In the early 1960’s two groups of friends from northern Virginia and Maryland began camping together. Francis Decker had camped at Buggs Island lake and fell in love with the area. He convinced the others to come south for a long weekend. They came to Area 4 ( a campsite near the dam) and enjoyed it so much that for the next 3 or 4 years it became their new camping home. It was truly roughing it since there no electricity or running water, only outhouses. But as more people discovered the area it became increasingly more difficult to get camp sites together. They decided to look and see if some land was available for their camping. Bobby Wilkinson and John Walker as well as others began the search. Lake Gaston as well as Kerr Lake were visited. It happens that the Corps of Engineers had recently made some excess acreage available for the general public. A man named Talbert with a timber company purchased the RE-CON property at public auction. He later decided that there was not enough timber to make it worth his time. Wilkinson and Walker then presented the cost ($6,000) to the group of friends and a decision was made to purchase the property. The one hangup was that there was no right-of-way from School House Road to the land. Charlie Martin who lived in the frame house at the entrance was contacted about the right-of-way. According to John Walker he Bobby and Charlie worked out a preliminary plan over a glass of bourbon at Charlies house. Charlie contacted his lawyer who happened to be the late Judge Tisdale. According to John, Tisdale told Charlie that the right-of-way would split his farm, but Charlie was convinced that these boys could be trusted and he approved the right-of-way. One more problem existed, Bobby wanted a 40 foot right-of-way in order that at some later time the roads could be given to the state for them to maintain. Charlie would not agree and he stepped off the width of the road (16 feet)in front of his house and said this was all they needed. So the access was finalized and RE-CON was born. One of the friends was Benny Fletcher and he happened to be a lawyer. Benny was instrumental in forming the corporation RE-CON which now governs the area. Ed Allen was the one who suggested the name RE-CON which stands for Recreation and Conservation. The original intent was an area for camping, but it had the potential to be developed into a permanent residential area. The area which comprises approximately 39 acres was divided up into approximately 1 acre lots. The closer a lot was to the water, the smaller the lot. Of the group of friends, only 9 participated and invested $1000 each.. Those were, Bob Wilkinson, John Walker Ed Allen, Jim McClendon, Ivan Cook, Hal Applegate, Francis Decker, Otis Spitler, and Benny Fletcher. In those early years after the area was surveyed for lots, roads were created by a Mr. Julian Long. Also since most were either tent camping or using small travel trailers, there was a need for lumber for raised platforms at each site. A Mr.Lee Cambell from Bullock had a sawmill and provided the lumber. He also built the pavilion and it is named after him. These two men took the new residents under their wing and helped greatly in the early years. The choice of lots for the original 9, was completed by lottery. Otis Spitler had first choice, and Bobby Wilkinson had number 9 . After the roads were completed and the corporation formed it began selling lots as a cost of $1200 each. An many of the friends who originally did not purchase, later bought lots and participated in the growth of the subdivision. Word of mouth spread and many “friends of friends” visited and began buying lots. At that time each prospective buyer had to be approved by the RE-CON Board. Hank Hamilton, Blake Owens, Warren Choate, Claude Slusher, Bill Thomas, Noble Dunson, Harry Sullivan, Dave Brandt, Donald Slusher, Earl White, and Ralph Bassford were some of the early lot owners. Since forming RE-CON Otis Spitler, Bobby Wilkinson, Jim McClenden, Hal Applegate, and Francis Decker have passed on but all but one of these familys have retained their presence in RE-CON.