In the early 1980's, Winter Park, Florida gained international infamy (and an impressive spread in "National Geographic" magazine) when it became the home of the worlds largest "sinkhole." A sinkhole is a geographic anomaly that occurs in tropical and swampy areas stricken by drought. The water table dries up, and the space previously occupied by the water collapses. Ultimately, the water table fills back up and the sinkhole becomes a lake. Sinkhole-formed lakes are generally round, and one does not have to be a geologist to note the abundance of perfectly round lakes in the southeastern United States.

Journey to the Center of the Earth: Shimon (Center) Leads the SRS in Prayer

So it was in 1984, that Freddie Tambor formed the "Sinkhole Research Society" in Maitland, Florida, a stone's throw from the famous Winter Park Sinkhole. The SRS attracted mostly people of a scientific bent, but slowly began to espouse concepts of a more metaphysical nature.

"We are all a part of the mother Earth, who is a living and breathing entity just like us." stated one of Tambor's less scientific tracts in 1987. Tambor became a charismatic religious figure throughout the late 1980's and early 1990's, but maintained his uneasy scientific following because much of his insistence on collecting empirical data.

It was not to last, as Tambor fell victim to colon cancer in 1992, and died in early 1993 at the age of 45.

"We wanted to place his body in the Winter Park Sinkhole, but the city of Winter Park Strictly forbade it," says follower Thad Shimon (Pictured, second from right), the voice of the SRS today. "We were able to finally have him cremated and spread his ashes over the small pond."

Shimon, along with three others who have changed their names to unpronounceable symbols have kept the spirit of Tambor's work alive, staging ceremonies "inspired by his life's work," at various sinkhole-formed lakes around the Central Florida area.

"We all came from the womb of the mother earth," states Shimon. "We will all return. The sinkhole gives us a glimpse into the womb, into all that we are. We are part of the earth forever."

Though the state of Florida has refused to recognize their religion since its founding in 1994, the SRS followers have kept up hopes of legitimacy within the religions of the world. "The sinkhole is at the center of our worship, but there is much more to it. We believe in saving the air from corporate pollution. We believe that our spirit is in the water that fills our veins. We believe that our environment is sacred and must be protected."

Some controversy has arisen over Shimon's insistence that followers donate ten percent of their earnings to the SRS, and therefore to Shimon himself (who has been unemployed for the last four years). "I don't insist that they give me money," says Shimon. "The followers of SRS believe that I should be able to spend all my time on spiritual pursuits."

One former follower, Sheila Parsons, disagrees with Shimon's plea of innocence. "He's a little tyrant. He insisted that we give him money, as soon as he knew we believed in his cult." Parsons has returned to her family and is currently working as a projectionist at a local movie theater.

Shimon denies that his spiritual path is a "cult," however. "We are a scientific society. We are trying to find the truth that lies beneath the skin of the mother earth." Claiming that his life is not "extravagant," Shimon lives in an exclusive gated community on the outskirts of Orlando.

Claire Tambor (47), Freddie's widow, does not appreciate all of the attention that this "fringe society" has focused on her husband.

"Jeffery was a good husband and father, but he had emotional problems. He was in treatment for seven years, before he formed the Sinkhole Society." says Claire. "I am sure he would be flattered to know that his legacy lives on, but neither my son or me wants to be associated with religious silliness like this."

To this, Williams says that Tambor went through a personal change toward the end of his life, when he found the truth. "This is his legacy. We are his legacy. One day, people will appreciate that as a great thing."

sources

Interview with Thad Shimon November 27 1998, Sheila Parsons Novemver 28, 1998, and Clair Tambor November, 1998

Photo credit: Derek Barnes