It was not the most attractive hotel. The decor still smacked of the 1970's. The elevators were notorious for breaking down at the most inopportune times and with very little provocation. The ceiling leaked when it rained and sometimes even when it did not. The service was sometimes a bit surly. Some folks went so far as to call it a dive.

But it was our dive.

The Adams Mark had been home to Anthrocon since 2001, ever since they called us up and asked us if our then-home in Valley Forge had gotten too small (it had). The hotel literally watched us grow up; after all, our membership doubled in the time that we were there. From a business standpoint they treated Anthrocon wonderfully. Very rarely did they say "no" to us, no matter how outrageous our requests were. The working relationship we had with many of their sales and convention staff grew into fond friendships.

The hotel had been up for sale for some time. Everyone knew it, and everyone imagined that Sheraton or Hilton or Omni or someone would purchase the property. Sure, it needed some work, but it was the only spot outside of the dreaded PA Convention Center where one could hold a large meeting. It had enormous amounts of function space and more than 500 guest rooms. For a convention organizer it was a dream come true. On November 30, 2004, all of the employees were called in to Quincy's (which had been "the Zoo" for Anthrocon) and given a shock: the hotel had been sold, not to Sheraton or Hilton or Omni, but to Target Corporation. It was to be razed to the ground to make way for a new store. "We close on January 31, 2005," they were told. "No severance pay for anyone. Pick up your COBRA packages on the way out."

An alert Anthrocon member contacted me that evening, and by 7 AM on Wednesday, December 1 I had confirmation from "Magic Tom" Hughsted, Adams Mark Convention Services Manager and as trusted a member of my staff as any. The hotel was going to be gone in less than two months. Anthrocon's 2005 contract was worthless. I spent the entire morning on the phone to other venues, and was able to arrange space for us at the Wyndham Franklin Plaza Hotel downtown. I was heartsick, though. I had grown fond of the Adams Mark, despite its physical drawbacks. True, we had been looking for a larger venue -- after all, we had outgrown even the cavernous 'Mark -- but I could hardly stand to think that it would be knocked down. I used to attend Philcon there, after all. I met Isaac Asimov there. So many memories, all destined to become a pile of bricks, and thence a cheap retail outlet.

Barely a week afterward I took a business trip to St. Louis, MO. While there, naturally, I simply had to do the tourist thing and climb to the top of the Gateway Arch. Imagine my dismay when upon looking down from the observation deck I found myself staring at...an Adams Mark! Now, as much as I adored the building, I had developed no fondness for the corporation. Had they not left both Anthrocon and their own staff standing out in the cold? Angered, I went back downstairs and treated myself to a nice big drink at a bar across the street. Once suitably lubricated, I phoned up Magic Tom. "I'm looking right at it," I growled. "Any favors I can do for you?"

He wasted no time in answering. "Go take a piss on it for me."

Now, I noted before that there is nothing Tom would not have done for me. In return, there is nothing that I would not do for him, so I marched right across the street and awaited an opportunity. Sadly, I had not had quite enough to drink. The street was a very public thoroughfare, and try as I might I could not find any opportunity to grant Tom his wish. The Adams Mark St. Louis, therefore, remained unpissed-upon.

I did, however, wipe a booger on it.

The hotel closed abruptly and prematurely on January 20, 2005. I can imagine that scene now. "That's it, we're done. Grab your coats and get out. Pick up your last paychecks at the door." I know that Penny, our sales agent, had gotten another job at a hotel in Valley Forge. To the best of my knowledge, the legendary Magic Tom is still examining his options. I and all of Anthrocon wish him the very best, and should I receive good news I will be certain to let everyone know.

On Thursday, February 3, I received word that beginning that very morning there would be a "tag sale" at the Adams Mark. Everything inside was going to have a price tag slapped on it and sold to the first person to grab it. I could not pass up the chance to bring home some of those memories, so I called in late to work and took myself down to the Adams Mark for one last farewell. What happened while I was there -- well, that is the stuff that Uncle Kage's Story Hour is made of. Surely if you go to Anthrocon this year you will hear all about it.

I did, however, take along my cheap and clunky little digital camera. While the net is filled with images of the hotel from happier times, you can click here to look through the pictures I took on my final visit.

A note about the pictures: All are in JPG format, and all are 640x480. Depending on the resolution of your screen, it might be helpful to close some of the menus at the top of the browser screen (Netscape and I.E.) so that the full picture is shown, without the need to scroll to see all of it.

UPDATE!!! On January 1, 2006, Giza and I visited the old hotel and found that demolition was already well underway. He took some photos, a few of which I have stolen. You can see those by clicking here.