Orphan Annie House William LeRoy built a home in the Italianate style on Lombard's Main Street in 1881. LeRoy specialized in making artificial limbs for civil war veterans and lived in this house until 1900. The house would eventually become the home of Harold Gray's parents and the studio of Harold Gray, the originator of Little Orphan Annie cartoon strip. Harold Gray used the home's study to work on the Annie cartoons, and some features of the house are drawn into some of his cartoons, such as the grand staircase and the outer deck. Gray lived at 215 S. Stewart Ave in Lombard at this time. Later, he remarried and moved to the east coast. Harold Gray was a charter member of Lombard Masonic Lodge #1098, A.F. & A.M. in 1923. The Lilac Village In 1927, the estate of Colonel William Plum, a local resident, was bequeathed to the village. The Plum property included his home, which became the Helen M. Plum Memorial Library, and a large garden containing 200 varieties of lilac bushes. This garden became a public park, Lilacia Park. Lilac Festival Since 1930, Lombard has hosted an annual Lilac Festival and parade in May. "Lilac Time in Lombard," is a 16-day festival ending in mid-May. It starts with the Lilac Queen coronation and her court. Many lilac themed events take place, including a formal ball, concerts, wine and beer tasting in the park, a Mothers' Day Brunch, an arts and crafts fair, and tours of the park. The grand finale is Lombard's Lilac Festival Parade. The first Lilac Princess in 1930 was Adeline Fleege. Education Lombard's high schools (9-12) belong to Glenbard Township High School District 87. They are shared with the neighboring town of Glen Ellyn, thus the creation of the portmanteau word "Glenbard". Lombard's elementary and middle schools (K-8) belong to Lombard School District 44 or DuPage School District 45. High Schools Glenbard East High School (located in Lombard) Serves the majority of Lombard. Glenbard South High School (located in Glen Ellyn) Serves the far southwest part of Lombard. Glenbard West High School (located in Glen Ellyn) Serves the far northwest part of Lombard. Willowbrook High School (located in Villa Park) Serves the southeast and far northeast part of Lombard. Addison Trail High School (located in Addison) Serves parts of unincorporated Lombard. Private Schools Montini Catholic High School College Preparatory School of America Village government