leaving a review! 

Carly loves hearing from her readers, feel free to connect across the board on all social media.