My name is James Fabris.  I never attended Columbus Elementry, but I am very much interested in talking to people who did. I am currently working on a novel that is set in that community, so I am looking for someone who can give me some historical perspective.

I've done extensive research in the archives of the Chicago Tribune on the topic.  But I feel like that is only giving me a small part of the story.  I would love to be in contact with anyone who could tell me about what it was like to grow up in the Humboldt Park and West Town neighborhoods in the 1960's and 70's.  Although I am writing fiction, it is very important to me to provide the reader with an accurate protrayal of the schools and neighborhoods at that time.

I went to a high school in the Chicago suburbs from 1978 until 1982.  I lived in West Town in the 1990's, and I worked as a substitute teacher at Roberto Clemente, Welles, Andersen and Pritzker and other school.  So I am trying to understand what life was like before I got there.

If you would be interest in helping me, please reply here, or send me an email at jamfab1@hotmail.com.

Thanks,
James Fabris