Tama-Re

The Tama-Re compound in Putnam County, Georgia (a.k.a. "Kodesh", "Wahannee", "The Golden City", "Al Tamaha") was an Egyptian-themed set of buildings and monuments established in 1993 on 476 acres near Eatonton. It was founded by the group, Nuwaubian Nation, that also had a variety of esoteric beliefs and was led by Dwight D. York. That organization started in 1967 in New York and went through many incarnations and name changes. In 1993, the group sold their property in Brooklyn, New York and moved to the site that would become Tama-Re.

York was prosecuted for child molestation, racketeering, and financial charges; convicted in 2004, he was sentenced to 135 years in prison. As part of the verdict, the Tama-Re complex was sold under government forfeiture in 2005. The property was subsequently purchased by a real-estate developer, and the structures were demolished with the assistance of the local sheriff's department.

History

On 15 January 1993, Dwight York, leader of a Nation of Islam affiliated black nationalist group in Brooklyn, New York, bought 476 acres on 404 Shady Dale Road for $975,000. His followers began moving in from their former headquarters in Sullivan County, New York (some had moved there in the late 1980s) and Brooklyn.

After the move, York declared affiliation with the Yamasee indigenous people, and adopted a variety of Egyptian and esoteric themes, claiming that the community was descended from ancient migrants to the Americas from Egypt. York said:

In 1997 and 1998, Victor Greig acted as York's representative in building and zoning matters as the community developed Tama-Re. He was cited by Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills for building without a permit and for illegally operating a nightclub in a warehouse that was not zoned for that use. Greig was fined $45,750 in April 1998 and appealed. His fine was reduced to $2,500, but the conviction was upheld.

The organization began to hold festivals on the property, with one netting about $500,000 in cash, according to an FBI agent's testimony.

In 1999, a lawsuit was filed to enforce county zoning restrictions and prevent the Nuwaubians from using the property for anything other than residential and agricultural purposes. This led to a drawn-out, bitter tug of war between the Nuwaubians and the county authorities. At the annual week-long "Savior's Day" celebration (York's birthday) in June 1999, the county padlocked the nightclub warehouse.

In 2000, a security/paramilitary group called the Royal Guard of Amen-Ra, Inc., owned by actor Wesley Snipes's ''Amen Ra Films'', filed BATF papers to set up a security training center next to the Tama-Re compound. The Nuwaubians claimed Snipes as one of their own, though a spokeswoman for Snipes denied any connection.

''New York Press'' in November 2000 described the constructions completed in the compound:

In 2001, the ''Religious Movements Homepage Project'' at the University of Virginia reported on Tama-Re:

In March 2002, the Nuwaubians submitted a permit application for the nightclub, now called a "fellowship hall", which allowed them to use the building for the first time since it was padlocked. On 8 May 2002, the compound was raided by the FBI, ATF, and related forces from local, state, and federal departments. No shots were fired during the raid, although tear gas was used by FBI agents. Based on a lengthy investigation, authorities arrested York on charges of racketeering and child molestation, including transporting children across state lines for the purpose of sexual exploitation.

After York was convicted and sentenced for these charges, in June 2005, the property was sold under government forfeiture by the U.S. Marshals Service for US$1.1million. About half of this money went to the Putnam County Sheriff's Department; most of the rest was split between the FBI and IRS.

On 9 June 2005 workers began demolishing the Egyptian-styled façades. Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills started the demolition by tearing down the front arch with a front-end loader. The land has since been entirely cleared of all Nuwaubian structures and the property was sold to a developer, who has since built a log style hunting lodge on the property. The property is owned by White Oak Plantation as of 2012.Putnam County Assessor's Office
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References

External links

*
* – photos of the Egyptian-themed compound in Georgia
* – before & after photos of the demolition of Tama-Re

{{coord, 33.340227, -83.510985, region:US_type:landmark, display=title

1993 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)
2005 disestablishments in Georgia (U.S. state)
Buildings and structures completed in 1993
Buildings and structures demolished in 2005
Buildings and structures in Putnam County, Georgia
Demolished buildings and structures in Georgia (U.S. state)
Intentional communities in the United States
Nuwaubianism
Pyramids in the United States
Religious buildings and structures in Georgia (U.S. state)
Egyptian Revival architecture in the United States
Populated places established in 1993
Populated places disestablished in 2005
Populated places in Putnam County, Georgia