Although the Streator Incubator has Closed for the Duration, the Old Illinois Guard Armory Still Is Hatching Dreams

March 25, 2020 at 8:19 AM

Redding Township, Illinois

Tuesday afternoon, I walked over to the old Illinois National Guard Armory for a visit. The signs on the door were not encouraging. The City of Streator had accepted ownership of the armory from the guard and opened it as a Tech Incubator. The city manager had locked down the space out of an abundance of caution. The sign made it clear that the armory was shuttered for the duration. Yet, the three businesses established inside had the right to function. 

Walk with Tak had decided to take classes online. I saw Tak's Facebook group listed on his sign and took a picture. I've been hoping to wok on the wild side for a while now. I made a mental note to watch. I saw Benson Buff in action outside their service bays the day before last, detailing a Mercedes. Tuesday, the bay doors had descended and locks had been locked. I kept walking around the perimeter.

My friend inside, the founder and president of Two Rivers Outreach, had texted me to find door five and come inside. That was the second message and I hadn't noticed the first. The east door of the armory was unlocked. I hadn't got that memo. But I tried every door until that one opened. It was easy enough to find door five once I was inside. There was Brian, sitting at his desk, looking a few years older than his picture on Facebook.

We had agreed to be socially distant beforehand. I took the seat far across the office, more than six feet away. He asked, "Would you like a Coke? A chicken sandwich?" Despite being a vegan, I accepted. An offer of food equals an offer of a peace pipe, so I enjoyed the delicious slider on a freshly baked roll. He had put the two gifts on an office table equally distant from the two of us. I picked them up, obedient to the new custom of giving people space.

I'm unsure when six feet became the distance for us to keep during the reign of Covid-19. I read that the virus droplets can't cross a single meter span. I heard three feet from the World Health Organization, a yard. 

A public health boffin probably doubled the distance to six feet out of an abundance of caution. Now we have signs on the window to read declaring six feet social distance as we step into ALDI. 

I can't wait to see the sneeze monitors at Kroger enforcing six feet of social distance and giving sneezers the bum's rush when I make my Friday shopping trip. I understand people will be asked to wait outside for a turn to shop in the socially distant environment. One can't go at night because even twenty-four seven grocery stores now close at night for shelf stocking.

He raised his Coke with a toast and said, "To our health. It's my first one today". We sipped our Cokes, nibbled our sandwiches and I answered the question, "So, what's your story" and "What's your five year plan?"  

My answer always the same, maybe a little lame. "It's simple. I'm a writer, a traveler, a journalist and a photographer who is writing, traveling and photographing. It's just not white washing the chicken, paying the rent". 

Brian smiled. "That's life. I sold Mexican Street Corn on a corner of Peru for two years and lost money. Great concept, though. That's what passion looks like. You love it. You can't make it work until it does. I know a few people. Let's see what they have for you".

We toured the armory, looking at the board rooms, the full gymnasium with basketball courts and a suitable stage. Plenty of space awaited for new businesses and new ideas. In back, a locker room offered showers and sinks, maybe to use as a facilty for youth campers, a hostel for campers? I followed at a respectful distance of six feet and wondered who I could bring to the incubator to check it out. I know a few people too.